Page 20 of The Summer We Played Pretend

The words leave my mouth before I can think them through, and I'm surprised by how true they feel. Chloe looks up at me, her eyes wide with something I can't quite read.

Emma squeals, “I knew it! Didn't I tell you guys they were perfect for each other?”

“They do look pretty good together, Em,” Zoe agrees, swaying slightly into Tyler as she downs her drink. “Wish you’d look at me the way he looks at her, Tyler.”

“What are you on about, baby?” Tyler says. “I always look at you like that.”

Heat creeps up my neck. Have I really been that obvious?

“Oh, stop it, you guys,” Chloe laughs, but there’s a tremor to the sound.

Their words echo in my head, forcing me to confront feelings I've been pushing down. The way my heart leaps when Chloe smiles. How I always want to make her laugh. The fierce protectiveness I feel toward her.

“Earth to Jackson.” Tyler's voice snaps me back. “Man, you really have fallen deep, haven’t you?”

I manage a chuckle, but inside, I'm reeling. This was supposed to be pretend, a favor for a friend. Now it feels like the most real thing in my life?

“Can you blame me?” I say, looking down at Chloe. Our eyes lock, and for a moment, the rest of the party fades away. Is it just my imagination, or does she look as conflicted as I feel?

I’m about to respond when a familiar figure across the room catches my eye. My stomach tightens. Brendan. He’s here, his arm draped possessively around his new girlfriend, Maisie.

“Chloe,” I murmur, instinctively pulling her closer. I tighten my fingers around hers, and she stiffens slightly.

“What is it?” she asks, following my gaze. I hear her sharp intake of breath when she spots them.

Brendan’s gaze flickers toward us, and when he smirks, it feels like a punch to the gut. How dare he look so smug after what he did to Chloe? She deserves better—she deserves someone who actually sees her.

“You okay?” I whisper, leaning in close to her ear.

She nods, but I feel her trembling faintly, her emotions cracking through her composure. “Yeah, I just… I guess preparing to see him and actually seeing him are two completely different things.”

The tremor in her voice twists something inside me. Without thinking, I reach out and cup her cheek with my free hand, turning her face toward mine. Her eyes, wide and vulnerable, lock onto mine, and it’s like the rest of the room blurs.

“Hey,” I say softly, my thumb brushing her cheek. “Forget about him. You’re here with me, remember?”

I don’t know how I expected her to respond, but I didn’t plan on this next moment. I lean in, my lips meeting hers before I can overthink it. It’s not calculated, not for show—it’s instinct. The moment our lips touch, it’s like something inside me that’s been quietly burning bursts into flames.

The kiss deepens almost immediately, and I lose myself in it. Her lips are soft, warm, and she kisses me back with a passion that takes me by surprise. This isn’t just about Brendan anymore. It’s not about putting on a show. It’s about her. About us.

When we finally break apart, the room comes rushing back, but I barely notice. My breathing is uneven, and Chloe’s pink cheeks mirror the way I feel—unsteady, breathless.

“Wow,” she whispers, her voice barely audible over the noise of the party.

Somewhere in the background, Tyler lets out a whoop, and Emma mutters something sarcastic about us finding a room, but I don’t care. My hand is still on her cheek, and I can’t look away from her.

That kiss was supposed to be for show. But it felt anything but fake.

I’m not surprised that I have feelings for Chloe—I’ve known for a while. What I wasn’t ready for was how consuming that kiss would be. It’s like every quiet feeling I’ve been shoving aside came roaring to the surface all at once.

"Jackson?" Chloe’s voice pulls me back to the present. Her friends have moved away, leaving us alone.

I blink, realizing I’ve been staring at her. “Yeah, I’m… I’m here.”

She tilts her head, her brows knitting in concern. “Are you okay? Was that… too much?”

“No,” I say quickly, shaking my head. “No, it wasn’t too much.” I hesitate, unsure how to put this into words. “I mean, unless you think it was?”

She bites her lip, and my eyes can’t help but drift to her mouth again. “I don’t know,” she admits softly.

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