Wynter regained herself when Jackson stepped to her side and wrapped his arm around her waist. She broke eye contact with Michael and looked at Jackson. His golden brown eyes and warm embrace somewhat comforted her, even though she could feel Michael glaring at her.
"Talk to me, Wynter. Who is that?" Jackson asked, caressing her waist gently.
"My ex," Wynter muttered, her eyes fixing back on Michael as he approached them.
"Do you wanna talk to him?" Jackson's body was rigid as he looked between them both.
"I don't have a choice" Wynter exhaled, recognizing the determined look on Michael's face. She chastised herself for ever thinking his relentlessness was attractive. She felt drained and he hadn't said a word to her yet. She knew he wasn't leaving until he said his peace.
"You always have a choice," Jackson reassured her before turning to face Michael. At 6'2, Michael towered over her, but Jackson stood firm, positioning her slightly behind him as he grasped her hand.
"I need a moment with Wynter. Alone." Michael declared as he stared at their hands clasped together.
"Sorry man, it's late and we're heading out," Jackson replied, sternly, leaving no room to argue. "Maybe give her a call next time."
"I would have if I had her number," Michael said, his nostrils flared, reminding Wynter of how he got when he didn't get his way.
"Sounds like she made it clear she has no interest in talking to you." Jackson rebutted.
Michael ignored Jackson, looking past him to address her. "Wynter, can you send your cousin away so we can talk?"
When she felt him stiffened, she caressed his hand. "Jackson." She spoke, softly. His eyes turned from glaring at Michael to glancing over at her.
"Give us 2 minutes," she requested.
His face fell in a frown. "Are you sure?"
Wynter nodded, peeking over at Michael. "2 minutes. That's all." She confirmed, in a voice that sounded more firm and confident than she felt.
Jackson leaned close to her, giving her a possessive kiss. Despite everything, heat and affection engulfed her. She kissed him back, forgetting her ex was watching, and enjoyed his lips on hers. When he pulled away, she opened her eyes feeling no satisfaction from kissing Jackson in front of Michael. All she felt was dread of talking to Michael instead of going home with Jackson.
"I'll be waiting for you at my truck cuz," Jackson told her, stroking her cheek.
She nodded again, a slight smile forming on her face. She was relieved he would be near and wait for her and tickled that he threw the 'cousin' statement back in Michael's face. "Thank you, Jackson."
He squeezed her hand, encouragingly before letting her go. He gave Michael a harsh glance before walking away.
Michael made sure Jackson was out of listening range before he spoke.
"How long has that been going on?" Michael demanded, disgruntledly.
Wynter was appalled by his nerve. It was on the tip of her tongue to respond for as long as he was fucking her stepsister, but she refused to fight with him anymore. She decided that cutting him off and pretending he didn't mean anything to her was the best way to hurt him. She was going to continue to give him that same energy.
"I'm really only giving you 2 minutes. Is that what you want to talk about?" Wynter said, keeping her voice monotone.
Michael looked unsure, confounded by her lack of emotion. She perfected her unbothered attitude growing up with Denise and Lisa. When she met Michael, she was a freshman in college, discovering herself with her newfound freedom, and she refused to hold back her feelings or emotions with him. Their relationship was rocky at best, and toxic at worst with multiple make-ups and break-ups until she began to concede to his wants. No matter what, she was very open about her passion and devotion to him. To hear her speak so apathetically threw him for a loop.
"No, I don't care about him. I care about us." Michael responded.
Wynter couldn't help the scoff that escaped her lips.
"I do Wynter. I always did. I made a mistake, but I always cared about you. You didn't give me a chance to apologize or explain-" Michael professed.
Wynter snapped, no longer able to stay aloof or bite her tongue. "How do you apologize for sleeping with my stepsister? What possible explanation could you have?"
"I only talked to her because of you! When she moved to Austin, I told you she was texting and DMing me. You told me I should help her out"
"Really? You took me asking you to help her one time as permission to fuck her?" Wynter cut him off, angrily.
