Chapter 0253

Jackson hesitates, glancing away from me and looking down the stairs.

“Jacks!” I gasp, pulling his face back to look at mine, aghast at the idea that he wouldn’t come. “You said you! You told my

mom!”

“Ariel,” he sighs, shaking his head and wrapping the arm around my waist tighter, pulling me closer so that my feet are barely on the stairs anymore, my weight all on him. “It’s just… it’s been a lot, okay? And I’m no good with this…people stuff, and there are going to be a lot of people there for winter break.”

Understatement of the year, but I don’t say anything that will encourage him on this ridiculous idea not to come.

“Maybe it’s better for me to not go?” Jackson says, soft, hesitant. “To just take the next two weeks to get my head together, and stay here where it’s quiet, and then I’ll see you when you get back?”

“Jackson,” I cry, my heart breaking at the idea. God, not seeing him, for two weeks? After everything we’ve been through in the past few days?

He groans, clenching his teeth at the sound I make. “Don’t ask me, Ari,” he whispers, shaking his head, his eyes exhausted and sad. “Don’t ask me for more today, because if you ask, you know I’ll give it – I can’t say no –”

from his cheek and running

it, hardly able to bear it. And even though he’d probably

likes it. He likes it a

a promise in every word. “I promise it will be good,

his eyes, staring up at me,

stairs, and I know he has to get to his room

a kiss to his mouth – fast, too short, not

+15 BO

try,” he whispers, looking up into my face. And I nod, knowing that’s the best I’m going

tendency to run, doesn’t he?

kisses me again, just as swift as the last, before carefully putting me on my feet and letting me go. “Get back to your brother,” he growls, narrowing his eyes a little. “Don’t ge wandering around this

((

away,” I snap, rolling my eyes and turning to dart up the stairs. “The train, Jacks!” I call over

the ends of me that he comes, but part of me knows…well, I know that if he was going to come, he would have told me so. He would have promised.

reach the top of the stairs, frowning

his side, trying to get back into the room, but Jesse and Ben are already at the door, backpacks

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