Page 14

Chloe

I shake out my beach towel, sending a spray of sand into the air. The sun inches down over the horizon, scorching the sky a vibrant orange. I sigh. I’m not sure I’m ready for today to end. It’s been the most fun and relaxing day I’ve had in ages.

As I fold the towel, I can't help but steal glances at Jackson, who's packing up our cooler nearby.

"Hey, Chloe, catch!" Jackson tosses me a water bottle, and I fumble it, nearly dropping it in the sand.

"Nice throw," I tease.

Jackson grins, his brown eyes crinkling at the corners. "Says the girl who can't catch to save her life."

I roll my eyes, but I can't keep the smile off my face. It's been so easy being with Jackson today, pretending to be a couple. Maybe a little too easy. I push the thought away, focusing on gathering the last of our things.

"Ready to head back?" Jackson asks, slinging his backpack over his shoulder.

I nod, trying to ignore the pang of disappointment in my chest. Being with Jackson was so natural I didn’t even notice Brendan leaving early until Sara mentioned how aggravated he seemed.

As we reach the parking lot, I find myself searching for ways to make the day last longer. Maybe we can go grab a drink or dinner or something, even though I’m totally full from all the food everyone brought with them and I know Jackson was literally just saying the same.

And then it hits me again. This is all pretend. There’s no reason for us to spend more time together, especially now Brendan has gone home.

Still, as we load our things into our cars, I can't help but feel a little wistful. Today was perfect.

"Well, well, well... if it isn't the cutest couple on the beach!"

Sara's voice cuts through my reverie, and I turn to see her sauntering toward us, a mischievous glint in her blue eyes. My cheeks warm as I remember our 'couple act' throughout the day. Sara will probably text me later and demand to know more about our playact.

"Oh, I don’t know," Jackson says with a grin, “I’m definitely the cute one in this relationship.” He drapes an arm casually over my shoulders.

I exchange a quick glance with Sara, begging her not to give away how much she knows.

"The two of you are adorable," Sara gushes, winking at me.

I laugh, trying to ignore the way my heart speeds up at Jackson's touch. "What can I say? We aim to please."

Jackson's arm slips away, and I immediately miss its warmth. He turns to me, gesturing to my overloaded beach bag.

"Here, let me take that for you," he offers.

"Oh, um, sure," I stammer, caught off guard by the simple gesture. As he takes the bag, our fingers brush, and I swear I feel a jolt of something running up my arm, giving me goosebumps.

For a moment, I just stand there, noticing how natural it feels to have Jackson by my side. It's different from how it was with Brendan—easier, somehow. Like I can just be myself without trying so hard.

God, does Jackson have to be such a gentleman? It’s making it impossible to keep my head straight around him.

"Hey,” Sara says, waving a hand in front of my face, “what do you say we all grab some ice cream before heading home? I'm craving something sweet."

I blink. God, does Jackson have to be such a gentleman? It’s making it impossible to keep my head straight around him.

I grimace. "I wish I could, but I've got an early shift tomorrow. Rain check?"

"Boo, you're no fun," Sara teases, but her smile is understanding. She pulls me into a quick hug, her perfume enveloping me. As she lets go, she leans in close, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I don’t know that either of you need to do much pretending. The boy is obsessed.”

I feel my cheeks flush as Sara grins and saunters off to the ice cream parlor, leaving me alone with Jackson. The parking lot suddenly feels much smaller.

Jackson puts my bag in my car and shoves his hands in his pockets. “So…”

"So..." I echo, unsure of what to say next. We stand there, neither of us moving toward our cars. The sound of waves crashing in the distance fills the silence between us.

My throat tightens when I meet his gaze.

I don’t know that I can bring myself to believe what Sara says but I have a horrible feeling it might be me who is becoming obsessed.

I want to touch his slightly stubbly jawline and feel his arms around me again.

A shiver chases up my spine that I have to suppress.

