Page 22 of Twice as Forbidden

“I’m getting up. Jesus.” He stretches and sits up.

“You can’t keep coming in here.”

“Whatever.” He climbs out of my bed and walks out. A beat later, Jackson walks past my door. He gazes into the room, making eye contact, but doesn’t stop.

Great.

I fall back onto the bed.What are you doing, Georgia?I wish I had an answer to that. My phone vibrates on the nightstand, and I grab it, seeing a text from my mom.

Mom: Hi, honey. I was hoping we could talk. Lettie told me you’re spending the summer with your boyfriend. I hope it was okay she shared that. I wish you would come home so we could talk. Anyway, I just wanted to make sure you’re doing well. I love you. Please call me.

If she believes that, we have an even bigger problem. I swipe the message, delete it, and get ready for work.

I’m going to ask Jackson for a ride to work. Hopefully, Noah has already left. It would save me the trouble of dealing with the backlash, but I need to talk to Jackson. The past few days have been killing me, this feeling of being in limbo with him. Pursuing anything with him is crazy. Plus, he made his intentions clear on that matter. But I can’t seem to let it go. Why did he let it happen? He could’ve risked his relationship with his son, all for a one-time thing. Did he enjoy it? Would he let it happen again?

I head to the kitchen. Noah’s leaning against the island, drinking a cup of coffee. No sign of Jackson.

“Sorry to disappoint, but you’re stuck riding with me today,” he says, not lifting his eyes from his phone.

Masking my disappointment, I walk over and fill my mug with coffee. “Why would I be disappointed?”

“I know you probably wanted to ride with my dad.”

I narrow my gaze. “Yeah, because he wouldn’t leave me stranded.”

He has no rebuttal. He knows he’s in the wrong. “Whatever. We gotta go.” Knowing he wouldn’t hesitate to leave me behind, I pour my coffee into a travel mug and follow him to his car.

We step into the office, where Rachel greets us with a polite smile as she informs us that we’ll both be in the sales center again today.

I nod, barely processing her words.

Jackson is avoiding me.

Realization settles heavily in my chest. I should’ve seen the writing on the wall sooner.

This was inevitable.

I keep my expression neutral, swallowing the disappointment clawing at my throat. Message received. And I refuse to sit around waiting for the next blow.

At lunch, I’ll make a call—one I should have made days ago. I saw a post about someone looking for a roommate, and that sounds like the only real escape. I need out. Of this house. Of this situation. Away fromhim.

“Hello. Earth to Georgia.”

I blink, meeting Noah’s gaze. “What?”

“What do you mean? Did you hear anything I just said?”

Shit.“Sorry. I was—”

“What’s up with you?”

“Nothing.”

“Is it your mom? Did you ever talk to—”

I come to an abrupt stop, spinning to face him. “Honestly, Noah, we’re not doing this,” I snap, my patience hanging on by a thread.

His eyes narrow and whatever concern he had instantly replaced with irritation. “Seriously, George, what the fuck is your problem?” He throws his hands up. “You bitch that I’m an asshole, then bitch when I trynotto be an asshole. I’m starting to thinkyouwere the problem in this relationship.”

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