Page 54 of Until Waverly

I had to leave. Now. I couldn’t see him. No matter what he had to say or what lie he told, we were done. “Leave me alone, Jackson. I never want to see you again. Go back to your perfect little family. I fucking hate you!”

Chapter18

Jackson

Considering Waverly couldn’t run. Hell, she could barely walk with the boot she was wearing on her foot. I could catch up to her relatively easily. “Waverly, stop.”

She was also limping. No doubt the abrupt movement caused her unnecessary pain. “Leave me alone, Jackson. I never want to see you again. Go back to your perfect little family. I fucking hate you!”

I quickened my pace and wrapped my hand around her upper arm, twirling her around, so she stumbled, allowing me to press her up against the front brick wall of Flame. “What the actual fuck was that, Waverly?” Anger and elation warred within me. Finally, a breakthrough. Obviously, I would have loved to have this conversation weeks ago. Kind of embarrassing dealing with her outburst in front of everyone.

Tears rolled down her cheeks, and her face was pale. “Let me go, Jackson!” She bucked against me to gain her freedom.

I should’ve warned her to stop because she was turning me on. However, I was over her bullshit. Over hiding how I felt about her. The shocked look on her face when she brushed across my hard dick sent a bolt of satisfaction through me. I wanted to shout with relief. Now, we were making progress.

“You—” she pushed at my shoulder“—youasshole! How could you!”

I pinned her to the wall, careful not to hurt her while trying to get her to calm down. This development wouldn’t be successful if I didn’t have her words. I needed to know everything. “How could, I what exactly, Waverly?”

She spewed her venomous words at Bridget. Nothing and everything she rambled on about made sense in that singular moment. However, what was Waverly’s issue with Bridget?

“Waverly!” Mack Sr. yelled the moment the main entrance door slammed open. Behind him were Sarah Jane, Ireland, and Mack Jr.

“I’ve got this,” I said, keeping my tone stern. I didn’t need or want their input or any interruptions.

Waverly’s eyes went wide, and I could hear Mack Sr. wrangling his wife back inside with “Nothing to see here. Jackson’s got this, folks.”

I assumed my sister and brother-in-law followed. But if they stayed, that was on them.

“Tell me,” I commanded. “Right. Fucking. Now.”

Waverly sighed in defeat. “How could you—” she sobbed “—you invited your girlfriend to my party.”

I cocked my head, narrowing my eyes at her. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about, Waverly.” I rolled my hips, pushing my erection harder into her lower belly as proof of how much I wanted... Fuck...needed this stubborn ass woman. “The woman I consider my girlfriend is standing right here, trapped against the wall with me.” I leaned in and muttered, “Can I tell you how much of a pain in the ass she’s being about it?”

“Don’t lie to me,” she cried, dropping her head in defeat. “You were supposed to be my BOOM.”

In the weeks since Waverly was released from the hospital, I’d had a couple of conversations with Mack Jr about the concept of the Boom, wanting to know all the intricacies involved with the experience. Mack said it was a heart-pounding, inexplicable phenomenon of falling in love with the person meant for you. It was immediate. He also told me there was no point in fighting it. I asked him about the questions I’d seen on that sheet of paper, mostly about it being one-sided and shit. Mack assured me the Boom was, in fact,notone-sided. He also explained sometimes one person in the couple could and would often fight the compulsion, but in the end, the BOOM always won out.

“I am your BOOM, sunshine,” I snapped, hoping she could see the depth of my love for her.

“You’re not—” Waverly gestured to the door “—otherwise I wouldn’t be your side piece, and the other woman wouldn’t be your girlfriend.”

I laughed, even though I was pissed at her for assuming shit and not asking me. I shook my head, trying to remind myself how young both of us were. How little experience Waverly had with men. Or how cocky I shouldn’t be. I caught her chin between my forefinger and thumb before leaning down to press my forehead to hers as a shudder ran down my spine.

“Bridget has never been nor would she ever be my girlfriend.”

The squint of Waverly’s eyes showed she didn’t believe me. I tried to open myself up to her as much as I could, so she could see I was telling the truth.

“When I look at Bridget, all I see is a woman who is like an aunt to me and my siblings.”

A burst of warm air swept over my lips as Waverly gasped. “Jackson...”

“Bridget was my mom’s best friend. They were like sisters, and I think, if Bridget’s life hadn’t been such a shitshow, she would’ve stepped in and helped us more after my parents died. But she was there, and that is all that matters.”

“A-Aunt?”

“Yup,” I said. The heavy moment hanged between us, as I allowed her to process what I’d just told her. I wished we could have moved past this sooner. If I would have known, I could have introduced them. Fuck. Her and Bridget were going to be the best of friends. I knew it because my mom would have loved her too. I realized the truth then. A flash of a memory.Holy shit.The last time Bridget had been in the restaurant, I’d asked Mack for a favor. It was Bridget’s fifth anniversary, and she’d wanted to surprise her husband. Fuck. If only Waverly would have been braver that night.

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