Chapter 24

I turned around, already expecting to see Macklin. Already preparing to roll my eyes and brush past him, pretending like I didn't care.

But it wasn't him.

It was Jackson.

My breath caught in my throat.

For a second, the crowd around us disappeared, the noise of the party dulled, and all I could focus on was him—my ex. The one person I never wanted to see again. The boy who manipulated me, twisted every situation to make me the bad guy, and gaslit me into believing I was always the problem. The last time I ever spoke to him was the day he put his hands on me in that truck. And after that, I never looked back.

Until now.

"What the hell are you doing here?" My voice came out sharper than I expected, but not nearly as sharp as the panic tightening in my chest.

Jackson smiled. Casual. As if we were old friends catching up, not exes with a history of broken trust and bruised memories. "It's nice seeing you, Lex. We should talk."

I almost laughed at the absurdity of it. Like we had anything left to say to each other. Like I hadn't spent the last few years making sure he was nothing but a distant, rotting memory.

"I don't think so," I said flatly, stepping back.

He took a step forward.

I swallowed, resisting the instinct to recoil. Every part of me screamed to leave. But my feet wouldn't move, caught between fight or flight. And the worst part? A small, pathetic part of me wished Macklin would show up right now, just to give me an excuse to go.

But he never found me.

And just like that, the crowd swallowed me back up—except this time, I was stuck with the one person I never wanted to see again.

Jackson exhaled through his nose, like this was difficult for him. Like he was the victim here. "Look, after high school... things got rough. I lost my job at that big marketing company because of downsizing, and after that, nothing stuck. Meanwhile, I saw you—doing great, making friends, being happy in San Jose..." His jaw tightened slightly. "I thought things would turn out great for me too if I come here. I rushed for a fraternity here, built connections, hoping I'd run into you."

My stomach twisted.

"You—what?"

He shrugged, as if expecting me to be flattered.

I stared at him, feeling a mix of disgust and unease. "That's not admirable, Jackson. That's creepy."

His face darkened for a split second before smoothing over into something more controlled.

"Well, good luck with that," I muttered, stepping around him, eager to escape.

His hand shot out, grabbing my arm.

My body locked up.

"Jackson, let go." My voice came out even, but I could feel the panic creeping in.

"Just—just give me a chance," he pleaded, his grip tightening. His fingers pressed into my skin, holding me there, desperate. "I miss you, Lex."

I wrenched my arm free, my heart hammering. Thanks to self-defense classes, I knew exactly how to break out of a tight grip. I shoved him back, turning to leave but before I could take two steps, he grabbed me again.

This time, his hand wrapped around my bicep, fingers digging in like he was afraid I'd disappear again if he let go.

I froze.

"Jackson," I warned, my voice sharper now.

But he didn't listen. He was holding on tighter, his eyes searching mine with something desperate. "I just need to talk to you."

I struggled, trying to rip my arm away, but he wouldn't let go. The humiliation of it all, of him trying to keep me here against my will, made my blood boil.

The cool night air hit my face as he dragged me toward the patio exit. I twisted in his grip, shoving against him, but he was stronger.

"Jackson, let go of me!"

"Lex, just listen—"

"No, you listen!" I yelled, yanking back against his hold. "Did it ever occur to you that I don't want to see you again? That I don't want anything to do with you after the way you treated me? After you laid your filthy hands on me?"

His jaw twitched. "I've changed."

A sharp voice cut through the air before I could respond.

"Hey. Get your fucking hands off her."

Will.

I whipped my head around to see him standing there, his jaw tight, fists clenched. Gabi stood beside him, arms crossed, eyes blazing. And behind them—Macklin.

Macklin's gaze locked onto Jackson's grip on my arms, his entire body tense. His hands curled into fists at his sides, his chest rising and falling in slow, controlled breaths. But it was his eyes that made my stomach twist because they were unreadable, simmering with something dark.

Jackson scoffed. "Well, if it isn't your knight in shining armor. What, Will? Has she finally let you bang her?"

Will's expression turned deadly. "We were never a thing, you psychotic asshole. You made her feel guilty about everything she did."

Jackson let out a bitter laugh. "You don't know shit, man."

Will didn't hesitate as he shoved Jackson back, his temper snapping. "Back the fuck off."

Jackson stumbled, but caught himself, his face twisting with frustration.

Macklin stepped forward then. Not rushed. Not reckless. Just steady, intimidating. He was a wall, a storm cloud rolling in with a quiet, dangerous energy.

Jackson turned to me again. "Lex, please. You know I—"

"I don't care," I snapped. "I don't want anything to do with you. Get it through your head and fuck off."

I tried to walk away, but Jackson's fingers latched onto my arm again, desperate.

Before I could react, another hand clamped onto Jackson's wrist.

Macklin.

His grip was iron. Stronger than Jackson's.

His voice was calm, steady but laced with something lethal. "Get your hands off her."

Jackson sneered, yanking his arm but Macklin didn't let go. Instead, his grip tightened, twisting Jackson's wrist back at an angle that made Jackson let out a sharp hiss.

"You don't want to do this, man," Jackson gritted out.

Macklin didn't move. Didn't speak. Just applied a little more pressure.

Jackson let go of me immediately.

I stumbled back, breathing hard, and Macklin shifted, stepping between us like a shield. He didn't break eye contact with Jackson, his muscles tight, his jaw locked.

"Walk away," Macklin said, his voice dangerously low.

Jackson looked between him, Will, and Gabi then at me.

The frustration and anger in his expression was barely restrained.

In the distance, sirens wailed. The cops. Probably coming to break up the party.

Gabi grabbed my wrist, yanking me back toward her. "We're leaving. Now."

Jackson hesitated, as if weighing his options. But then his lips curled into a sneer, and he turned, shoving past people as he disappeared into the crowd.

Macklin didn't move for a long moment, still standing protectively in front of me.

Then his eyes found mine.

I swallowed, my chest rising and falling fast.

Gabi tugged my hand again. "Come on." — I didn't fight her. I didn't look back.

I was done.

-=+=-

A lil short chapter but I'm trying to feed you guys well.. I got a new phone and the way some of the words—in reading form— are blocked off is really pissing me off.

My Shayla's. I just can't imagine Will and Macklin being angry. Idk just me?