Page 2 of The Summer We Played Pretend

I glance at him. His jaw is tense, his knuckles gripping the wheel just a little harder than before.

“He’s allowed to dump me.”

Brendan didn’t have to stay with me. Not even after I deliberately chose a college close to his so we could see each other regularly. Not even when we booked a house by the lake for summer vacation so we could have one last romantic getaway together.

Not after we promised each other that we’d get our educations, start our careers, then get married.

He technically didn’t owe me a thing.

He could have at least waited like a week before dating Maisie Collins, though.

“He’s the idiot,” Jackson says more firmly. “You’ve done nothing wrong, Chloe.”

“I just feel dumb.” I sigh, sinking into the truck seat and staring out at the street, watching the shops give way to houses. I only live a half-hour walk from work, but Jackson insisted on giving me a lift.

Thank God. I don’t know if my legs would have carried me home.

“I feel like I should have seen this coming.”

“You’re the cleverest person I know.”

“Not that clever,” I mutter. I never saw the breakup coming.

And now, here I am, somehow involved in a fake boyfriend situation with the guy everyone warned me about—and I’m barely holding it together.

Yep, it’s confirmed. I’m the dumbest person on the planet.

Chapter Two

Chloe

Ok, it sounds pathetic getting your big brother’s best friend to pretend to be your boyfriend. God, I feel pathetic.

But in my defense, it wasn’t even my idea. I’m not quite sure how it even happened. All I know is it’s weird and also…not. I glance at Jackson as he makes a right turn.

It’s kind of exciting too.

This was definitely not how I expected to spend my summer. I’d pictured lazy afternoons buried in books, snuggled up to Brendan. Not sitting in a beat-up truck next to Jackson on the way home. But here we are, going along with this crazy plan to make Brendan jealous. The radio plays soft tunes in the background, filling the silence between us as I steal glances at Jackson's profile. His jawline, sharp against the passing scenery, catches my attention, and I can’t help but wonder how we even got here.

Well, that’s a stupid statement. I rub my chest, the ache in it still raw. I know full well how we got here.

It was literally two days after we graduated school when I got the text. I was even waiting around on the front porch for Brendan to pick me up. What a dick.

This isn’t working, babe. We need time away from each other.

My heart freezes. I stare at the words for several moments.Time away from each other?What the hell does that mean?

I blink and swallow hard, aware of my heartbeat finally picking up pace until it’s loud in my ears. With shaking hands, I type out a reply.

Wth?

It’s all I manage. My heart remains firmly in my mouth as I wait for a reply. I’m not sure how long I wait until I see the blue tick.

And nothing.

I try again.

What do you mean it’s not working?

---