Page 56 of Middle Ground

He has the audacity to look confused. “I’m not being clingy.”

I give him a flat look. “You all but got to your knees and begged to come with me to see my mom.”

At this, he smirks. “If you want me on my knees, Ellison, all you have to do is ask.”

I scoff. “It’ll be a cold day in hell when I ask that of you.”

“I’ll pack layers.”

I shake my head and pick up my pace. He matches my stride with ease, and he even holds the door to Mom’s apartment building open for me.

We make it to the elevator in silence. As the car climbs to the seventh floor, my jaw clenches.

“Okay, seriously,” I demand, whirling on Jackson, “what’s going on? You’re acting weird.”

He narrows his eyes. “I want to put a better security system in place at the inn, including more cameras,” he finally admits. “At your cottage, too.”

Some of the fight leaves me. “Okay… Where is this suddenly coming from?”

He shrugs, feigning nonchalance. “I’ve been thinking about it since the whole spray paint incident. Especially since I found those pictures.” His lips quirk as some mirth reenters his expression. “But someone has a tendency to jump down my throat when I suggest making a change, so excuse me for being a little nervous to bring it up.”

I shove at his shoulder. “We both know you’ve never had an issue with getting under my skin.”

“You do make it rather easy.”

I roll my eyes.

“So the cameras,” he says. “Are we agreed?”

I nod. “We’re agreed.”

A new system has been on my wish list, a dream forsometime in the distant future, but with everything that’s happened, waiting is a luxury I can’t afford.

Jackson nudges my shoulder with his. “Look at us, making a joint decision. I think that’s our first.”

I fight my smile. “Don’t bring attention to it. If I think about it too long, it’ll make me nauseous.”

Jackson chuckles, and the sound causes this weird fluttering feeling to emerge low in my stomach. The sensation is foreign—it’s been a long time since someone has given me butterflies. It’s a cruel twist of fate that this someone just so happens to be the business partner I love to hate.

As soon as those elevator doors slide open, I stride into the hall. I need to get as far away from him as possible. The close proximity is messing with my brain. Yeah, that’s it. It’s toxic being too close to him.

“Before we go in there, I just want to make something clear,” I say, looking over my shoulder at Jackson. “Whatever you say, donotbring up the vandalism or the pictures.”

His brows furrow. “You’re not going to tell her?”

“Not if I can help it. She doesn’t need that kind of stress.” I raise a brow. “Understood?”

He nods, albeit reluctantly. I know he doesn’t truly understand, but he doesn’t have to. He just has to respect my decision.

My mother’s apartment is the last one on this floor. I don’t bother knocking, I just let myself in.

“Honey,I’m home!” I call.

Voices carry from the living room to the entryway as I toe off my shoes. Jackson does the same. Today, he’s actually dressed in casual clothes. Flip flops included.

Ialmost fell over at the sight of those flip flops.

“Nice place,” Jackson says with an approving nod.