She disappeared into the bedroom, and I heard her rifling through her drawers until she finally emerged, holding the white charger in her hand.
“Found it.” Her eyes bounced around the entire room, everywhere but on me. “Well, I should be going.”
She took a step toward the front door, but I moved in front of it to block her escape. It was now or never. I needed to find out where we stood. I couldn’t let her walk out of here with all this uncertainty surrounding me. Surrounding us.
“I was on my way to see you, but now that you’re here, can we talk?”
“About what?”
“About us.”
“What about us?” she asked, her tone morphing from calm to irritated.
“Where do we stand?”
“I don’t know, Jackson. You tell me. You’re the one who’s been avoiding me.”
It might sound trivial, but if she’d said Jax instead of Jackson, I would’ve had more hope that our conversation would go well.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t avoiding you. I just had to figure some stuff out first. But now I’m ready.”
“Oh, now you’re ready. So, we’re going on your timeline, then? Fuck everybody else.”
This was not how I imagined our conversation going, but I couldn’t blame her for being upset. In fact, if she wasn’t angry, that would’ve been worse. It would’ve meant she no longer cared.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Yeah? That’s what it sounds like.”
“Can we start over?” I took a single step toward her, but she backed up. “Sophie, I’m sorry. Everything got so fucked up. I didn’t know how to deal with it.”
“But you do now?”
“Yes, I do.”
“And?” The slight tremble of her chin sliced right through me. “What does that mean?”
I risked another step, only this time she stayed put. “It means that I love you and I’m sorry I put you through all this. My head was fucked up, but I know what’s important now. You. I need you.”
“You need me? What about what I needed?” she shouted, smacking my chest with both hands. “You tossed me aside without another thought as to how I felt. I was going through some shit, too, Jackson.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I blamed myself repeatedly for you losing your fight. I thought I ruined your career.” I grabbed her hand, and she tried to pull away, butI wouldn’t let her. “If it wasn’t for Trevor, I’d still be blaming myself completely.”
For as much as I tried to remain calm, a prick of jealousy bubbled up. I released her hand. “What do you mean if it wasn’t for Trevor? Why are you talking to him so much?”
“I’m not. But I see him all the time.”
“What?” I asked, raising my voice, barely able to contain the anger raging through me. If that bastard went after Sophie, thinking she was fair game now, I’d kill him.
“Calm down. Or don’t. I don’t care. I can’t do this right now.” She attempted to walk around me, but I moved with her.
“Tell me why you’re talking to Trevor.”
Instead of yelling at me to get out of her way, or dismissing my short tirade altogether, she smiled. What she found so amusing I didn’t know.
“I have to tell you, I’m enjoying this. This is the least of what you deserve for ignoring me.”
“I deserve you fucking around with Trevor?” Every word sliced like a knife.
“No, you ass. Your jealousy. I’m not messing with Trevor. He’s dating Abby. He’s over at the house every other night.”
