Page 25 of The Summer We Played Pretend

As I stand, Tyler grabs my arm. "Jackson, just... be careful, alright? Brendan might be all mouth but he can be an asshole when he wants to."

I give him a tight smile. "Don't worry. I've got this."

The short drive to Joe's feels like an eternity. My hands grip the steering wheel, knuckles white. I can't stop thinking about Chloe and how she deserves so much better than Brendan's BS.

One of the waitresses approaches me as soon as I enter the busy restaurant. "Table for one?"

"No, thanks," I say coolly. "I'm actually looking for someone."

That's when I spot him.

Brendan, weaving between tables with that cocky smile of his. I clench my fists involuntarily.

I stride across the restaurant, my attention fixed on one person and one person alone. I've gotten in trouble in the past for stupid fights but I've never felt like this before. The heat pulsing under my skin makes me feel like I could do something really dangerous.

Brendan's going to regret ever going near Chloe.

Brendan's taking an order, his back to me, that perfectly tousled hair of his catching the light. My jaw clenches. How many times had I seen Chloe run her fingers through that hair?

"Brendan," I call out, my voice low but firm.

He turns, confusion flickering across his face before recognition sets in. His blue eyes narrow, that charming smile morphing into something more guarded. "Jackson? What are you doing here?"

I keep my voice level, despite the anger bubbling beneath the surface. "We need to talk."

Brendan glances at the family whose order he was taking, then back at me. "I'm working, man. Whatever it is, it can wait."

I step closer, close enough that only he can hear me. "No, it can't."

Someone like Brendan’s not used to people standing up to him, I realize. For a moment, I see uncertainty in those blue eyes of his.

But then the cockiness slides back into place. He smirks, leaning in. "What's the matter, Whitaker? Things not going well with Chloe?"

Fists clenched at my side, I struggle to keep my control. I want nothing more than to wipe that smug look off his face, but I force myself to stay calm. This isn't about me. It's about Chloe.

"I know what you've been doing," I say, my voice low and steady. "The calls, the texts. It stops now."

Brendan's eyebrows shoot up. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

I can feel the eyes of nearby diners on us now. The last thing I want is to make a scene, but I'm not backing down. Not when it comes to Chloe.

"Cut the crap, Brendan," I growl. "Leave her alone. I mean it."

Brendan's eyes narrow, his smirk turning into a sneer. "Oh, I get it. Playing the hero for Chloe, are we? How cute." He leans in closer, his voice dripping with disdain. "You really think she'd want someone like you? A guy from the wrong side of town with no future?"

"This isn't about me," I say, fighting to keep my voice low. "It's about Chloe. She deserves better than your harassment."

Brendan laughs, a sharp, cruel sound that grates on my nerves. "Harassment? Please. She wants my texts. Why else would she make such a show of being with you? She’s trying to make me jealous."

I can feel my nails digging into my palms as I struggle to maintain control. The urge to grab him by his crisp white shirt and shake some sense into him is almost overwhelming. But I can't. I won't stoop to his level.

"Just because you can't accept that she's moved on doesn't give you the right to torment her," I tell him. "Back off, or we'll have a real problem."

Brendan’s smile wavers briefly. "Whatever, man," he scoffs, taking a step back. "You're wasting your time. Chloe and I have history. You're just...temporary."

The words strike. Hard. They’re too close to the truth for my liking. I’m only here to play pretend and Chloe did love Brendan once.

What if she still has feelings for him?

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