Be My First 3 - Tying Ends

46. Miss Cooking With You

Paige's POV:

It's been 5 days since I've talked to Jack, and 5 days since we've broken up. I've been talking to Jack J, and I also responded to texts and calls from Shawn, Cam, my parents, Nash, Sammy, and even Ava...

Right now I'm sitting on Barb's porch, waiting for Jack J to come meet me. I have her house to myself since she's in London for a few days.

I was curled up my pajama shorts and a T-shirt on the incredibly comfortable porch swing, along with no shoes. I was feeling alright, but it's been really hard for me to not think about Jack. My fans are the sweetest and they're giving me every bit of support I could possibly need and more.

I watched as Jack J pulled up in the front of the house. He got out, and began pulling something out of his backseat. He was wearing red shorts, a T-shirt, and his red Vans. I watched as he grabbed a huge teddy bear with a box attached to it. He came walking up to the porch, and I stood up.

Immediately, he set the bear and box down and we both completely intertwined each other with the biggest hug possible.

Johnson has always been here for me no matter what the situation. He sticks by my side and I wouldn't want it any other way. Tears welled up in my eyes as he rocked me back and forth. We hugged for a solid minute, and he finally let go.

He looked at me with a worried expression. "How are you?"

"I'm fine." I nodded with a smile. "I'm okay."

"Listen. I know everything that happened, the conversation and everything. He was totally in the wrong. You handled everything just how you should have." He explained. "I'm disappointed in him, but I have something to tell you."

"Oh, okay?" I sounded like I was asking a question.

"But first." He grabbed the bear and box. "These are for you." He handed over the bear, and I hugged it as tight as I could. It smelt just like Jack J. I opened the box, and inside were my favorite cookies from the bakery we go to. Not even just a few of them, there were like 25.

"I LOVE these!" I exclaimed. Jack J laughed.

I gave him another hug. "Thank you. You're the best."

He nodded. "I figured you'd like these."

I set the bear down on the swing and set the box down on the table on the porch. Jack and I both sat down and got comfortable.

"So, what do you need to tell me?" I asked.

"Okay." He clasped his hands together. "By no means am I excusing Jack for anything he did or said. But you need to know this." He turned to me.

"The day that you left to Barb's for the "break" or whatever, Jack got something in the mail. It was pictures of you and Justin in different places. Like, totally just pictures we've seen in the past- but there was like a whole bunch of pictures of you two from various times. There was a note inside that said that someone has info on you guys and what you've been doing while you're still with Jack. Like, it was basically someone saying that they have blackmail on you, because you've been cheating on Jack with Justin. I didn't believe it for not even one second, and Jack didn't at first either, but then he got all weird and started acting like he was worried about it. He was shaken up and started getting upset. He got drunk off his ass that night and started talking about you and Justin. He was so drunk that he really started to believe all of that shit- like you know how he gets when he's super drunk. Then he was looking into internet articles and whatever and saw that article of you and Justin at that restaurant and the picture of you crying to him. Then when I left to go eat with Sammy, Jack called you, so I wasn't able to help him control himself. I came home and he was crying. Like, Paige, I've never seen him cry like that. He was torn the hell up. He kept telling me that he fucked up and used his words against you and that he was an idiot and he just wanted a reaction out of Justin if you were with him. This doesn't excuse anything Jack said, but I wanted to explain to you what happened. It's different without the full story."

I took it all in. "But... why couldn't Jack tell me that?" I asked.

Johnson shrugged. "Listen, Jack has been in a funk lately. Like me and Barb told you... he's been weird with Madison. He's been weird with you. All of us. We don't know why, but I know he's not a monster. I just wish I had some other explanation for him acting like that." He said. "I'm not on anyone's side. I just wanted to tell you that I know Jack isn't being himself. He has shit buried deep down that not even I can get out."

I nodded. "I understand. But I think this whole break, or split, or whatever it is, it's going to be good. Maybe we need to go off and find out what it's like without each other. In my opinion, this shouldn't even have to happen, but every couple is different. Not all love is the same, and this is really what we both need."

Jack J nodded. "I totally get that. I respect whatever you guys are doing."

"Technically we're split. Jack can do whatever he pleases. As should I. Maybe in a few weeks we can meet up. I just want him to be in a better emotional state." I said. "Maybe after time away I can get whatever it is that's buried inside of him out."

"And I think time away will give him the space he needs. It's a good idea."

I nodded. "Are you okay?"

He nodded back, and put his hand on my back. "I miss you at the house and miss cooking with you. But everything's alright." He smiled.