Page 10 of Second Chance Vacation

“Wait—this is the Jackson who took your—”

“Savannah!” Jackson and I holler in unison, our focus shifting from each other to Savannah in an instant.

It is official; I am going to murder her over international waters.

FOUR

JACKSON

When Wes asked me to join him on this trip and meet a girl he is friends with, I never in a million years expected it to be Viv. Am I aware she lives in Atlanta? Okay, yes. But does Atlanta also have a population of like half a million people? Yes! I not only did not expect ever to see her when living here, but the chances of us running in the same circle were next to zero.

Apparently, God has a sick sense of humor.

I have thought about what seeing her again would be like over the years, but at no point did I expect what stands in front of me. The singular, most breathtaking woman I have ever laid eyes on. I want so badly to be as angry as she is at seeing me, but I’m quickly realizing that I am just as pathetic as I was nine years ago when it comes to her.

She has always been beautiful, but my God—time has done her good.

Where youth once covered her, there are mouthwatering curves. The expansive waves she once straightened to a point are wispy and uncontrolled, causing my mind to shift toward what it would be like to feel them between my fingers. I imagine what it would feel like to wrap them around my hand and tug, her mouth slack as she moans.

I shake my head, trying to push the thought from my brain.

Buzz.

My eyes jerk down to my phone, desperate for a moment of levity in an otherwise tense environment. Hannah, naturally, knows the absolute worst time to say the worst thing.

Hannah

have fun, you lucky asshole.

Jackson

i wouldn’t say lucky, more like…entirely royally fucked.

Hannah

???

Jackson

nothing. i’ll explain when I get home. love you bug

Hannah

love you too

Telling Hannah that I am with Gen seems like a death wish, so I figure it best not to mention it. I will talk to her when I get home. Who knows, maybe there won’t be anything to tell her. For all I know, Gen and I will soon be even further strangers than we already are.

My eyes flick over to her as a knot forms in my stomach.

I really hope that isn’t the case.

When the plane finally takes flight, Gen is already four shots of vodka deep, and by the looks of it, she will not stop until she is absolutely sloshed. My stomach drops at the thought of her being so uncomfortable that she needs to drown her sorrows. My eyes lock on hers for a split second before she pulls her gaze away.

She has never been the type to be a rambler when she drinks, unlike Hannah. My sister is such a blab when she drinks. She always managed to get us both into trouble with our parents back in college. Not only does she have an affinity for spilling her own secrets when drunk, but she also dabbles in sharing mine. Hannah is the reason our parents even found out about Gen and me, after all.

Gen stares out the window as we poke above the clouds. The fluffy blanket mixes with the last strokes of colors from the sunrise. A smile stretches over my lips at her awe, but I am quickly jerked back to reality, allowing my focus to shift back to my hands interlaced in my lap.

Reaching toward the table that separates Gen and me from Savannah and Wes, I grab my rum and cola and take a healthy swig. I have never been a big drinker, except for your usual college antics. If any situation calls for liquid courage, it is taking what is a relatively romantic vacation, to your knowledge, with the woman you can only sort into first love territory.

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