Page 70 of Unbossly Manners

“I was annoyed at you when I first left,” he said. “But on the plane home, I thought a lot about it.”

“What did you think?” My mind swirled, and I concentrated extra hard, trying to gain purchase, needing to hear his answer.

The traffic buzzed outside, fireworks went off around the city, and the air conditioner whirred.

He didn’t answer.

I rested my hand on his chest and pushed up.

“Have I been roofied?” I asked, remembering the party and my sudden exit.

His hand clenched the duvet. “That’s what the test said.”

It didn’t bother me. Nothing bothered me. I was relaxed and free and calm. Obviously, side effects of the drug. But none of that mattered.

“Answer my questions. I won’t remember any of this anyway.” I patted him on the arm reassuringly.

“I want you to remember,” he said. “But it’s probably better if you don’t.”

“Did you have fake fights with me in your head?”

His laughter rumbled in his chest, vibrating against my cheek.

“Too many of them,” he said.

“I fought with you, too.” I smiled. “I told you what an idiot you are. You know, for all the things.”

“I am an idiot.” He shook his head. “But I was very much in love with Kat when she told me she couldn’t be married to me or anyone. And we have a child together.”

“Evie is worried about you.”

Jackson shifted and his collarbone cut into my cheek. I rolled off him and stared at the ceiling.

“She thinks you need to grow a backbone,” I said.

The room was silent. My stomach ached and I rolled back and forth, but it didn’t help. I slid to the floor, the cool hardwood soothing against my skin. Jackson rested his head at the edge of the bed above me, watching.

“We had a long talk on the phone the other night,” Jackson said. “Evie told Kat she couldn’t run away from Devan. That’s why she’s not moving back in. Sometimes I think Evie’s the adult and we’re the kids.”

His arm hung over the side and I lifted my hand and played with the tips of his fingers.

“I knew I liked her,” I said. “She’s smart.”

“Very smart.”

“I like you, too.”

He squeezed my hand, then released it. “How are things with Derrick?”

“Good.” I yawned. “I’m sleepy.”

“Then sleep.”

I drifted off and dreamed of Derrick and Jackson…and Brody crying in the bathroom.

The sky was black outside the windows when I woke up. Jackson wasn’t in the room and I was back on the bed. My mind was groggy, my feet heavy, but I made it to the bathroom, peed, and washed my hands. I splashed water on my face and rinsed my mouth with mouthwash.

After that, I crawled back into bed. The room was still spinning and wondered if I’d ever feel normal again.

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