PART 3 – CHAPTER 161
JESS
I sat in the treehouse for what felt like hours, lost in the tangled mess of my thoughts. When I looked outside, everyone was still on the porch, so I’d more than likely only been sitting in this treehouse for five minutes. Why the hell did Luke press my buttons like that? I want to punch and kiss him at the same time, and I hate him for it. When he looks at me, it’s like he’s looking at his future, and when I look at him, I see a stranger.
The pressure is just too much. That’s why Aiden is simple. Hell, I know I won’t marry him, but there’s no pressure there–no expectations. I wiped the tears that had betrayed my tough façade just as Josh’s head poked through the small entrance, his messy blond hair framing his face.
“Do you mind if I come in?” His voice was soft but grounded.
“Yeah, sure,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. He squeezed into the treehouse, his massive form pushing against the walls, making it feel smaller somehow. The familiar scent of pine and sun–warmed wood wrapped around us, grounding me, but the closeness was overwhelming in a way that made me want to squirm. Josh is my brother but just as familiar to me as Luke. Also, he was massive.
“What are you thinking sis?” He asked, staring out the same window.
“Honestly? What did you even eat as a child?” I chuckled,
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surprising even myself. It felt good to joke, a flicker of light in the somber corner of my mind. Josh laughed, shaking his head,
“Yeah, well, everything apparently helps me defend better,” he mumbled, shrugging.
“No wonder you’re one of the best in the state. The players are scared you’ll just eat them.” I teased, nudging him playfully. But beneath the humor, concern lingered. He was spiraling, and I knew it.
Josh didn’t respond immediately; he simply sank into silence, and I could almost hear the gears turning in his head. “You think you’re going to pull yourself together,” I finally asked, keeping my tone light. “Is that the plan?”
He turned to me, a sheepish smile creeping onto his face. “Yeah, you’re right. I need to get my shit together.” His admission hung in the air, heavy with shame and hope. “That’s probably the only reason Luke drove through for my birthday. I feel like a mess, Jess.”
I leaned back against the wall, wrapping my arms around my knees. “I need to get my shit together too. I just don’t know where to start.”
“I get it. No memories. I can’t imagine what it’s like, but I do know, it’s not worth holding onto that asshole in there.” He pierced my defenses with an unexpected jab, the bluntness catching me off guard.
I didn’t want to dive into that rabbit hole. I huffed, crossing my arms, feeling like a toddler at the end of my patience.
“I hate to sound like the big brother, but Aiden is a piece of shit.
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You seriously need to dump that guy.”
“And then what? Get together with Luke?” I asked. “Aiden has done nothing but help. He’s pushed me into running again. He’s made it safe for me not to remember everything, you know? No expectations, no pressure.”
“Right,” Josh snorted, clearly he had nothing else to say.
“But I-” I started to articulate the helplessness I felt. “It feels like… Everyone expects me to adapt overnight, but it’s not that easy.”
Josh’s expression softened even more, a blend of
understanding and brotherly concern. “It’s hard, I know. But you deserve to be happy, even if it means facing that uncomfortable truth. Aiden isn’t the guy, Jess. I want to fucking punch his face just for breathing.”
“I’ll think about it. I just needed to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I know I was supposed to go into the family business, but I can’t remember anything about it, and the classes don’t interest me. That’s why I left, and now, now I don’t know what to go back to. All I have is running,” I confessed, lying back on the wooden floor that really wasn’t sturdy enough to hold my weight and Josh’s.
“You have me too. And mom and dad. You have all of us and you sure as hell have Luke – if you just allow…” I groaned, slapping a palm over my face.
“I don’t want to talk about Luke. I need space from Luke,” I said sharply, rubbing my face. Josh put up his hands in surrender. “Okay, Okay. No Luke talk…” he said with a smirk and dropped down next to me.
PART 3 CHAPTER 161
“Promise me you’ll leave that asshole?” Josh whispered, and I
didn’t reply…