“Jackson, I, uh, thanks for coming today. I know beach parties aren’t really your thing.”

Jackson leans against his car, his rugged features softening in the fading light. "Hey, it's been a great day. You’ve got a good group of friends who are interested in more than getting black out drunk, you know?”

“Yeah, they’re a pretty good group.”

“Apart from Brendan.”

Brendan? I barely remember who that is now, let alone the fact I dedicated two whole years and my future plans to him.

“We made a pretty convincing couple, huh?"

Jackson chuckles, the sound making my stomach do a little flip. I really like seeing him smile.

"We sure do. Maybe we missed our calling as actors."

Wind whips through the parking lot, kicking loose sand into the air. I wince as it blows into my eyes. “Ouch.” I run a finger along my eye, trying to dislodge whatever has landed in it and Jackson steps forward.

“Stay still.” He pushes my hair aside with one hand and gently swipes away the grit. “Better?”

I blink a few times. “Better, thank you.” Then I meet his gaze and my heart comes to a shuddering stop.

Time seems to slow down. I can feel heat radiating from his body, smell the salty ocean air mingling with his cologne. He’s so close I could reach out and grab him. My heart kicks back into action, so loud I'm sure he can hear it.

I see his gaze drop to my lips and I drift slightly toward him, powerless to do anything else. "Chlo?" Jackson whispers.

I can't speak. Can't move. Can't think about anything except how close we are, and how badly I want to close that final gap between us. Before I can fully process what's happening, our lips meet.

My mind goes blank. All I can focus on is the softness of his lips, the warmth of his hand as it cups my face. The kiss deepens, becoming more intense, more passionate. It's like nothing I've ever experienced before—not with Brendan, not with anyone.

Jackson wraps his hands around my waist, pulling me hard against him and making me gasp. He tastes like diet soda and warmth. I want more. I loop my arms around his neck and move against him as though trying to draw everything I possibly can from this kiss.

Jackson's hands tighten around my waist, his touch making my skin heat. My world becoming nothing but him. All I can feel is him. All I can taste is him.

And I never want it to end.

As we finally pull apart, a whirlwind of emotions crashes over me. Confusion, exhilaration, fear. I meet his gaze as I try to steady my breaths and take a slight step back. This was nothing like our previous kiss. This was real, raw, and so much more powerful.

I swallow hard and search for my next words. Hey, Jackson, fancy kissing me again? I can’t find anything to say that makes any sense so I just stare at him.

"Chloe," Jackson breathes out, his voice gritty. "I... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have—" He shakes his head.

Shit, I stayed quiet too long. Now he’s sorry. An ache settles into my chest. He regrets kissing me.

He takes another step back. “I shouldn’t have taken this whole fake boyfriend thing too far. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

My heart sinks at his words. Of course he thinks this was just part of our act. I force a smile, trying to ignore the ache in my chest. "No, it's okay. You didn't," I assure him. "I just...I should probably get home. Early morning and all that."

I fumble for my car keys, needing to escape before I say something I can't take back. "Thanks for today, Jackson. It was fun."

"Chloe, wait—" he starts, but I'm already opening my car door. I don’t want him trying to make me feel better. He’s done enough for me already. He doesn’t need some lovesick girl drooling over him.

"I'll text you later, okay?" I say, sliding into the driver's seat.

As I start the engine, I catch a glimpse of Jackson in my rearview mirror. He's still standing there, watching me leave, his expression unreadable. I want to turn back, to tell him I’m enjoying this act far too much. I want to be honest, like we promised. But uncertainty holds me back.

What if he doesn't feel the same way? What if this ruins our friendship? What if I'm setting myself up for another heartbreak?

I grip the steering wheel tighter, debating whether to be stop and be honest with him. The words are on the tip of my tongue, but fear keeps them locked away. I drive off, leaving Jackson behind, and I can't help but wonder if I'm making the biggest mistake of my life.