Love Triangle (Wilkinson vs. Gilinsky)

18. Deal

**5 DAYS LATER**

THIRD PERSON POV

"Frankly, it's probably best to just give her some space, bro." JJ says, looking at Jack.

"I-I don't know, man. I feel like I should be like, fighting for her." Jack licks his lips. "Like, proving to her that I'm genuinely sorry and that I know I fucked up."

"She already knows you're sorry, though. I don't know. I feel like that's overdoing it. Maybe she honestly just needs time to recover." JJ looks at Jack before getting up. "I need to piss. I'll be back." JJ walks out of the room, leaving Sam and Jack alone.

Jack watches JJ close the door and turns to Sam, "So... How is she?"

"Uh, alright. I guess." Sam scratches his head nervously.

"Has she mentioned me at all?"

Sam pauses. "She's really hurt, Jack. But she loves you."

Jack looks at his feet with his head down. He sighs and says, "Sam, I know you make her happy. I know you guys hang out constantly. And I know you still have feelings for her." He lifts his head up and looks Sam in the eyes. He continues, "I'm not angry about it. I don't blame you. I just--I just want her to be happy. And if that means you have to swoop in and be her hero, I want you to do it. No matter how much it'll fucking crush me to see her with someone else, I give you permission." Jack swallows hard and leans back on the couch with his eyes shut tightly.

There's a long pause before Sam says, "Thank you, Jack."

Jack nods once at Sam before lowering his eyes, "But don't even think about sleeping with her."

Sam's lips curve into a smile and he chuckles, "Damn."

Jack eyes him with a small smirk, "I'm serious, bro. I will beat the shit out of you."

Sam looks back at Jack and laughs, "Alright, alright. Calm down, big boy. Deal."

--

SHAY'S POV

It's been five days since I last talked to Jack in the courtyard. But it's only been seconds since I thought about him. I still walk out of sixth period and find myself leaning against the lockers where we usually met after school. It takes me a few minutes to realize that we're not together anymore. Half of me desperately wants to jump into his arms and kiss him endlessly, but the other half is still hurt and broken.

I'm glad I have Sam. He helps fill in the huge hole Jack left in me. I spend hours with him everyday as usual, but it's different now. He holds me closely, leaves long kisses on my forehead, and tells me everything's gonna be okay.

I feel my phone buzz and smile as I read the ID. I unlock my phone and read a message from Sam, 'Come outside cutie.'

I bite my lip and run down the stairs. I open my front door to see Sam standing at my doorstep.

"Hi Shay." He smiles at me before pulling me into a hug.

I wrap my arms around his neck and squeal, "Hi Sammy."

He pulls away and says, "I hope you don't have any plans for tonight, cause I want you to come to my basketball game."

I smile at him and nod my head excitedly, "I'd love to!" 

"Awesome." He smiles with no teeth. "And would you mind maybe uh, wearing my jersey?" He hands me a red and white jersey with the number 13 printed on it. "Just for luck."

I smirk at him, "So if you win, that means I'm your good luck charm?"

"Looks like it." He smiles at me before jokingly adding, "I better not regret giving it to you, Shay. There was like fifty million other girls begging for it, you know."