Chapter 24
TWENTY-FOUR
AINSLEY
We did it! We made it to Christmas break, and I could not be more thankful to have three weeks off from school. I’ve been in core classes so far, so most of my writing has been assignments the teacher gives us—not a lot of time for my personal writing projects. That will be rectified over break. I plan to finish a short story I have slowly been working on, as well as a new poem.
Cassie and I have our bags packed and ready to go. The boys should be here any minute to pick us up. Cass and I didn’t bring our cars to school because everything is within walking distance. We plan to drive them back when we move into our apartment. So our only option is to ride with the boys home. I didn’t want to lie to Jackson when he asked how I was getting home. He didn’t take it very well. I assured him this was the only option—he tried to buy me a plane ticket, but I shut that down.
Speak of the devil. I reach for my phone to see a text from him.
Jackson
Have you gotten in his car yet?
Me
No
Why should I give him more than that when he's acting insane? I'm dizzy from the crazy mood swings he's had recently. I’m trying to be a patient girlfriend, but this is getting ridiculous. My phone dings again.
Jackson
You better have your phone on you at all times, Ainsley. I’m serious.
I don’t want to respond, but I know he'll blow my phone up if I ignore him. I just need to appease him until he checks his behavior.
Me
This isn’t a big deal, Jackson. I promise you that. It’s just a car ride. When we get home, Morgan and Ace will be off doing their own thing.
Jackson
Toots, I’m sorry, I know I've been acting insane lately. But the thought of you being around him drives me crazy. Thinking about the way you explained how you felt about him when we first met…Ahh, I don’t know. I feel like you can’t fully commit to me because you're still holding on to him.
There’s my sweet boyfriend again. I miss that guy.
Me
You have me, Jackson. I’m with you, not him, and there is nothing for you to worry about.
Jackson
I hope so, Toots. Call me when you get home.
I don't respond, and leave it at that. The guys should be here any minute, and I'm ready to get on the road. I haven’t talked to Ace since the day he dropped us off at our dorm after the charity event. He’s been keeping his distance from me by apparently falling off the face of the earth. It’s for the best and I know it, but a part of me wishes things could be different between us. To go back to the way it used to be, a time when he didn’t break my heart, and true feelings weren’t shared.
Still, I can’t shake the memory of him confessing that he's in love with me. It plays on repeat in my head more than I’d like to admit. I like Jackson a lot, and I could see us being something special if he could pull his head out of his ass and get his shit together. But with Ace…He holds a piece of me that I’m not sure I can ever get back.
My phone rings, and I see Morgan is calling me. Probably to tell me they’re outside. “Momo. Are you here?” He groans on the phone, but doesn’t say anything about the nickname. He’s accepted defeat.
“Mini Copeland. Yes, we are. Need help with your bags?” I guess if he accepts his childhood nickname, I should accept mine. “No, we're good, we packed light. Be down in a sec. Love you, bye.” I quickly hang up and call out to Cass, telling her it’s time to go.
My thoughts are back on Ace as we ride the elevator down. I’m nervous. How will he act toward me? Is he angry? The last texts he sent me were not pleasant. Then my least favorite thought pops in.
You weren’t enough of a reason.
I drive that thought completely out of my brain. What choice did he have? What choice did either of us have? Morgan proved it that morning: he would never be down for Ace and I to be together. Their friendship is rock-solid, and I would never want to be the reason to break that up.
The elevator door dings and we walk through the main lobby. Morgan is outside of Ace's Bronco, waiting to put our bags in the back. I peer around him to see Ace on his phone in the driver’s seat.
It’s fine; you’ve got this. Everything will be okay.
I keep telling myself that with the hope that I start actually believing it. Maybe it will be, though. Maybe he's been busy like Morgan told Cassie, and he'll be happy to see me. I may have a boyfriend, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.
“Mini Copeland. Ice Queen. Let me get your bags.” Cassie rolls her eyes, holding her duffle out like the queen he called her. Hell, their dynamic is confusing.
Cassie still hasn’t told me anything is going on with them, and neither has Morgan. I know something is—Cassie would have freaked the hell out months ago for me spending too much time with Jackson, unless she had someone else occupying her time. Between the passive aggressive comments, and heated arguments…it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see what's happening. Not my business though, she'll tell me when she wants to, or when J moves in. Jordan is like human truth serum.
“Are you excited to see Mom and Dad? I am! Ah, I've been drooling thinking about Mom’s cookies,” I say excitedly.
“I am, and don’t think those cookies are all yours.” I laugh at how delirious he is. Of course they are all mine, she makes them for me.
“Come on, let's get this show on the road,” Ace barks at us, clicking his phone off. If I wasn’t sure about his mood before, I definitely am now.
* * *
The drive home went by pretty fast. Cass and I sang our favorite songs and talked the entire trip. I’m sure the guys have had enough of us. I know Morgan has; he asked us to shut up multiple times. Ace barely said a word, other than mumbling one-word answers to Morgan. When the song was changing, I saw Morgan lean in. He was whispering, but I could still hear him.
“ What the fuck crawled up your ass today?”
“Nothing.” Ace lets out a low growl as he replies.
Mom must have been tracking my location like the crazy lady she is, because she and Dad are in the driveway waiting for us, along with Mr. and Mrs. Maddox. We already dropped Cass off with her family. I told her to hug that angel of a grandmother for me. I swear, that woman reminds me of a younger Betty White, and who doesn’t adore Betty White?
“For fuck’s sake. I’m surprised they aren’t holding banners to welcome your arrival,” Morgan huffs.
“Why would it be solely for my arrival? You’re their kids, too.” He's being ridiculous. Our parents are excited to see us.
“I don’t remember the welcome wagon any time we came home from break,” Ace finally speaks to me, or maybe it wasn’t exactly to me. But at least he spoke.
“I remember making a big deal every time you guys came home,” I tell him with pride.
“Not every time.” Wow, shots fired. He would have had the welcome of his life—but that situation is on him. Brat behavior it is; that’s my Ace specialty.
“Hey, I saw on IG from a mutual friend that Ashley Jacobs is back home, too. Maybe you guys could rekindle the flame.” His face turns the darkest shade of red, but I have no regrets. He wants to be a dick, fine by me.
“Ashley Jacobs? Ace never fu—” Morgan starts, but he’s cut off by Ace.
“Yeah princess, that sounds like a great idea. I don’t have anyone else occupying my time. Hey, how is Jackson the Douche?” I want to smack the smug grin off of his face. Bastard. Morgan is already engulfed in a huge hug from Mom and Dad, missing that last jab. Point for Ace this round.
“Kids! Will you get over here already? I need hugs.” Mom pleads. We spend the next five minutes being overly loved on and answering questions about school. I see Ace finally break away from his mom and head to his house when his dad stops him.
“We thought it would be nice for us all to have dinner together. It’s been so long since we've had you all under one roof.” I can tell Ace doesn’t like this plan, but adjusts his reaction for everyone. They wouldn’t understand why he would want to avoid dinner.
It’s because of me.