Page 128 of Broken Lines

No.

Jackson was right. It’s not the world’s story at all. It’s his. His life, his decisions, his pain. His story.

I know this is going to cost me the job at Ignition. But I’ve made peace with that. I think, at least.

“Well, when you get here, I can’t wait to hear it.”

I chew on my lip.

“Yeah…about that. I…might be hanging out up here for a little while longer.”

I grin to myself, feeling my face heat. No, there’s not some weird trepidation in my chest or the big question mark of “if that’s okay with Jackson”. Because I know we’ve crossed that line somewhere in the last week, buried in snow, music, and ecstasy.

I’m not a child, and I know this isn’t a Disney story. I know us fucking each other’s brains out for five days doesn’t mean we’re a “we” at all. I know it doesn’t mean I’m moving in with him or anything ridiculous like that.

But I know it means I don’t want to leave yet. And a bit broken and bunch inexperienced that I am, Iknowby the way he looks at me and by the way he holds me tightly that he’s not ready for me to leave yet, either.

I grin a goofy smile to no-one as I blush.

“I dunno. I just…I like it up here, and—”

“Melody are you fucking serious?”

There’s a weird tone to her voice that sets me on edge.

“What do you mean?”

“Oh my God, you haven’t talked to Judy.”

Fuck. Now what.

“No, I literally just got to a spot with service for the first time in days. What’s—”

“You haven’t been online at all?”

“Nothing.”

My brow furrows as a chill creeps over me.

“Wait, what the hell is Judy—”

“Mel, she’s got another book coming out. A big one. That interview she had with Rolling Stone lit afireunder the whole ‘where is Jackson Havoc’ story.”

I shiver. “You’re joking.”

“I’m really not. She’s saying it’s a tell-allentirelyabout him, too.”

My skin crawls. “What?”

“Yeah, she apparently had this whole thing with him?”

Part of me wants to vomit. And the reason I don’t is because IknowJudy’s full of shit. Just like I know this is her chasing a glimpse of limelight. Judydid nothook up with Jackson. And the reason I know that is because I would have heard about it, on repeat, years ago.

I groan.

“It’s all just fantasy Judy bullshit!”

“Well, people are freaking out about it, dude. She’s even going on The Late Show this weekend to talk about it, and…Mel?”