He wrapped his arms tighter around her. “Me, too,” he said, and Jessica hoped he’d leave it at that. Of course, he didn’t. “I’ve been thinking it’s going to be so hard to leave you, and we’ve only known each other for three days. So we make the most of right now. And maybe after, we can…”
Jessica shook her head, fighting the urge to throw her hands over her ears and pretend she couldn’t hear him. “No. We’re not gonna talk about after. There is noafter.”
She hadn’t meant the words to come out so harshly, but she wouldn’t take them back.
When she risked a glance at him, she found his eyebrows drawn together in confusion. “Why not?”
“It’s vacation,” she said, finally voicing the thoughts she’d been having all evening. “It’s a bubble. Nothing will be the same when it pops. And besides, you live in Pennsylvania and I live in Michigan. It’s just…it’ll never work.”
“But—”
“No buts,” she said with a raised hand. “Please? Can we just enjoy these last few days? Make the most of it, like you said.”
His eyes bored a hole into hers, as though he was searching her soul for something. Something he clearly didn’t find, because he only nodded and, resigned, said, “Okay.”
And even though their time together hadn’t yet expired, the bubble popped anyway.
NOW: November 4, 2023
He doesn’t love you.
Those four words had been a constant companion to Jessica in the three weeks since Jack’s text, swirling endlessly around the forefront of her brain, never leaving her alone for long.
I know.
And her response haunted her.
She didn’t know why she’d responded that way, or why she’d responded at all. Her relationship was none of Jack’s concern, especially not when he was dating a great girl like Sofia. And Silasdidlove her, damnit.
What had compelled Jack to say such a thing? What right did he have to comment on her relationship? Had he noticedsomething on their impromptu double date? Even the people who had known Jessica for years—her roommates, her family—hadn’t said anything of the sort to her, and they were the people Jessica trusted to always tell her the truth.
So whatwasthe truth?
Honestly, she didn’t know anymore.
The day after that double date, she’d been ill-tempered thanks to Jack butting into places he didn’t belong, and when Silas had asked what her deal was, she’d lied and said Logan had pissed her off.
So now, she was lying to her boyfriend.
Not that Silas hadn’t been harboring secrets of his own.
She didn’t know what the fuck she was doing anymore.
What she did know was, since that double date, things between her and Silas had been surprisingly good. He’d been more attentive than ever, actually listening when she spoke about her classes, her student teaching assignment, or her tutoring clients. He’d carved out more time for her instead of constantly being with his brothers or, well…Sofia.
Jessica had to admit, the timing was suspicious. She hadn’t even known Sofia existed outside of the one random text conversation they’d had with Kenzie. And then to find out that she and Silas had known each other since their first week of college, and were really good friends? She took this sudden shift in his approach to their relationship with a grain of salt, but she wasn’t going to complain that they were spending more quality time together.
She’d suggested such a thing for tonight: for them to go out and get dinner and maybe see a movie, or go bowling or to Top Golf. Something fun, just the two of them.
Instead, she’d wound up at a frat party.
Honestly, she didn’t mind frat parties. She knew the Greek community got a bad rep from outsiders, but she’d always hadsuch a good time at The Lodge house. Not because she enjoyed spending time around Silas’s brothers, who were obnoxious on a good day, but because she liked their girlfriends.
Jessica was dressed comfortably in a pair of artfully distressed, wide-leg jeans and a sweater that hung off her shoulder and cropped right above the waistband of her pants. She had a green solo cup in her hand, half-full of the red wine Silas kept stashed in his room for her.
See, he could be sweet when he wanted to be.
She and a few of the girlfriends sat on one of the couches in the corner of the living room, discussing the winter-themed party the boys were hosting with the Delta Gamma girls at the beginning of December.
