Page 39 of Side Out

I’m the one that made him run.

I’m the one that fucked him up so bad he had to hide in Montana all summer.

I’m the one that lied. Again and again.

It all leads back to me.

But despite all of that, he smiles at me. “Yeah, it did, didn’t it?”

fake love don’t last (feat. iann dior) - mgk, iann dior

CHAPTER23

AWKWARD ON AISLE TWO

JACKSON

Theo looks like shit.

I mean, he’s as handsome as he’s ever been but…

He looks like shit.

And I’d be a dirty fucking liar if I said there wasn’t some perverse part of me that was glad to see him looking so terrible.

But I’d also be a liar if I said looking into his eyes didn’t make me want to… well, be me.

I’m not a spiteful person. I don’t enjoy going out of my way to be hateful toward others. It’s not who I am, and it’s not who I want to be. Which is why I say, “Listen, Theo…” His eyes widen as I play with the handle of my shopping cart. “Let’s just forget everything that happened last year, okay? I’m finally feeling like myself, and we’re obviously going to be seeing a lot of each other. It doesn’t pay to try to avoid one another.” A flash of disappointment crosses his face. “We can be amicable, right?”

He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his ears. “Right.”

“Good.” I smile back at him. “So, we’re having our annual back-to-school party tonight. And if you’re not busy feel free to?—”

He shakes his head. “I’m good. But thanks for asking, though.” Gesturing to his cart he adds, “Gotta meal prep. Busy day tomorrow.”

Thank god.

“Right. Well, I’ll see you around?”

His eyes search mine, and it takes all of me to not get lost in them. “Yeah. See you around, Jax.”

With that, he turns his cart and walks away. And when I don’t follow after him, I can’t help but pat myself on the back.

Good job, Jax. Good job.

CHAPTER24

SKULL MASK 2.0

THEODORE

The stupid fucking skull mask has been mocking me from my underwear drawer all week. Hell, it has been in there for practically a year now, and the only reason I keep it there is some kind of self-sabotage. But as it vexes me, it makes every memory come rushing back. The memory of running through the woods and my cock shoved down Jax’s throat right where it belongs.

It’s the night my mind always finds its way back to when I let myself daydream, usually with my cock in my hands in the shower, or the nights when Bridget’s gone and the house is quiet.

It’s always that damn Halloween party.

Turning down the back-to-school party invite was easy; that may have been the night Jax and I shared our first kiss, but Halloween changedeverything. And that very same party is this weekend. The entire thing crept up on me, again, until Jax’s text popped up on my phone a few days ago.

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