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Lia me back my phone He finally turns to Jackson “She didn’t seem that type”

“To a man as in love with her, no, she didn’t,” Jackson counters

“To you?”

“She was a leech”

Liaaze turns curious “Let et her out of h you knew that I’d hate you for it?”

Jackson nods

So years’ worth of anger suddenly dissipate into the air Both hter, and for one second, it’s like I can see what they used to look like as roommates There is a level of comfort between them History, for sure

“Well, then…” Lia in front of statue-still Jackson “I suppose it’s ti my back when I couldn’t see what clearly—as the evidence proves—you could” He offers his hand

Jackson’s jaw clenches twice but then there’s obvious relief on his face, like he’s waited years for this to be done between them

I hold my b

reath, glancing at Aria, who’s still sitting on the arlued on them My breath whooshes out loudly when Jackson returns the handshake It’s like a cord of tension finally snaps free The look Jackson gives Lia that I do understand because I have that same kind of affection with Aria It’s friendship It’s love It’s respect But as quick as I saw that eone, replaced by the usual hardness of Jackson’s expression

And just like that, it’s done

Jackson steps back, and Liam returns to his seat

While this is a good step forward, it’s also clear this isn’t a quick-fix type of thing Years of anger and betrayal burn between thele handshake

I smile at Aria, who has tears in her eyes For that alone, I’ the price for their feud the etLiam, I suspect will probably be soon—Jackson will attend the wedding And I think for Aria that’s what she’s alanted Her torlds blending, instead of being ripped apart by anger