tying up loose ends ☆ a jack harlow fanfiction

new haven

"coming home today"

Beth pressed send on the text to Christian before rolling her suitcase out the front door of Jack's apartment. The newly engaged couple hadn't made it to the elevator before her phone buzzed. It was Christian.

"so excited to see you. be safe❤️"

The text went ignored. The bliss from the night of the proposal had faded some, leaving Beth with the agonizing realization that she really had to tell everyone that she was marrying Jack. By the time she fell asleep tonight, her and Christian would be no more. She would have to pack up all of her stuff. What about her lease? What would she and Christian do about their dog?

She could only worry so much, because her worry was distracted by the ring on her finger glistening in the sun as she walked hand in hand with Jack out to his car. This once seemed so unattainable. It was all she wanted for so long, but she had long ago become convinced that it was impossible. She had settled for other things, for other people, but now Beth was fulfilling the dreams she had had for so long.

They boarded the private jet that Jack had called to transport them to New Haven, and the young couple enjoyed drinks and bowls of pistachios and pretzels. Beth was quiet, snacking and looking out the window.

"What's wrong?," Jack asked, reaching across to place his hand on his fiancé's knee.

"I just feel bad for Christian."

"I know...but at the end of the day, you have to do what makes you happy."

"You make me happy," she responded with a smile, grabbing his hand and squeezing it.

"And you make me happy."

•••

Beth stood on her front porch, trying to bring herself to ring the doorbell. She had asked Jack to stay in the car, at least for now. The first thing Christian saw when he opened the door shouldn't be his girlfriend and her new fiancé. Finally, Beth forced herself to ring the bell. Lucy reached the door before Christian did and stared at her out the floor-length window next to the door, barking excitedly. Christian followed behind the dog, sporting Beth's favorite sweater of his and holding a mug of coffee. He used his free hand to open the door and embrace his girlfriend.

"I missed you," he exclaimed. "I was starting to think you'd never come home."

Beth laughed half-heartedly.

"Yeah, I missed you too. Can we talk?"

Christian's brows furrowed over-top of his glasses.

"Of course. Is everything okay? Did something happen with your parents in Louisville?"

 "No, no, my parents are fine."

Beth grabbed Christian's hand and guided him into their living room, sitting beside him on the couch.

"Christian, I love you and I am so thankful for the time we've spent together," Beth said. She had been planning this speech for the entirety of the plane ride. "You reminded me that I was capable of being loved. We've grown a lot together, but sometimes people grow apart and I just think—"

"Wait," Christian interrupted. "Are you dumping me?"

"Please let me finish..."

"Oh my god, you're dumping me! Beth, what happened? We just went ring shopping. I thought we were gonna get married."

"I thought that too."

"Holy shit, you slept with Jack didn't you?"

"What?" Beth felt exposed and couldn't keep her cheeks from flushing.

"You went to Louisville and you fucked Jack!" Christian stood up and began to pace around the room, the dog following at his heels. "I can't believe you. I should've seen this coming."

"Christian it's not like that. Please listen to me."

"Just get out Beth."

"Christian I'm sorry. I really do love you."

Realizing she wasn't going to get a response, Beth headed out to the car, where Jack was waiting for her. Christian watched out the window to see whose car his now ex-girlfriend was getting into. Upon realizing the answer, he rushed outside and banged on Jack's driver's-side window until he rolled it down.

"You piece of shit. You think you can sleep with my girlfriend, fuck up our entire relationship, and then just show up here in our town with her? Go back to Louisville. Beth doesn't need you here."

Jack eyed Christian and let out a laugh.

"You think we just fucked?" He turned to Beth. "You didn't tell him? We're engaged buddy." 

Christian opened the car door and yanked Jack out of the car and onto the ground. He began kicking him as Jack struggled to block his face.

"You are such a worthless asshole. You've always been the only thing standing between me and Beth. And now you think you can just marry her without even having a real fucking relationship with her?!"

His boot nailed Jack right in the nose, causing it to start spewing blood. Beth remained in the passenger seat of the car, too stunned to move.

"Christian stop!" she pleaded, fearful at seeing the man she had once valued for being so gentle acting out in this way.

Christian did not obey Beth's request, but Jack was able to pull himself to his feet and throw several punches, despite the blood from a cut on his forehead blurring his vision.

"You're just mad she chose me," Jack said, landing a punch on Christian's left cheek.

"No, you're just mad because you know she doesn't love you like she loves me," Christian responded, throwing a punch towards Jack's nose that he narrowly avoided. "The only reason she's been so obsessed with you all these years is because you're the first boy she ever loved so she thinks you two are soulmates or some bullshit. But guess what? You're not. As soon as she realizes you two have nothing in common and that you haven't changed and will never be able to give her what she needs, she'll leave you and be begging me to take her back."

Despite his bruised and bloody face, the thing that hurt worst is that Jack knew that Christian was right. For that reason, he threw one more punch, the hardest one yet, and got into the car and drove off.

author's note:

i'm SO sorry it took so long to update this story. i was super conflicted about what i wanted to happen, but i think i figured it out and am looking forward to writing some more chapters soon!! :)