I'm hurrying around Brad's kitchen trying to get everything together before I need to leave to sign closing papers on my house. The beach house sold a week ago, and the next day I found my dream house in the hills. Brad is upset about it because he doesn't understand why I would waste money on a house that I wouldn't be keeping long since the plan was to keep his house when we got married. That was his plan, not mine.
"Brad, I'm leaving," I shout throughout the house.
"See you in a bit." He shouts back.
Meeko follows me to the garage door and I kiss his head. I promise my pup that I'll be back before he can miss me and then I tell him to go find Brad. When he walks back into the house, I open the door and get in my car.
It takes the drive to work up the courage to call Jackson. We haven't spoken to each other in five months and the last time I saw him was at my engagement party. He was currently shooting a movie in Canada and I was hoping when I called, I would get his newly hired assistant, Matt.
"What?" Jackson's sharp voice snaps in my ear.
No luck on getting Matt.
"Hello to you too! The beach house sold, and we must be out by the end of the month. Do you think you'll be home by then to get your things or should I box them up and store them in Brad's garage?" I asked as pleasantly as I can.
"I'll be home by the end of the week. When do you leave?" He was short and to the point.
"Three weeks. Do you want to meet at the house this weekend? Next weekend, Brad and I have a wedding to attend and the weekend after that, we have your brother's engagement party in New York." I share.
"Fine. Sure. Beach house at noon on Saturday." He says before hanging up on me.
"And a good day to you too," I shout to the empty car.
The next call I make is to Lexie to see if she had any luck getting me out of the movie, but the studio wasn't budging from me and Jackson. They wanted us now, and they weren't going to give that up. They even threatened a lawsuit for breach of contract if I continue to try to get out of it.
Feeling defeated with both phone calls, I walk into the conference room and sign paperwork until my wrist hurts. I'm given keys to my new house and smile at the room. This is the first house I bought on my own and it feels good. My dad helped me with the purchase of my beach house.
I leave the office feeling like I can make it on my own and I know what I need to do.
I'm going to break someone's heart and it kills me.
Saturday arrives before I blink and I'm in the middle of packing up the living room when Jackson walks into the house looking hungover.
"That's my book." He snaps at the hardcover I'm holding.
Jackson looks like shit and I'm starting to worry about him. He is wearing my favorite mesh shorts, but now they are hanging off him. He is too skinny. It is the middle of summer and he has a full beard covering his face and huge bags under his eyes. He looks exhausted.
"HERE," I say tossing the book at him, but it drops to his feet.
"I'm going to start in my bedroom." He says grabbing a couple of boxes and disappearing down the stairs.
Unable to handle the tension, I follow him. "Where are you staying?" I ask from his doorway.
I know he hasn't been staying here because the house is dusty and neat. No one has been here for quite some time.
Jackson has his back to me and refuses to turn around to look at me. "Ollie and I got a place in West Hollywood."
The stab to the heart is quick and painful. I had no idea that Oliver moved to California and that the two of them are living together.
"When did he move out here?"
"About...four or five months ago. He's trying to get a record deal. Libby is moving out here next year after she finishes school."
I put my head on his doorframe. "Is this the way it's going to be? We're going to go from being best friends to barely talking?" I ask moving into his room and sitting on the bed.
Daring him to look at me.
Jackson starts laughing and looks at me finally. "You can't be serious? Don't you dare blame me for doing this? You pulled away the moment I moved out here. I told you that I loved you and you got engaged to someone else. Sorry if you can't understand why I can't be around you." He glares at me.
"So, we can't even be friends now?"
"It's going to take some time. I can't move as fast as you. I wanted to be the guy to promise you forever. We were going to have three kids, two boys, and a girl. I was going to be the guy that takes care of you when we got old and sick." He looks at me and I can see the pain on his face.
I want all of that too!
"Jax, I don't want to lose you," I tell him with tears threatening to form.
"Ava, I will always be there if you need me, but I can't be around you right now. Not when all I want to do is kiss you and beg you to change your mind and pick me. I love you and that will never change, but you picked Brad. My moving truck is going to be here in two hours, and I have a bunch of crap to pack up." He says dismissing me.
Swallowing the lump in my throat I look at him. "You and Oliver can move in with me. I just got the keys to my new place in the hills, it's big and you can avoid me there." I say with hope.
"AVERY! ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO ME AT ALL?" He is so angry.
I jump from the bed and hurry out of the room. I make it to the first step before I break down into a puddle of tears.
The kitchen is emptied and boxed up before Brad shows up with take-out for the three of us to eat. When he asks where Jackson is, I point towards his room and watch Brad walk down the stairs.
Sitting in the living room, I'm dividing the books into two piles – Jackson's and mine. The boys are getting the food out of the bags on the breakfast bar and I'm upset. Why was Brad getting off easy and I was getting punished? I had just taken The Da Vinci Code off the shelf and he snaps at me. Apparently, this was his book too.
I jump off the floor and look at him. "TAKE ALL THE FUCKING BOOKS. I DON'T CARE." I shout while walking up the stairs to my bedroom.
The pictures rock on the wall after I slam the door shut. I scream into the pillow until I feel nothing.
Brad brings me a plate of food. "Maybe you should stay up here and box up your room? Jackson and I will box up the rest of the stuff downstairs." He kisses me quickly and leaves.
I grab the garbage bag and throw the food away, I'm not hungry. Quickly, I throw everything I have left in my room into two large boxes and tape them shut. My moving company knows that all the furniture and boxes with my name will go to the new house.
Wanting out of this house, I open my terrace door and tip-toe down the steps. I need to get away from the unfair bromance and the beach seems like the perfect hideaway.
I'm going to miss this part of the house the most.
YOU ARE READING
Almost Everything
Romance*** Complete Story*** Avery Weber was Hollywood's new "it" girl and all it took was one big movie to help her get there. She grew up in Upper East Manhattan, attended the finest private schools and got everything she ever asked for - except time wit...
