Page 50 of Casualties

Cassie still hasn’t told me anything is going on with them, and neither has Morgan.I know something is—Cassie would have freaked the hell out months ago for me spending too much time with Jackson, unless she had someone else occupying her time.Between the passive aggressive comments, and heated arguments…it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see what's happening.Not my business though, she'll tell me when she wants to, or when J moves in.Jordan is like human truth serum.

“Are you excited to see Mom and Dad?I am!Ah, I've been drooling thinking about Mom’s cookies,” I say excitedly.

“I am, and don’t think those cookies are all yours.”I laugh at how delirious he is.Of course they are all mine, she makes them for me.

“Come on, let's get this show on the road,” Ace barks at us, clicking his phone off.If I wasn’t sure about his mood before, I definitely am now.

* * *

The drive home went by pretty fast.Cass and I sang our favorite songs and talked the entire trip.I’m sure the guys have had enough of us.I know Morgan has; he asked us to shut up multiple times.Ace barely said a word, other than mumbling one-word answers to Morgan.When the song was changing, I saw Morgan lean in.He was whispering, but I could still hear him.

“What the fuck crawled up your ass today?”

“Nothing.”Ace lets out a low growl as he replies.

Mom must have been tracking my location like the crazy lady she is, because she and Dad are in the driveway waiting for us, along with Mr.and Mrs.Maddox.We already dropped Cass off with her family.I told her to hug that angel of a grandmother for me.I swear, that woman reminds me of a younger Betty White, and who doesn’t adore Betty White?

“For fuck’s sake.I’m surprised they aren’t holding banners to welcome your arrival,” Morgan huffs.

“Why would it be solely for my arrival?You’re their kids, too.”He's being ridiculous.Our parents are excited to see us.

“I don’t remember the welcome wagon any time we came home from break,” Ace finally speaks to me, or maybe it wasn’t exactly to me.But at least he spoke.

“I remember making a big deal every time you guys came home,” I tell him with pride.

“Not every time.”Wow, shots fired.He would have had the welcome of his life—but that situation is on him.Brat behavior it is; that’s my Ace specialty.

“Hey, I saw on IG from a mutual friend that Ashley Jacobs is back home, too.Maybe you guys could rekindle the flame.”His face turns the darkest shade of red, but I have no regrets.He wants to be a dick, fine by me.

“Ashley Jacobs?Ace never fu—” Morgan starts, but he’s cut off by Ace.

“Yeah princess, that sounds like a great idea.I don’t have anyone else occupying my time.Hey, how is Jackson the Douche?”I want to smack the smug grin off of his face.Bastard.Morgan is already engulfed in a huge hug from Mom and Dad, missing that last jab.Point for Ace this round.

“Kids!Will you get over here already?I need hugs.”Mom pleads.We spend the next five minutes being overly loved on and answering questions about school.I see Ace finally break away from his mom and head to his house when his dad stops him.

“We thought it would be nice for us all to have dinner together.It’s been so long since we've had you all under one roof.”I can tell Ace doesn’t like this plan, but adjusts his reaction for everyone.They wouldn’t understand why he would want to avoid dinner.

It’s because of me.

TWENTY-FIVE

ACE

Fuck me!As if this isn’t awkward enough…I haven’t seen or spoken to Ainsley in three months.She never responded to my texts, and I never pushed her.We both knew that morning Morgan walked in on us on the couch was the end of something that barely started.I did the right thing letting her go.

The car ride was shit.I could tell in the few glances I chanced her way that she was disappointed by my coldness.I couldn’t help it.What was I supposed to say?“Good to see you; it’s so great you decided to get into a relationship with the jackass I warned you to stay away from.The fact that it was so easy for you to forget me for the second time, to be with someone else, makes me happy.”No!That’s not fucking happening, so the next best thing was to ignore her.

Three months of knowing she was with that prick has been agonizing.I know we were in an impossible situation, but she could have moved on with someone new.The girl of my dreams didn’t have to be with the one guy I told her to stay away from.I couldn’t care less if her brother is cool with it or not.To be honest though, I’m not sure he would have said that if his head wasn’t shoved so far up Cassie’s ass.

So now, instead of chilling at home to catch up on sleep, I'm stuck having dinner with the one person I planned to avoid.It’s not like I can back out of it, not when my dad laid the guilt trip on thick.

Just get it over with, and avoid eye contact with her.

Entering the Copelands’ house used to feel like walking into my own, but now it’s laced with memories of her.In a perfect world, Ainsley and I would be together, coming home for the holidays as a couple.Unfortunately, that's not my reality.It's much more bleak.

We all gather at the table for dinner.Our parents won’t stop talking and asking us questions about school.I’m in no mood to join the conversation; I want to quickly eat, then leave.I don't miss the concerned looks everyone throws my way, I just avoid them, keeping my eyes focused on my plate.Once dinner is done, I couldn't be more eager to get out of this house and away from her.

“Hey bro, want to chill and play Call of Duty?”Morgan asks.

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