Page 11 of Running Into The Grump

I wasn’t close to tears, but my frustration at running into him, constantly, was showing. I was over this.

That old saying, ‘this town ain’t big enough for the both of us’? Yeah, it was true here.

“That’s the first time I think I ever saw you in something that wasn’t huge. Maybe you should break the rules a little more and live outside the box. Then you won’t have to keep running into me for attention.”

“Oh my gosh, you prick!”

With that, I stormed away from him, grabbing my purse to pay my bill.

“Man, Jacqueline,” Lina said, taking the cash from me. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen two people who had such sexual tension like you two do. That sexual attraction is thick between you two.”

I froze at those words because they were complete and utter lies.

They had to be.

Chapter 6

Jackson

Iwatched her leave, telling myself that I was indeed a jerk and a prick and every other name she wanted to call me. But you know those moments when you can see yourself doing it and you need to stop, but can't? It's that.

Or it's like watching an accident in slow motion. You see the accident is about to happen and you want to jump in, but you hold back.

That's all me.

I’ve always had an attitude problem, and she would know that because I was a dick to her in high school. Not like I was mean and rude, but pranks were something I enjoyed, and the library was always the place for it, which meant she got to deal with it.

Though for all I did, I was never mean to her like I have been.

I wish I had a reason behind it, but I don't. It went beyond just the chip on my shoulder from my ex.

With a sigh, I turned around, grabbed the last of my drink and downed it before laying some money on the table. Before I could leave, though, Lina was there, grabbing the glass and the money.

“I'm gonna ask you a question, and I don't want you to get mad at me, Jackson. But we know each other.”

“Okay. Go on.”

“You ever read a grumpy/sunshine romance story?”

“Romance? It's not my cup of tea when I do read.”

“Maybe you should. Why else are you two bickering?”

I stared at her, my jaw on the floor.

“No way. Jacqueline is like ten years older than me. There is no way it's some cute romance story. Since I've been back, she's bumped into me, soaked us multiple times. She's antagonizing in the worst way. She's not the sunshine that everyone wants to make her out to be.”

Lina smirked as she shook her head. “No, Jackson, she is. She's just not with you. Now why do you think that is?”

I refused to give that woman an answer, because I didn’t want to think about it.

Was she right?

Maybe.

And that’s all you were getting from me.

With a huff, I left the café, jumped on my bike, then drove home. Honestly, I didn’t want to be here, but it was too cold to drive. And really, who knew. Maybe my mom could give me some insight to what was going on in my own head.