Mafia by Blood (wlw)

18 - Jackson

Mac's head nearly exploded with all that she had learned in the past week. She had been pacing a lot in her small living room, desperate to talk to someone—anyone. Marley, Jackson, or even Charlie. She had a proper talk with Noelle when she gave her a lift home after the big reveal, but that wasn't enough. She needed an outside perspective, someone who wasn't entangled in this. Little did she know, Charlie was her enemy.

"What the hell am I supposed to do?!" she exclaimed to herself. She even considered calling her father, but she didn't want him to know where she was. Since she was still under 18, he could force her to move away, and that wasn't a risk she was willing to take. She'd rather pretend she knew nothing.

With a frustrated sigh, she plopped onto her couch, putting her legs on the white, rectangular coffee table. After a moment's hesitation, she decided to call Jackson. Maybe he could take her mind off things.

"Hey, Mac, what's up?" he asked, almost replying the phone call instantly.

"Hey, Jackson. I was just wondering if you wanted to hang out?"

"Yeah, sure. I'll come over, just text me the address," he said in a cheerful tone, and then hung up.

Thirty minutes later, Jackson was sitting on the couch next to Mac, each with their own tub of Ben and Jerry's cookie dough ice cream. Jackson wondered why Mac had suddenly wanted to hang out, but he was happy about it. Even though he was back with his ex, the connection he felt with Mac was undeniable. He would break up with Christina for Mac in a heartbeat.

"So, I saw you were back with Christina again," Mac said after a while. She wasn't sure if she was jealous, but something felt off. Jackson had been distant, not joining her or Marley for lunch lately, and their conversations at work had only been work related.

"Uh, yeah," he cleared his throat and ran a hand through his curly hair. Mac glanced at him, waiting for more. He met her eyes and continued, "I mean, we're supposed to be together, right? I'm the quarterback, she's the cheer captain. Isn't that like destiny or something?" he asked unsure. How Mac wished something like that was her biggest problem right now.

Mac smiled gently. "I think it's just a cliché. The quarterback and the head cheerleader are seen as the most desirable students at school, so they gravitate towards each other. But it doesn't mean you have to date her unless you want to."

She was leaning more towards the idea of dating Jackson. Though she was head over heels for Noelle, she knew she couldn't be with her. Noelle was dangerous. And Jackson seemed like he didn't want to be in his current relationship.

"You got some alcohol?" Jackson asked, not caring about that they had school the next day.

"Yeah, I have wine and a bottle of Bacardi. What do you want?" Mac asked, standing up.

"What do you have to mix with Bacardi?" Jackson inquired, not very experienced with alcohol due to his busy schedule with keeping his grades up, his part-time job, football and his girlfriend.

"Cranberry juice. You barely taste the alcohol," Mac explained, heading to the kitchen to fix their drinks.

A few drinks later, Mac felt the need to share her burden. "I just met my mother for the first time," she said, her words slightly slurred.

Jackson's eyes widened, and he turned to face her. "Oh wow. How was that?"

"Super weird," Mac admitted. "She's very wealthy, but I don't think she's a good person."

Jackson nodded, unsure of what to say. "What are you going to do? Do you want her in your life?"

Mac hesitated. She did want her mother in her life, despite the mafia connections. The idea of being related to such powerful people terrified her, but she thought she might be safer at the villa. "I think I want her in my life. She even asked me to move in."

"Are you going to?" Jackson asked, finishing his third drink. They were both feeling tipsy, the alcohol loosening their tongues and inhibitions.

"I don't know. It's a lot to think about," Mac said, finishing her own drink. They had subtly moved closer, and Jackson couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to kiss her. Mac licked her lips nervously, contemplating the same thing. Jackson leaned in slowly, stopping just before his lips touched hers, seeking consent.

Her heart raced, and she was about to kiss him before she pulled back. "We can't, Jackson. You're with Christina. And I..." She trailed off.

"Screw her. You just convinced me I don't have to be with her. I want you," he said impulsively, then immediately regretted it, burying his face in his hands. He was scared that what he just said would ruin their friendship.

"I think I'm in love with someone else," Mac admitted softly.

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A/N
Sorry for the short chapter, but it felt like the right place to stop 😅