Page 14 of The Summer We Played Pretend

“Okay.” I take a deep breath and straighten my skirt.

“No matter what happens, I’m here for you.”

Jackson can’t even know how much the words mean to me. Somehow, knowing Jackson is watching, I find myself climbing out of the truck and crossing the road as Brendan steps out of the restaurant and closes the door.

He freezes as he spots me, and his expression sours. I know that look far too well. I’ve disappointed him. If we were together, it would mean a day of him ignoring me, and me having to apologize profusely for whatever it was I’d done.

I can’t really believe I ever let him treat me like that.

“What are you wearing?” is the first thing he says to me.

“Really?” My voice is shaking, and I fold my arms across my chest. I can’t tell if the shaking is from nerves or anger now. “You dump me over text, and that’s all you can say?”

“You look slutty.”

“I look cute,” I retort.

Brendan opens his mouth, then closes it. “Look, Chloe, I need to get going. Dad says—”

“I’m sure you can spare two minutes to tell me why you didn’t even have the decency to dump me in person.”

To his credit, he at least looks a little ashamed. “I thought it would be easier. It didn’t seem right to drag it out.”

“Oh, but it seemed right to ghost me? To leave me with no explanation?”

He glances over my shoulder, and his cheeks pinken. I look at his face, the face of someone I thought I loved, and it looks so weird to me now. It seems boyish and immature. I don’t want to run my hands through his sandy hair or stand on tiptoes and give him a sweet kiss anymore.

“Look, Chloe.” He runs a hand over his face. “I know it wasn’t the most mature thing to do, but—”

Someone barges past me and slips into Brendan’s side, practically shoving herself under his arm. “Hey, babe!” Maisie Collins gives me a bright smile. “Chloe! How are you? Looking forward to college?”

Brendan stares at his feet. I swing my gaze between them both, fighting for words. My pulse begins to quicken, and I think I can see stars in my eyes.

It was all true then. Brendan was seeing Maisie, and by the sounds of it, they’d been together a while. You don’t go straight to babe after a day or two of dating.

I struggle to draw in breath.

“Are you ok?” Maisie asks, her eyes narrowing in on me.

My vision begins to darken. I try to breathe again, but my lungs just don’t seem to work. Just as I think I’m going to pass out, a strong arm comes around my shoulder. I manage a stuttering gasp, and the world brightens again.

Jackson tugs me into his side, providing much-needed support.

“Are you nearly ready, baby?” he asks.

Baby? I look at Jackson. He must have made a mistake.

Brendan scowls at Jackson, who merely grins back, his arm still protectively around me. The contrast between their expressions couldn't be starker—Brendan's defensive scowl versus Jackson's easy smile.

“What are you doing here?” Brendan demands.

Jackson doesn't miss a beat, his smile widening. “Just picking up my girlfriend.” The word rolls off his tongue so naturally that for a moment, I forget to breathe.

Girlfriend. He called me his girlfriend.

Maisie's eyes widen, and Brendan shifts uncomfortably beside her. “This is between me and Chloe,” Brendan mutters.

“And Maisie?” Jackson asks.

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