People Change

The look on Jackson’s face transformed in a blink once he saw who called him. He went from this cool-looking guy to a teenager faster than I could blink. A wild smile, full of boyish charm, split across his lips, his eyes wide with surprise and delight.

“Bloody hell. Jacob, is that you, mate?!” he gushed, already moving. Even his voice was different. It was louder, his English accent thicker. 

“In the goddamn flesh!”

I watched as these two grown-up men, both six-foot-four with pounds of muscle, ran to each other and pulled each other into a bear hug. And my eyes almost popped out when Jacob jumped suddenly and wrapped his legs around Jackson’s waist. And I almost dropped dead when Jacob gushed, “Oh, sweetie, I have missed you so much!”

I could only watch with my mouth open as Jackson went on with the act, not caring about the eyes on them. “Oh, honey, forgive me. I never meant to abandon you.”

Oh my God, what is happening right now? I wasn't even jealous. No, not a damn bit. I was amused out of my damn mind. These two men looked like the kind of people you would be hesitant to approach when you didn't know them, because they both had this intimidating aura to them, this “fuck with me and die” look in their eyes without even knowing they had it. And yet here they were, like two teenage girls who had just reunited with their long-lost love. God, it was amusing. 

Jacob jumped down, and then hugged Jackson again, clapping him on the back. I watched them, the sighs that escaped their lips, the relief and familiarity etched into their bodies. 

“It wasn't the same without you, mate,” Jacob muttered, patting Jackson’s back, his voice too thick. “The team misses you, man. And you didn't even bloody call!” He pulled away, looking mad. “Not a bloody call, you idiot! We didn't know how to reach you!” 

Jackson sighed deeply. “I had… a lot going on.”

When Jacob’s eyes flicked to me, my spine stiffened, and I just stood there frozen. His lips twisted. “And by a lot, do you mean this brown-eyed beauty?” 

My cheeks heated, and I didn't even know what to say. My mouth opened, but no words came out. I have never been awkward with people, but somehow, my tongue was tied as I stared into Jacob’s blue, intense eyes. The man was too good-looking, and he was someone important to Jackson, so I wanted to make a good first impression, but for the life of me, I was gaping like a damn idiot!

Thankfully, Jackson was there, and he came to my rescue. 

“Jacob, my dear man,” he said softly as he walked to me and took my hand, his eyes bright and filled with love, there for anyone to see. “This is Siri, the love of my bloody life.”

I stared up at him with a small smile as he stared back, his eyes creased with warmth. 

“Well, I'll be damned,” Jacob said softly, and I looked at him to see him walking to me with a soft smile. “My brother has fallen in love.”

“Damn right I have,” Jackson scoffed, sounding proud. 

“Jacob Barron at your service, my lady,” he said as he took my hand, raising it to his lips. He ghosted my knuckles with his lips, the flesh not touching mine. “Former love of Jackson’s life. Alas, my position has been taken.”

I found myself smiling at him, a genuine one, and not the kind I just slap on to get people to leave me alone. “Hello, Jacob. I’m sure Jackson can make some space for two loves in his life.”

“I’m afraid that’s an impossible task, my love,” Jackson muttered dramatically. “You have occupied every single space.” 

“Come, Siri,” Jacob said as he rolled his eyes, already walking. “Let’s go introduce you to our friends and some of his former teammates. And I shall tell you all the stories of what a menace and terror your man was back in his days.”

“Oh God, no,” Jackson groaned.

Jacob threw him a smile over his shoulder. “Oh, God, yes, baby boy.” He looked back at me. “Did you know they called us Double Js? Ridiculous, ain't it?” 

~.~

It was a large group. I think there should be about ten of them? And Jacob said this wasn't even all. They were all friends, all hugged Jackson the same way, and some of them even kissed him. The ladies included. And so far, they have been nice to me. Though I did notice how stiff and a bit awkward some of the ladies were with me. How their smiles seemed kind of… forced. 

“Look at you, man!” one of his friends said, a big man with blonde hair that covered half of his face. “You left us for three months, and now you’re in love!”

“Like really in love,” another said.

“It’s really hard to believe,” one of the ladies said, and I stiffened when I noticed the hardness in her voice.

“And why is that hard, Toria?” Jackson asked with a lift of his eyebrow, an arm thrown over my shoulders, and the attention that brought to me made my cheeks heat.

Toria scoffed as she threw her hands in the air. “I mean, it’s you! Bloody Jackson M’Call! Professional fuckboy in town. The hot captain who never sleeps with the same girl twice!”

“And has broken more hearts than I can count with my hands and toes combined,” another girl chimed in quietly as she sipped her beer. 

I stiffened, my smile freezing on my face. Jackson glanced at me, but I just kept my eyes fixed on my drink. 

The air in our booth suddenly felt too stiff, too heavy.

“Come on, that’s in the past now,” Jacob said, trying to pass it off as a joke.

“Yeah, people change, Toria,” a teammate said.

Toria, once again, scoffed. “Under three months? I doubt that.” She pinned a hard look on Jackson, who was tense beside me. Too tense. “We know you, Jackson. We all grew up with you, and you have been a playboy before you even had sperm in your dick. You’re trying to tell us that in just three months, you have changed from a life you’ve led since forever? I call bullshit. Don’t you think you’ve broken enough hearts already? Are you going to add this poor soul to your collection of broken hearts?” I felt her eyes on me, but I didn't look up from my drink. “I’m sorry if this is harsh, honey, but I've watched too many girls get hurt by this bastard. And I–”

“Toria,” Jackson warned, but she ignored him and went on while everybody else stayed silent and tense.

“And I'm so sick of it. You seem sweet, honey, and you don’t deserve to get your heart broken. So while you–”

I shot to my feet, not looking at anybody, and muttered, “Please, excuse me,” my voice shaking and my hands trembling. I felt sick to my stomach; the music was too loud, the lights too bright.  

“Shit, Siri!” I heard Jackson yell as I rushed out of the bar and didn’t look back. 

When I got out and the fresh air hit my face, I doubled over as bile rushed up, and I wasn't fast enough to swallow it back. As I heaved the contents of my stomach, my hair glued to my face, people giving me a wide berth, I was brutally dragged by the hair to the past, flung into it without anything below to soften my fall.