Page 47 of Casualties

“Toooots…let’s sleep longer.You’re so warm,” he whines.

“Yeah, of course I feel warm.I’m overheating from your giant ass crushing me into this mattress.”I catch a break when he shifts, and I'm able to roll him over.Jesus.Now I can breathe.

After spending that day with Jackson three months ago, I decided to give it a real shot with him.I’ve spent the last few months really focused on school and this new relationship.

I don’t hate Ace anymore.I do consider us friends, but there needed to be space between us so that we can both move on.Plus, I don’t want Jackson to get the wrong idea.

I stayed the night at Jackson’s again, per his request.We've been together for three months now, and while I have enjoyed it…he has flaws.I’m sure he would say the same thing about me.I’m nowhere near perfect, and never claim to be.For example, I'm usually a morning person, dancing to music I play while diving into my morning routine.When I stay at Jackson's, which is more often than not, I barely sleep, and wake up extremely grumpy.I need my sleep, no one wants to be around me if that doesn’t happen.

“Aww, you’re so cute when you’re grumpy in the A.M.”

Just say morning like a normal person.

“I am grumpy.I have a paper due in two days, and didn’t get any sleep last night.”He hasn’t made eye contact with me yet, still burying his head in the pillow.

Better that pillow than me gagging at the smell of his rank breath.Ugh, stop being a bitch.

“I’m sorry.I need to go back to my dorm for a few days to catch up on life.Not to mention a little break from the frat house would be nice.”That got his attention.His head pops up quickly.

“Do you not like spending time together?I thought you liked staying the night.”He glowers, and here comes the attitude.

“That’s not what I said, but I do need to stay at my dorm, too.I barely see Cassie, my brother, and—” I abruptly shut my mouth, but not soon enough.

“Maddox?Is that who the fuck you were going to say?Why are you in my bed if you're missing that prick?”He slams his jaw shut, hardening it.I can feel the anger radiating off of him.We don’t talk about Ace.The one time I did mention him in passing, it didn't go over well.Much like the current situation I’m in now; he’s pissed.

“Hey.Hey, that’s not what I meant.I just miss spending time with Cassie and Morgan.It’s a habit to say all three of their names.I need to head home to get some writing done.”His face relaxes to a more comfortable level.I don’t understand why he gets like this.When we first met, he was understanding of my situation with Ace and our past.Now his name can’t be brought up without a huge fight.I've noticed him slowly changing over the last month.He went from being my sweet boyfriend that dotes on me to a jealous, short-fused prick.

“I’m sorry I snapped.”

Again.

“I wish you wouldn’t bring him up.You know what that does to me, and I don’t like being upset with you.”This is how it's been lately.I do something to piss him off, he freaks out, then apologizes.After said apology, he finds a way to turn it around, making it my fault.

I really like Jackson and hope this is a phase.I assume he is stressed with school, and the work he does for his dad—something I still know nothing about.After that day I met Levi Davis, Jackson hasn’t invited me back to his parent’s house.No arguments here, his dad made me uncomfortable.

“I’m sorry.It’s my fault, I won’t bring up He Who Shall Not Be Named again.”I hold my hand up in a Scout's Honor signal, and that seems to appease him.He leans over to give me a kiss, but I can’t with his breath.I fake a cough and turn my head, causing him to graze his lips on my cheek.Making up for it, I lean over and kiss his forehead.

I jump to my feet and start to shimmy my jeans over my hips.We're in the middle of December, and about to leave for Christmas break.I can’t wait to spend the entire break with my family, Cass, and...Ace.

TWENTY-THREE

AINSLEY

In my dorm, I hear the faintest snores coming from my angelic best friend.God, even when Cass is snoring with drool dripping from her bottom lips, she’s still gorgeous.After slipping into sweats and a hoodie, I crawl up behind her, snuggling her backside, breathing in her hair that smells of honeysuckle.She turns over mid-yawn to face me.

“Hey stranger.Did you need to come home to remember what I look like?”She’s playing around, but that's seriously how I feel.Jackson takes up my free time when I’m not at school.I only see her the few nights a week I sleep in my own bed, and when Jackson is busy at practice.I would like to set boundaries with him, but he can be so persistent in getting his way.

“Oh my God!Who are you?I thought I was jumping into bed with my best friend, but you’re a stranger!What have you done with Cassie?”We both let out a belly laugh that vibrates the walls of our room.

“Very funny, AC.Seriously though, tell that hunk of man-meat you call a boyfriend I need him to spare you for some much-needed girl time.”I laugh.

“You have me all to yourself in a week.That's three weeks of all that is me.Honestly, you’ll probably tire of me after day four.”Cassie pulls her mouth into a slow smile.

“I could never tire of you, AC; you’re my person.Speaking of man-meat, how have you and the football star been getting along?”Her right eyebrow lifts inquisitively.I don’t want to lie to her, but at the same time, I would like to give Jackson the benefit of the doubt.I go with the lie.“Things are great between us.I think the space during Christmas break will do us some good, though.Too much of a good thing is never a good thing.”I give her my biggest smile with the hope that she buys it.From the look on her face she does, so I dodged a bullet.

The demands on my time lately have left little-to-no tea time, but I’m not sure I would even be honest with her about Jackson’s sudden change in behavior.Knowing Cass, she would lose her shit, and if she thought it was bad enough, she might tell my brother.I can’t have that.Who am I to judge someone’s mood swings?I truly believe it has to do with the stress he's going through.Between his dad’s demands for work and his coaches’ demands for the field, it’s no wonder he's easily agitated.

“Happy for you, babe.Seriously.”Cass pulls me into a big hug.“What’s Jackson doing for break?”

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