Page 42 of Casualties

“Ha, what love life Cassandra?”Oh fuck, not this again.I need to squash this before they go at each other for another round.

“Momo don’t start, she's right.I bet it’s nice not having two overbearing asshats trying to control everything you do when it comes to the male species.”The nickname drop was intentional.Hopefully calling him Momo will shift what was going to be an uncomfortable verbal sparring.

“Mini Copeland, what did I tell you about calling me that?We aren’t kids anymore.”The growl in his voice falls on deaf ears.

“Yes I know, but why would I let go of such a cute nickname, brother?”I wink at him as he drops his shoulders in defeat.

“Call Jackson back, AC.I mean seriously, the guy texted you multiple times and left you a voicemail.Who leaves voicemails anymore?”She must want to stir the pot.Another grunt from Ace.I tell her I will call him later, but that doesn’t seem to be good enough for her.She knows what she's doing.If I call Jackson in front of them, Ace will get riled up in the worst way.She doesn’t know what happened last night and why this is a bad idea.“Do it, call him, bitch.”Damn, she's not going to let this go.I let out a frustrated groan knowing I will regret this, but choose to press call on Jackson’s name anyway.He answers on the first ring.

“Toots…Hey, I’m happy you called.”He sounds relieved.I was smart this time and made sure he wasn't on speakerphone.“Hey Jackson.Yeah, no worries about last night.Seriously.It’s cool.”I’m not playing anything off, because I’m not mad at all.

“Can I pick you up?Let’s go to lunch.”His tone is eager.I think it’s cute that he is so concerned with how I'm feeling about last night.My eyes meet Ace's—they're burning holes into me.It’s unfortunate, but this is where we are.He doesn’t want to lose my brother, and if I’m being honest, I don’t want him to lose him either.

“Yeah, sure.I have to go home and shower, but I can be ready in a couple hours.”Ace cleaned us both up from the mess he made of my stomach and chest, but I still need to shower.Because…yuck.

“You didn’t stay at your house last night?”His voice takes a deeper octave, and I’m thrown off a bit that he doesn’t sound like his usual happy-go-lucky self.

“Um…yeah.We were buzzed last night, and didn’t want to get into trouble at the dorm.So we ended up crashing at my brother’s house.”I don’t know why I’m defending myself; I shouldn’t have to.The line goes quiet and I pull the phone away from my ear to make sure the call didn’t drop.It didn’t.

“So you stayed with Ace?”Woah, what is with his line of questioning?It’s not like he’s my boyfriend.I can’t say much with present company, so I try to give him a vague answer.

“No, I stayed at my brother’s house with Cassie.”I try to change the subject quickly.“You want to pick me up in a couple hours?”I ask, hoping he drops it.I didn’t get crazy with him when Psycho Barbie came flailing out on the dance floor guns blazing, so he needs to chill.Changing the subject seems to do the trick.

“Yeah, Toots.I'll be there soon.”Jackson sounds like he's trying to mask frustration.I just want this call to be done.I can feel their eyes on me, so I give him a quick “see you later” and hang up.

Cassie is the first to speak up.“Okay, so you're meeting up with him?Go AC!He’s hot, and I fully support this.”Her smile beams bright at me, and I laugh her off.

“Yes, we’re meeting up later, so he can I assume apologize for something I’m not even mad about.”I grin widely back at her, avoiding eye contact with Ace.I hope he's smart enough to not say what he's thinking.Morgan doesn’t need more red flags.Ace doesn’t speak, but I know he's level ten pissed at me.

* * *

Another awkward car ride back to our dorm has me uneasy.I wish Ace and I had a moment alone to talk, but Morgan made it impossible.

An hour later, I'm showered and ready for Jackson to pick me up.When I get his text to meet him outside, I quickly look in the mirror and glide on Chapstick, before heading out to meet him at his car.He's standing on the passenger side, looking like the snack he is.The gray fitted running shorts that come a couple inches above his knees show off his large thigh muscles, and the way his t-shirt fits him should be illegal.The bronze glow of his sun-kissed skin tells me he spent his summer outside.I could do this…be with Jackson.He's nice, genuinely showing interest in me.Why not?I can't be with Ace, and I refuse to obey his warning to leave Jackson alone.

He smiles like the pretty boy he is as his eyes roam up and down my body.The weather is warm today, so I'm wearing cut-off denim shorts with a tight-fitting black tank that shows off the perfect amount of cleavage.Keeping with the casual look, I’m sporting a pair of my old low-top white Converse that have seen better days.

“You look good, Toots.Come on, let's go.”Moving to the side, he pulls the door to his G-Wagon open for me.I shyly thank him and hop in.He walks around the SUV, stopping at a spot in the front to wipe his thumb across what I am assuming is a smudge.

God, men and their cars.

Once he's in, he sighs a bit, turning to face me.“Hey, I know you said you weren’t mad, but I want you to know I'm not with Tara at all.We hooked up last year and that was it.She's bat-shit crazy, and thinks because our dads ship us together that we're a thing.We’re not.”There's truth in his eyes, and I have no reason to doubt him.

“I get it, I believe you.I’m serious when I say I’m not mad.”Relief floods his face.

“Okay, what sounds good?I’m starving.”His hand pats his chiseled stomach as he pulls his car out onto the road.

“Honestly, anything.I’m pretty hungry, too,” I say because yet again, I went another morning after drinking without breakfast.Ugh, I need better eating habits.

We decide on a sandwich shop.Looking at the menu, it was a good choice—the food sounds amazing.I opt for a turkey club on a fluffy white roll with avocado and cranberry sauce.Seriously, don’t knock the cranberry sauce until you’ve tried it.You can thank me later.Jackson orders some monstrous Italian sub with five different types of meat.The sandwich is the size of my head, but I guess being a football player, you have a huge appetite.

Lunch goes smoothly as we talk about classes this week and his upcoming games.It’s all casual, and he doesn’t bring up Ace once.We finish our food, and I am thoroughly stuffed.As we head back to his car, he grabs my hand, pulling me into his chest.He cups the side of my face, tucking some hair behind my ear.I think he's going to kiss me as he lingers his lips close to mine, but he doesn’t.

“Ainsley, what are we doing?Do you want to be with me or is friendship all you want?I’m fine with either, but need to know.”Backing away from me a step, he gestures his finger back and forth between us.Friendship was what I was aiming for at first, but why shouldn’t I see where this thing goes between us?Ace and I will never happen despite our feelings for one another, so why make myself miserable?I’m eighteen years old, I should give myself the opportunity to be with someone who can commit to me fully.

“I like you Jackson, and would like to see where this goes, too.”I reciprocate the smile he's giving me, and we walk back to his car.This could be good for me…He could be good for me.

His phone syncs up with the stereo as I buckle my seatbelt, and some pop song comes on.I think it’s Katy Perry or some other pop diva like her.I accidentally groan out loud.

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