Just Pretend

Chapter Fifteen

Jason

I can't shake the feeling that something is about to change.

It's been three months since Gwen and Mark moved in beside Alyssa and I can't seem to stop visiting them in the hopes of seeing her.

For the two weeks that Mark had been gone in the beginning I spent every day with her and, if I'm honest; I've never enjoyed a woman's company as much as I enjoy hers. Gwen is an interesting woman with experiences most people can only dream about and there are so many things that we have in common.

Since his return he's been sour and Gwen's been avoiding anything that might set him off, including hugging me when I visit.

That stops today.

After work, I get into my truck and slam the door behind me as I start it, nodding at Finn and Howard as they get into their cars beside mine and pull out of my parking space with a squeal of tyres, earning a curious glance from Finn.

I tear down the road to the gated community where Gwen and my sister live, knowing Alyssa is already back from work. I'm not planning on going straight to Gwen's but when I slow down to pull into Alyssa's driveway, I see Mark's truck standing diagonally across Gwen's and he's dragging luggage behind him.

A spark of hope ignites in my chest that Gwen had finally decided that she's had enough of his bullshit and left him, but it dies the moment I see her dragging her signature black and silver luggage behind her as she walks into the driveway. Her eyes immediately fall on my truck and a guilty expression flashes over her face as she diverts them to Mark's car, lifting her heavy bags by herself into the back of the car.

Judging by the amount of luggage she's packed; it looks like she's going away for a few weeks.

I park in Alyssa's driveway and get out of the car, not looking next door, and walk into my sister's foyer to the smell of food and the sound of Clarissa laughing her head off. I scoop my niece up into my arms as she runs by me and Will stops in the doorway, wheezing.

'Thank you. Hey, Jace. How're you doing?' Will asks when he catches his breath then he catches sight of my expression and his eyes widen slightly but he doesn't say a word, walking up to me and taking Clarissa from my arms.

'Yeah, you look like that cause you're just friends,' he mutters loud enough for me to hear but low for Clarissa to miss as he walks with her into the kitchen, probably to tell Alyssa that I look like I could punch a fucking wall.

Sure enough, Alyssa walks into the entry way with raised eyebrows and walks right up to me, poking me in the chest with her finger.

'Tell her how you feel, Jace. She won't know until you do,' she says and I look down at her fierce face and her hard brown eyes.

'I can't. I'm going over,' I evade Alyssa and walk to the back door, but not fast enough not to hear her next words.

'So this is how it's gonna be? You're using us as an excuse to see her?' I stop in the doorway and look at her with a curious expression.

'Until a house opens up here, yes. I always visit after I've been to see Gwen,' I point out but Alyssa's jaw is halfway to China through the floor. I roll my eyes and make my way to the gate at the back of the yard and through the communal pool area and slide my hand over Gwen's gate, flicking open the latch and let myself through.

I can hear movement in the house and then Mark's voice cuts through the yard, stopping me in my tracks.

'Just go to Jason, for fucks sakes Gwen. You know you want to say goodbye at least.'