Page 5 of The Summer We Played Pretend

“Chlo,” he interrupts gently, “you don’t have to apologize for being human.”

The weight of his words presses against my chest, and I close my eyes, letting his voice fill the silence of my room. “It’s just… everything feels so wrong. I thought Brendan and I were solid. I thought we had this whole future, and now…” My voice cracks, and I take a deep breath. “Now I feel like I don’t know who I am without him.”

“Chloe, you’re so much more than a relationship,” Jackson says firmly. “I know it doesn’t feel like it right now, but you’re going to get through this. And when you do, you’ll realize he was the one who lost out, not you.”

“I hope so.”

“I know so.”

We talk for a while longer, the conversation shifting to random topics—movies, music, anything but Brendan. By the time we hang up, my eyelids are heavy, and the knot in my chest has loosened just enough for me to drift off.

As I fall asleep, Jackson’s words echo in my mind, grounding me in a way I didn’t think was possible. Maybe I’m not as broken as I thought. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll survive this after all.

Chapter Three

Jackson

“Spit it out, son.”

I glance up from my plate of lasagna and meet my father's piercing gaze. His eyes, the same shade of brown as mine, hold a mixture of concern and curiosity.

I glance down at the food I’ve been torturing with my fork. “Sorry, Dad. It’s great, really.”

“You’ve been quiet ever since you came back from lunch. What’s happened?”

It’s none of my business really, this whole Chloe thing, but it’s been playing on my mind all day. Just recalling the tears shimmering in her eyes and the way she collapsed against my chest has me wanting to tear through town and find Brendan. Chloe’s a good girl—one of the best. She’s damned cute too. While she might be Ethan’s little sister, I’m not blind. Brendan’s an idiot to let her go so easily.

And so callously.

I don’t keep secrets from Dad, though, and it won’t be long until everyone knows Brendan dumped Chloe. I just hope to God everyone knows he also treated her like crap.

“Chloe’s boyfriend broke up with her today.”

Dad shoves his fork into his food and gives a little shrug. “It’s no fun being dumped, son, but it happens.” He shoves the food into his mouth and swallows before saying, “I never liked that Brendan kid anyway.”

“Me neither,” I admit.

Chloe always seemed a little more tense after she started dating him. She lost a little bit of her free-spiritedness, but I just put it down to her growing up a bit.

“But he broke up with her over a text message,” I continue.

Dad shakes his head. “Why am I not surprised? Brendan’s dad’s not much better. He ran off with that waitress for three months, remember? Sounds like father, like son.”

“Chloe’s pretty distraught.”

“I bet. Poor kid. Her mom was always worried they’d do something stupid like get pregnant and marry young. Chloe seemed pretty in love with the boy.”

“Chloe’s too smart for that.”

“Agreed.” Dad leans back in his chair and takes a sip of water. “But it’s better she found out what a piece of crap Brendan is now rather than years down the line. I’m sure she’ll be fine soon.”

I wasn’t so sure. It’s a small enough town, and Chloe worked with Brendan. She wouldn’t be able to escape the heartbreak of it all easily, and Brendan would be in her face most days.

Shit.

The thought that maybe Brendan might change his mind and persuade her to take him back strikes me hard, making a bitter taste rise in my mouth.

She wasn’t that dumb, surely?

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