Page 154 of All The Happily Ever Afters

Aubree: Don’t hate me. Jackson. I’m at Jackson’s house. I spent the night here. I’m never going to be able to look him in the eye again.

Never mind that I’ll have to look Cheryl in the eye. She’ll know I slept with her brother. She did egg me on, but it was a joke. It was all supposed to be harmless fun. My stomach does a nervous flip. I won’t be able to stand it if he walks out here all hot and handsome and plays it off like a joke.

Like it didn’t mean anything. With both hands running down my face, I wish I could just get in my car and drive away. My fingers fly across my phone ordering my escape car.

My heart pounds as I glance over my shoulder back at Jackson. I don’t think I’d be able to play it cool if he sauntered out and pretended it meant nothing.

I can see things going both ways. Next Sunday could be stiff, with us walking on eggshells and all our friends wondering what’s going on. Or it could be normal, with both of uspretending to be comfortable. Like it was just a part of the flirtatious game we play.

Or maybe …

Maybe we could be holding hands at the bar. Maybe Jackson could be there as my real boyfriend and not just a decoy for the men who wanted to buy me a drink.

The phone buzzes in my hand and I clutch it to my chest, listening hard for any sign he’s waking up. One beat passes and then another of me staring at him like a weirdo.

Without any sign he’s woken up, I check my phone.

Cheryl: It was just one night. No big deal. You guys got it out of your system ;)

Out of my system.I swallow thickly.

Reality crashes down around me. Not a soul knows about the crush. The genuine feelings I have for him. No one is going to understand and nothing is going to be all right.

What was I thinking? This isn’t the start of a new relationship. This was a one-night stand. In fact, it was a mistake.

My throat tightens. That’s exactly what Jackson will say. It was a mistake for the two of us to jump into bed together. Our friendship is too important to screw it up with emotions.

What a mess.

The only way to begin cleaning it up is to leave before he gets out of bed. As if on cue, my phone informs me the getaway car is approaching. It’s a little cowardly, I know, to run away after a one-night stand. But if that’s all it is, then it won’t be anything new. That’s what you do when things aren’t serious. You go back to your life before they get serious.

I hesitate at the door, my stomach sinking. He might worry about me when he wakes up.

Maybe I should leave a note. I half turn back to the kitchen, but stop myself.

What would the note say?

I had a nice time last night—see you at football!!

Or …

We should talk about this soon so it’s not awkward.

Or …

No hard feelings, whatever happens.

Each idea I have is worse than the last.Shit.It’s better if I don’t say anything. It’s best if I don’t look back. It’s better if I chalk it up to a tipsy mistake and leave it in the past where it belongs.

The future with Jackson has to do with friendship. Because we’re friends. Really good friends. And that’s all we’re going to be.

JACKSON

The thud of the front door is far too soft to be what woke me up. If I had to guess, I’d say it’s the pounding in my head from a vicious hangover that did it.

With a foggy mind and a heavy body, I lift myself up before realizing what happened.

Aubree. Holy shit, did that really happen last night?

---