Page 116 of XOXO

I close the book and sigh. I want to tell him how I feel but it’s too soon. I don’t want to scare him away knowing that I’ve fallen hard for him. All I could do right now was wait. Things were perfect and I’ll be damned if I mess this up.

Chapter 10

Jackson

“I tell you, she’s the one. I haven’t felt this good in so long.” I’m smiling from ear to ear as I grab my keys and walk out the door. I had already come home from work and Tin asked if I wanted to grab a beer and I readily agreed. I locked the door behind me and started for my car but was halted in my tracks.

“Hello? Jackson…hello?” Tin’s voice sounded far away on the phone as I was rooted in place. “Jackson! What the hell, bro. What’s happening? Are you okay?”

“I-I have to call you back.” I hurried the phone off and focused in front of me. My ex sat on the steps which stopped me from going down. Tears streamed down her face and her cheeks were red. Her breath hitched with each sniffle as her sad eyes stared up at me.

“Tricia? What are you doing here?” I could feel my voice shake. I was shocked to see her there and as much as I say I was over her, seeing her cry made my heart hurt a little.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know where else to go.” Her voice was small and that was so unlike her. She was always the life of the party and you could hear her voice carry over a conversation.

“Why are you here?” I still hadn’t moved from my spot and the keys were now biting into my hand with the firm grip that I had on them.

She stood up slowly and wiped her bottom. She turned towards me and took a step up which caused me to step backwards. Her eyes caught my movement and she stopped.

“I’m sorry. I should go. I shouldn’t have come here.” Her voice sounded sad but aggravated at the same time.

“I still don’t know why you came.” I could feel my irritation building. For just a moment, I felt sympathy towards her but now, I’m irritated.

“I miss you.”

“What?”

She sighed and her foot played with a small pebble on the stair. “I know I was wrong and I know why you left but that’s all behind me now. I want to start over.”

“You’re kidding right now, right?” My voice now displays my aggravation.

Her eyes snap up to mine because this was a side she hadn’t seen before. I always gave in with her and let her have her way. I never raised my voice to her, even when I found out she was cheating.

“Jackson, we have history. I know you can’t just throw that away.”

“Why? You did.”

Her hands went to her hips. “That’s not fair.”

“Why isn’t it? You cheated and threw everything we had out the window.”

“But I don’t want to be with him anymore. I miss YOU.”

I barked a laugh and shook my head. “You’ve got to be out of your mind.”

“Why, because I want to be with the man that I’ve loved for half my life?”

“No. Because, you cheated on me and now you want to come back. I’m not doing this with you today.” I throw my hands up and go to walk past her. Her hands reach out and grab my arm.

“Jackson, please!”

I shrug her off and continue down the stairs. “Please leave. I have nothing more to say to you, Tricia.”

“Jackson, wait!”

I don’t turn around as I made a beeline for my car. My heart was racing and all I could think about was Pine. My mind was running a mile a minute and I just needed to get out of there. As I pulled away, Tricia still stood on the stairs and watched me pull away. I definitely needed that drink today.

Chapter 11

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