Chapter 3
NOW
June
Goddammit. Sophie was still fucking gorgeous.
Her red hair was pinned up, her curtain bangs framing her face.
She was wearing a long, flowy white dress that made her blue eyes pop.
The blush on her cheeks made her look like a perfect porcelain doll.
I looked like a sewer rat compared to her.
My white-blonde hair was stringy and loose down my back, and I had been sweating all through my drive from North Carolina.
My ratty hoodie and biker shorts weren’t much help, either.
I don’t even think my Converse were laced.
“Hey, Sophie. You look great,” I said, hoping the cheeriness in my voice sounded real.
She smiled at me, and we both knew it was fake.
“Addison. What a surprise to see you.” She didn’t even sound like a bitch when she said it—just confused and intrigued. Her eyes moved from Jackson to me, waiting for one of us to explain.
“I’m on my way out, actually. Congrats on your engagement!” My voice chirped so high I would’ve laughed if I wasn’t absolutely mortified.
I squeezed between the two of them, not able to breathe until I was out the front door. I stepped on one of my untied laces, almost eating shit on the concrete. That sure would’ve been the cherry on top.
“Hey—hey, wait up!” My hand was on the handle of my car door, and I so badly wanted to pretend I didn’t hear Jackson running after me. Act natural.
I turned around, leaning back against my car.
“You’re getting married,” I managed to choke out with a smile. “That’s amazing. Sophie Waters. You guys were always such a great couple.” Lie, lie, lie.
Jackson just pursed his lips. He knew I was bullshitting. “You’re still a terrible liar.” He was smiling.
“You don’t know me anymore, Jackson,” I shot back.
He ignored the dig. His eyes roamed my face, like he was trying to find any differences from the last time he saw me.
“How long are you in town for?”
I rolled my eyes and shrugged. “I have no idea. Maybe the entire summer. I don’t know how shitty the house is going to be. It’s Peter, so the place is probably a dump.”
“Do you need help?”
I tried not to scoff. Help from who? Jackson? Yeah, right.
“I’m good, Jackson. I’m sure you’re busy with wedding planning.”
He looked apologetic, and it absolutely wrecked me.
Neither of us said anything else; we just stared at each other, and I focused on that scar across his eyebrow.
I didn’t know this man. I had no idea what type of person he was now.
And I shouldn’t want to know. He had been here this whole time, exactly where I left him.
Without a word I got into my car, and Jackson stepped back so I could pull away from the curb.
I watched in my rearview mirror as he stayed in the street, watching me as I drove away.