"No, I'm explaining what happened. I didn't seek her out or want to talk to her. After I helped her, she started to reach out for advice. Not just about school, but life and relationships. I would talk about you and she would help me when we were going through hard times. After the last time we took a break, I was lonely and missing you, and she was there with alcohol. It happened one time." He swore.
"Is that how you justify it to yourself: you only fucked her once when we were on a break? I saw the messages! You were still sexting her and letting me move to Austin like everything was good between us!" Wynter argued, heatedly.
"Those messages were only to placate her until she moved on. I only told her what she wanted to hear so I could still be with you. I didn't want to lose you. I knew if I told you the truth, you would leave me." Michael vehemently defended himself.
Wynter shook her head, not believing a word he said. Dealing with him taught her that if things didn't add up, he was either lying or omitting relevant details. She didn't know why she was trying to get the truth out of him now. It no longer mattered.
"Whelp, you were right. I found out the truth and left. Is that all?" Wynter questioned.
"No, I need you to know how sorry I am. I never wanted to hurt you. I made a stupid mistake, and I hate that it ruined your life. I still care about you. If you forgive me, I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you. What can I do to make this right?" Michael implored.
Wynter answered with no hesitation. "Nothing."
"Don't say that because you're upset." He remarked, moving in closer to her. Wynter immediately took a step back.
"I'm not upset. I'm over it. There's nothing you can say or do to make it right. I want nothing to do with you. I don't even know who you are anymore."
"Don't say that. You know me." He beseeched her.
"No, I don't. The man I thought I knew would have been honest with me. You're still not being honest."
"Yes, I am. I told you the truth!" he declared.
"Who are you here with Michael?" Wynter grilled him, crossing her arms. Wynter knew it wasn't a coincidence that her dad and his wife Lisa were at church that evening and Michael magically appeared under the cover of night. If he was traveling with her dad and Lisa, Wynter was sure Denise was with them. When Michael put his head down, refusing to meet her eye, Wynter knew he was still with Denise.
Wynter exhaled an exasperated breath. "Never mind, I do know you. You're a cheater, a coward, and a sorry excuse of a man. You didn't ruin my life, you saved it from wasting it with you. You and Denise are truly made for each other. I hope you have the life you deserve with her."
She had nothing else to say to him and turned towards her car. He grabbed her arm, calling her name and Wynter yanked away from him, staring straight into his cold eyes.
"Don't you ever touch me again! Don't talk to me! Don't look at me! Don't even think about me! Pretend you never met me! I swear if you ever contact me again, I will file for a restraining order!" Wynter yelled at him before marching to her car.
She got to her car and was frantically looking for the keys in her bag when she heard steps approaching from behind. She turned around, ready for round 2 with Michael, when she saw it was Jackson instead.
Concern was etched all over his face as he studied her intently. "Are you ok?" He asked.
"Yeah..." She breathed, shakily, willing herself not to cry out of frustration. She took a deep breath. "No, I can't find my keys. And I need to get out of here before I commit assault." Wynter chuckled, humorlessly. She knew she must have looked like a crazy person, but Jackson simply grabbed her hand and led her to his truck. When he opened her door, she paused.
"I'm sorry, I'm not up for hanging out tonight. I can drive myself home." Wynter confessed.
"Ok, I can take you to your aunt's house." He offered.
"No, I'm going to go to my mom's cabin."
Jackson shook his head. "They are dudes roaming the ranch with more height than common sense. I'm not leaving you alone."
Wynter smiled slightly, despite herself. "I'll be fine, really. He's audacious, but he's not stupid. He's not going to bother me again."
"Still, I'd feel better if you're not alone so I can take you to your aunt's house or I can spend the night on the couch at the cabin." Jackson offered.
Wynter smirked. "Fine, the cabin it is, but I'm gonna make you sleep on the couch."
