Page 143 of Bide

“You shut me out. You wouldn't talk to me, you barely even looked at me. For a month, Luna, I tried to help you and you refused to let me in. I had no idea what was going on with you. What was I supposed to do? Wait around until you decided I deserved your attention again?”

My yelled words hang heavy in the air. I watch as Luna deflates, her defiance and snark evaporating as her shoulders sink. I wait for her to say something. Anything. Prove me wrong for thinking she just didn't want me around anymore.

She says nothing.

I'm halfway out the door when she finally manages to get a word out. “Jackson.”

Glancing over my shoulder, the sight of her genuinely makes my chest ache. Sitting there with her hands folded in her lap, fingers tapping against each other, hair falling out of that shit bun I did and spilling around her shoulders. Peering up at me and chewing on her bottom lip, she looks so lost. So sad. So small. “I-”

Hope flutters in my stomach as she opens her mouth to speak. As quickly as it springs to life, it dies when she suddenly shakes her head. Straightening up, her face hardens again and I want to fucking scream with frustration.

“Thanks,” is all she says. That coldness is back, her nonchalant tone of voice sounding like she couldn't give less of a fuck. “For bringing me home.”

“You're welcome.”

She hesitates for the briefest of moments before jerking her head towards the door. “You can go now.”

Pursing my lips, I nod, hurrying out of there without another word, all but ripping the front door off the hinges in my haste to get out of there. Brisk morning air slaps me in the face as I step outside. Resting my hands against the railing across from her door, I lean against it for a moment, dropping my head and taking a few deep breaths. I let the coldness of the metal seep through my clothes, the equally cold air calming me down.

“Fuck.”

* * *

By the time I get home, it's the afternoon.

I walked; I needed the fresh air, needed the time alone to just… think.

Plus, my phone died sometime in the wee hours of the morning and I doubt Luna would give me a ride.

A groan escapes me when I push open the front door and find the boys waiting for me in the living room. It seems the intervention portion of this weekend wasn't exclusive to last night. Immediately; the questions begin.

“What happened?”

“Is she okay?”

“Did you fuck?”

Cass gets thumped for that last one. He yelps, scowling at me as he rubs his arms. “What? You need a good fuck.”

“She was drunk, asshole.”

“Not last night, obviously.” Cass shoots me a 'duh' look. “But look me in the eyes and tell me nothing happened this morning.”

I look him dead in the eyes. “Nothing happened this morning.”

Ben cackles loudly, reaching over to slap Cass in the chest. “Pay up, bitch.”

Pouting, Cass huffs dramatically as he pulls a couple of bills from his wallet and begrudgingly tosses them at Ben.

I gape at the pair in disbelief. “You guys bet on us hooking up?”

“Theybet.” Nick rolls his eyes. “I stayed out of it, like a normal person.”

Unbelievable.

Shooting the pair a dirty look, I head for my room. “Hey!” Ben protests. “Tell us what happened!” A round of boos follows me up the stairs as I flash them my middle finger.

As I kick my bedroom door shut behind me, I shed my clothes from last night, eager to get them off and myself in a shower. I need to rinse off the smell of booze from last night. And the smell of vanilla. Quickly stopping to plug in my phone to charge, I hightail it to the bathroom.

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