Whispered Promises

Chapter 28 - Treading Thin Ice

Jackson's POV

The night at Connor's place was supposed to be a laid-back hangout, just a bunch of guys unwinding from the grind of the season. The whole team was scattered around the living room, slumped on couches, sprawled in gaming chairs, or just sitting on the floor, surrounded by pizza boxes and the usual banter.I was perched on the edge of the couch, half-listening to a conversation about some viral video when Connor shot a smirk in my direction.

"So, Jackson," he said, leaning back with that cocky grin of his, "Where's your little girlfriend tonight? Surprised she's not glued to your side like usual."

The room went quieter, just enough that I could feel all eyes shift to me. I tried to play it off, keeping it casual. "Josy's out with Alex," I said, taking a sip of my drink. "Girls' night."

A ripple of snickers and raised eyebrows followed. Typical."Man, I'm still surprised you managed to lock her down," Connor continued, his grin widening. "She's like a 10, and you're... well, you're you."

The room erupted in laughter, and I forced myself to smile along with them. I'd heard stuff like this before—plenty of times. Josy's always been the type to turn heads, and me? I've never been the guy people expect her to be with. Especially since she's my best friend's sister. But still, it stung more than I liked to admit.

"Believe me," I said with a chuckle, trying to keep it light, "I know I'm lucky."Connor didn't let up. "I heard she's pretty good in bed too," he said, lowering his voice as if sharing a big secret.My smile faltered, and I straightened up. The laughter around us quieted down, and I glanced around the room. Levi was watching me from across the room, his brows knit together. I took a deep breath, trying to keep my cool.

"Where'd you hear that?" I asked, my voice coming out sharper than I intended.Connor shrugged, clearly enjoying himself. "People talk, man."I didn't like where this was heading. Not one bit. I'd been dealing with rumors about Josy since this whole fake relationship started, but hearing it from my teammates—guys I actually hung out with—made it hit differently.

"So, it's not true then?" Connor pressed, his grin still plastered on his face.I shook my head, doing my best to keep calm. "I wouldn't know yet," I said firmly, adding, "And honestly, I don't think it's really any of your business."

The room fell silent for a moment, the tension hanging awkwardly in the air. I could feel everyone watching me, waiting to see how I'd react, but I didn't want to blow up. Not here. Not now.Then Jesse chimed in from the back of the room. "What does Marques think about this, though? You know, his best friend messing around with his sister?"

I gritted my teeth, a wave of frustration washing over me. Marques wasn't here, which was probably for the best because this conversation would be a hundred times worse if he were. It was actually his idea to pick his sister for the fake relationship, but bringing him into it? That crossed a line.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. "I'm not 'messing around' with Josy," I said, keeping my voice as steady as I could. "And Marques trusts me. He knows I wouldn't do anything to disrespect her."Connor chuckled, leaning back. "But you're saying you haven't—"Levi suddenly cut in, his voice sharp. "Enough, Connor. That's enough."Connor backed off, raising his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright. Chill, man. I was just messing with him."

The conversation shifted, but my mind stayed stuck on what had just happened. I sat there, feeling like a storm was brewing inside me, but I couldn't let it out. Not here. Not now.Levi was still watching me, and after a while, as the group started to thin out, he pulled me aside.We stepped out onto the porch, the cool night air doing wonders to calm me down a bit. 

Levi leaned against the railing, cracking open a soda, and looked at me thoughtfully."You okay?" he asked after a moment.

I nodded, but we both knew I wasn't convincing anyone, least of all myself. "Yeah, I'm good," I lied, running a hand through my hair. "It just... pisses me off, you know?"Levi studied me for a second before speaking again. "It's because you actually care about her, right?"I blinked, caught off guard. Levi didn't know about the fake relationship, but I could tell he was starting to piece things together. I wasn't sure how to respond, so I just shrugged.

"It's more than just some casual thing for you, isn't it?" he asked, his voice quieter now. "I can see it, man. The way you talk about her, the way you get all defensive. You like her. For real."For a split second, I considered telling him the truth. That it was all fake, that Josy and I were just pretending for appearances. But then I stopped myself. Because the truth was, somewhere along the line, things had started to get more complicated than I'd planned.

"I... I don't know," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "Maybe."Levi nodded, giving me a knowing look. "Whatever it is, just make sure you're straight with her. Don't let the guys get to you, alright?"I nodded, but my mind was still spinning. 

This whole fake relationship with Josy started off simple enough, but now... now, I wasn't sure what was real anymore.As I stood there with Levi, staring out at the stars, I realized something: I needed to figure out where I really stood with Josy. Because pretending was getting harder. And at some point, I'd have to face the truth.

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