Page 30 of Overprotected

“You’re serious?” My words were soft and he nodded, a coldness crossing his face that I wasn’t used to. “Why?”

“I don’t care for you that way and I don’t want to corrupt you. Greg is my best friend and I choose him, Emma. He’s more important to me. I will honor his wishes to protect you.”

There was resignation in his voice and I blinked in surprise.

“You’re like family.”

“Jackson, I stopped being like family the first time we kissed. I know I’m inexperienced, but I’m not stupid. That all meant something to you too and it was like a wildfire when it finally happened. I felt it.”

Something passed through his eyes before his expression hardened and he crossed his arms over his chest. He wasn’t going to cave, whether this was a lie or not. I felt my heart breaking into pieces as I took a deep breath.

My world was spinning more than before, realizing that not having him was far worse than trying to find a way to tell my brother.

“You are the only person to make me… feel that way.”

There was surprise in his eyes as he clenched his fists, then he shrugged.

“I’m sorry. It’s best this way,” he said in a monotone.

I closed my eyes tightly. I had to decide what to do since there was no way that I was staying here any longer.

“Fine. Dinner’s in there for you. I’ve lost my appetite,” I turned and walked back to my bedroom.

I never wanted to see Jackson again.

But I couldn’t just start packing and move out. I needed a plan. I sent Bella a text. She only had a small one-bedroom apartment, but I could sleep on her couch and look further into getting a dorm for now.

My phone rang within seconds of sending the text. It was Bella.

“What’s up? Your text was urgent.”

“I need a place to stay for a while. Is your couch free?”

“Oh, sweetie, of course it is!”

“Thanks, I’m packing now.”

“You can stay as long as you need to. Do you need me to come get you? You sound upset. I don’t think you should be driving at the moment.”

“Please. I’ll be outside shortly.”

I ended the call and grabbed one of my bags to throw some clothes inside. I’d figure out storage for my other things. I noticed Jackson at the door with an unreadable expression.

“You’re leaving?”

I narrowed my eyes. “Are you kidding? I don’t want to stay here.” I zipped the bag, knowing that I had what I needed for now. I had clothes and my computer. “I’ll be back to get my stuff when I figure out something.” I paused and took a slow breath. “Thanks for helping me out, Jackson.”

I pushed past him as I walked to the front door. I knew that Bella didn’t live far and hoped that she was on her way already.

I slammed the door behind me. It felt good to slam it. I looked around quickly, rushing to the parking lot as my eyes filled with tears.

If I looked back at everything, it was just a kiss and a few nights fooling around, but it was so much more to me. It was more to Jackson as well, even if he was denying it.

I’d seen enough movies where the man always rushed after the woman when they fought. They made up and kissed passionately as he promised her that he loved her. I had wondered if that was how it was when you found someone who made me feel the way that Jackson did.

But no, it wasn’t. It hurt like hell and I thanked the stars that we didn’t sleep together, even though I wasn’t sure my heart could break any more.

A black car zipped into the parking lot, Bella at the wheel. She stopped and opened the back door so I could put my bag inside. I slipped into the passenger seat and wiped the tears from my eyes as she reached over to give me a one-armed hug.

“I’m sorry, Em.”

We sat there in silence for a moment. There was something in her voice that made me think she wanted to say ‘I told you so,’ but held back. I couldn’t blame her. Jackson was a player when it came to women, and I had been taking a big risk getting involved with him at all. Even if she warned me against him, I was sure that I wouldn’t have been able to resist him. I just had to take this for what it was and lick my wounds.

“I jumped in blind. I should be happy that he did this before things went too far, right? We were moving slow by his standards,” I said with a bitter smile.

She frowned and pulled away from the curb and headed out of the parking lot, turning left to go to the part of town where her small four-plex was located, closer to the university.

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