Page 113 of Waiting For Fate

Oh I’ve met her before! She is really nice.

Ruby

You switched sides really fast.

Me

Should we invite her to girls night?

Shane

Sure. Margs for six, coming right up.

I’ve just finished sending a picture of my feet propped up on my desk and sent it to Sawyer asking if it’s spring break yet, when I hear someone knocking on my classroom door.

Knock knock knock.

God, that was the saddest knock I’ve ever heard.

I look up from my desk to see Jackson standing in the doorway and my stomach twists uncomfortably. He has actively avoided me for the last two months and I can’t say I’ve minded it. The way things ended with us left no sorrow in my heart or mind for this man.

“Hey, can we talk for a minute?” He takes a cautious step inside my classroom, and I straighten my posture.

“Sure, come on in.” I wave a hand in front of me and he walks a little further in, sitting on one of the small desks. “How can I help you, Jackson?” My tone is nothing short of professional, and while I believe that to be the best course of action here, he must disagree. His brows knit together, and he looks at me with a sadness in his eyes that makes me want to roll mine so far back in my head that I can’t see him anymore.

I refrain from doing so.

“I don’t know if you got my text or not, after Christmas, or if you did and you’re just ignoring me.”

Ugh, is he serious?

“I really am sorry for what I said. I didn’t want things to end like that between us. I didn’t want them to end at all. We had something so good up until then. Didn’t we?”

Um, no.

“Jackson,” I lean forward, folding my hands together on top of my desk. “Do you like my friends? Yes or no.”

“I said I would try?—”

“Yes. Or. No.” He lets out a sigh that tells me this whole conversation is a huge waste of time.

“I like you, Leah. In the grand scheme of things, does it really matter if I like your friends or not? I can really picture a future with you.”

I can too, and it’s freaking terrifying.

“Is that so?” A new voice joins the conversation and I look over to see my six-foot-four, perfect hockey star of a boyfriend filling the doorway. His posture is rigid and intimidating, his head is tilted and the most beautiful bouquet of wildflowers I’ve ever seen is in his hands. His eyes drag from Jackson over to me with a stoic look in his eye. “Why do so many people seem to think they have a future with you, when they so clearly do not?” His features completely relax when I smile at him.

“Sawyer, what are you doing here?” I am up from my seat and rushing over to him leaving the conversation that was happening with Jackson when he showed up in the dust. He glances at Jackson again, a look of disdain in his eyes when he does, then his gaze softens when it’s back on me.

“I wanted to bring my girl some flowers, give her something almost as beautiful as her to look at—” he stops and leans down to whisper in my ear low enough that Jackson can’t hear him. “Until you get home and can watch yourself come apart around me.” He leans back up and winks at me, making my cheeks heat instantly. He hands me the bouquet and I breathe them in, they smell just as lovely as they look. Then Jackson clears his throat, reminding me of his very unwelcome presence.

“Your girl?” I turn around, seeing that he has stood up and has his arms crossed over his chest. He looks so small in comparison to Sawyer, it’s almost laughable that he’s trying to make himself look intimidating. “Aren’t you the same guy that flew off the handle when I kissed said girl in question.” He smirks and I can’t hold my eye roll back any longer. I hate awkward encounters such as this, but I am not here for the dick measuring contest that is about to break out in the middle of my kindergarten classroom.

“The very same,” Sawyer answers, shoving his hands into his front pockets. He’s keeping himself more composed than I’d expected, but that may be because he’s in a kindergarten classroom. Jackson turns a worrisome shade of red as he scoffs. Narrowing his eyes as he looks between Sawyer and me.

“Was this why you broke things off with me? It wasn’t the stupid friend thing; it was because of this date ruining asshole?”

“No, Jackson. I ended it for exactly the reason I told you.”

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