Page 3 of The Summer We Played Pretend

This time, it doesn’t even show as received. I send several more texts. This has to be a joke. We’ve been together for two years. Everyone knows us as a couple. God, we were votedCutest Coupleat prom.

Finally, I call him, and it goes straight to voicemail. This has to be a misunderstanding. We had our whole future planned out. With only two hours between our colleges we were going to see each other every weekend. Once we finished and got jobs, we’d have a small wedding and settle down in Elmswood.

Tears well in my eyes as I try calling him again and again. He doesn’t pick up. I debate driving over to his house, but my hands are shaking so much, I don’t know that I trust myself to drive.

He couldn’t do this to me. We love each other. I’m certain of it.

“Chlo?”

I glance up to see Jackson at the bottom of the garden steps. He approaches slowly, like he’s walking toward a wounded animal.

I feel like one.

Swiftly, I swipe away the tears and force a smile. It feels fragile.

“I just came over to drop off—” He lifts my mother’s casserole dish in both hands, then stills. “What’s happened?”

I can’t admit it. I’m too embarrassed. I thought we were perfect—Brendan and I.

“N-nothing.”

The words barely escape my mouth before tears well up again, and I drop my head into my hands, unable to hold it back.

“Christ, Chlo,” Jackson mutters and drops onto the step beside me.

Before I know what’s happened, his arms are around me and I’m pressed against his hard chest, the smell of soap surrounding me.

He holds me until the tears slow, then eases me back to meet his gaze.

“What’s happened?”

“I think…” I swallow hard. “I think Brendan dumped me.”

“You think?”

I unlock the phone and scroll up to his text.

“Asshole,” Jackson says through gritted teeth.

I give a slightly hysterical giggle. “That’s about right.”

I feel Jackson watching me as I stare out at the road to hide the tears threatening to spill. The ache in my chest is unbearable. I can't believe Brendan would just end things like this, leaving me hanging with no closure.

“I just... I don't understand. Everything was fine,” I murmur.

Jackson's jaw tightens. “You deserve better than someone who would do this to you, Chloe. If he can't see your worth, then that's his loss.”

His words catch me off guard, and I turn to meet his sincere gaze. There's a warmth in his eyes that soothes the rawness of my emotions. “I thought he was better,” I whisper, feeling the weight of betrayal settle in.

“He doesn't know what he's missing,” Jackson says firmly, his voice tinged with a hint of anger.

“Maybe it’s a misunderstanding.”

“I don’t know.” He runs a hand over his jaw. “It seems legit to me.”

My chin wobbles, and I struggle to gain control over myself, drawing in a deep breath.

Jackson’s eyes widen. “Shit. I didn’t mean—”

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