Page 26 of Until Waverly

She shook her head. “No. My mom works on the Oncology floor. Sorry I couldn’t be more help. But I hope she’s okay.” She continued to those scattered crowds about behind me.

So did I.

I started toward my sister, eager to at least learn something when their conversation broke off, and Ireland turned toward me. She exhaled, pulling me into a hug. I kept my gaze on Mack. His gray gaze fell to the ground while a grimace tugged at his mouth.

I really hated this. Whatever it was, they could tell me. It wouldn’t hurt my feelings. “What happened? Why is everyone avoiding me?” I hated how small my voice sounded. “Is Waverly hurt?”

“We don’t have anything for you, Jackson,” Ireland said. “They’re being tight-fucking-lipped.”

“But you don’t believe me,” I said, my gaze staying on Mack. “That’s why none of you will answer my questions. You think I did something to Waverly, then left her in the lurch, huh?”

The anger swirled back to life within me. I whipped my phone out of my pocket and pulled up the text from the last time she had any communication with me. I thrust it at Mack, ready to rip someone apart if they didn’t answer my questions with something more than pity.

“Read them, Mack. Go on. Your sister left me. Not the other way around.”

He took the phone from me and scrolled down through all the empty unanswered texts. For three months, I said good morning and good night. I asked after Waverly. Wondered when I could see her. I bordered on being a stalker with all my texts until I just couldn’t anymore. My sanity was worth more than losing my shit and becoming someone I didn’t know, or worse, like the asshole Ireland used to date.

“I’m sorry, Jackson,” Mack said, frowning. His grip of my phone white knuckled. “None of us were aware of what she was doing. Not even my mother.”

“Well, that’s not true, since she was already here,” I spat. “How about you fill in the details? Better yet, why didn’t you ask instead of assuming I had anything to do with whatever is going on right now?”

Ireland placed her hand on my chest, rubbing the spot next to my heart. “I’m sorry, Jackson. Everything has been chaotic. We should have been more proactive.”

“About what? God Ire, spit it the fuck out!”

“You and Waverly,” Mack replied, for Ireland. “We were all under the impression something completely different was going on, and here you were alone.”

I sighed, then chuckled. The humorless sound raised the hairs on my arms while Ireland stepped back toward Mack. “Fuck you. I don’t need this fucking shit. Your sister ditched me. Not the other way around. If you can’t man the fuck up and tell me what happened, I don’t have to be here. I’m going home.”

“Wait,” Ireland pleaded. “You need to stay. I promised Sarah Jane and Mack Sr. you’d be here. You heard him yourself.”

“Yeah, after he accused me of playing games. All I see here is my supposed family keeping secrets and treating me like I’m a fucking asshole, just like the Redmans. Guess it runs in the genes.” I didn’t even see his fist until it was too late. Mack coldcocked me first, then Hunter hit me from the other side.

“I don’t know what the fuck is going on here, but you don’t talk to your sister like that, asshole,” Hunter said. “What the fuck were you thinking, Jackson?”

I staggered for a second. My bell had been properly rung. Running my thumb across my bottom lip, I waited for the buzzing to quit filling my ears, then spat out a mouthful of blood. “Fuck all of you. I’m leaving. I don’t deserve this shit. I did nothing wrong.”

Turning, I came face-to-face with Landon. He stared up at me, concern and confusion filling his features. Like he was trying to figure out what pissed me off.You and me both, buddy.He moved after a second, letting me through.

“Jackson? Jackson?” Macey ran toward me, waving her hand. The harried expression on her face didn’t slow my pace. I didn’t give a shit how I got home, only that I got away from the hospital and gone from Waverly.

Sucker punched by my big brother wasn’t on my bingo card for 2023. Nor was getting coldcocked by my sister’s husband either. I kept walking, needing fresh air. Ironic, seeing as we were all outside, and the air was, in fact, fresh.

“Please, Jackson,” Macey yelled, quickening her pace. “Stop. Waverly needs you.”

I flipped her off. Probably would regret the move later, but I didn’t care. Not now. Not when I had a busted lip and my bell had been rung by family. Especially after I’d done nothing wrong. If no one would say shit to me, they could fend for themselves.

Period.

Waverly needed me?

Waverly who?

“Goddammit, kid,” Cobi said, grabbing me by the arm. “Can’t you hear Mack’s sister calling you?”

“Sorry?” I made like I was clearing my ear. “I didn’t catch what you said over the ringing.”

“Don’t be a dick, Jackson.”

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