CHAPTER FORTY

For a person who lived in the middle of nowhere whose closest thing to entertainment was at least thirty kilometers away, this was the first time Reagan spent eight hours staring up at her ceiling.

By the time dinner rolled around and Logan knocked on her door, peeking only his head in to see if she was okay, that was the only time she stood up to stretch her bones.

The entire meal, she spent it looking down at her plate, afraid that the sight of him would make her hurl.

After she felt like she ate enough, which was barely a few bites if she was honest, she excused herself and went back into her bedroom to once again stare at her ceiling.

By three in the morning the air was once again seemingly unbreathable. She stood up to go for a walk but when she opened her door and saw the sight of Jack in the dining table, already looking at her with wide, glossy eyes, she shut the door behind her.

For breakfast she eats with them once again but doesn't look his way once.

That went on for days.

Most of Reagan's time was spent in her room, staring at the ceiling or rearranging her bedside for the 200th time in a day or just sitting on the highway banister to be alone.

The only time she went out of the house far enough to need Cherry was by the time she was scheduled to visit Aunt Maggie.

When she headed outside, Daniel was already sat by the door, looking like he was in deep thought before the loud screen door she came through broke his trance.

At the rustle, he looked back and when he realized it was Reagan, he stood up and dusted himself off.

Whatever he was going to say, it looked well-prepared and well-rehearsed and Reagan could already tell what he was about to say.

"Listen, Daniel, if this is about Jack—"

"It is," He cut her off but his eyes looked apologetic, "But, please, hear me out."

Reagan had every right to ignore him and just walk to her car but Daniel wasn't Jack. The only time he's slipped at being a good friend to Reagan was when he chose to condone Jack taking advantage of her.

"Daniel," She sighed, "I don't know what more you'd want from me."

Daniel looked physically hurt by what she said.

"I really am sorry, Reagan," he frowned, "It's just that..." he paused, "He hasn't slept since that day. Hasn't finished an entire meal as well and I can't help but worry."

Reagan understood that. She didn't want to either because Jack was an asshole but some part of her did worry.

She sighed, "What do you want me to do then? Pretend like it's fine and smile until you guys leave?"

"Just," he sighed, "I know I'm asking too much from you. Trust me, it took so much courage to just ask this but can you please give him just five minutes?"

She sighed again.

"I dont—" She swallowed roughly.

"Please, Reagan," Daniel pleaded, eyes growing wider than usual if it was even possible.

"Okay," She frowned and Daniel caught her by surprise when he lunged in for a hug.

She couldn't help it. The feelings she's been trying to hard to repress were resurfacing again and she felt herself tearing up.

When Daniel pulled away, ever the angel, he reached up a thumb to wipe the tear away.

"I'm really sorry for what happened to both of you," He whispered, "But you at least deserve to know everything."

Reagan wasn't sure if she still wanted that but she just nodded at Daniel to reassure him.

Her first car ride alone to the valley was painful only because she was used to having Jack next to her, his hand between her thighs while his phone blasted music on its highest volume.

Now all she had was the crappy radio that played static half the time and the unsettling feeling of realizing that Jack wasn't there to tuck her hair behind her ears or run the tips of his fingers down the skin of her arms.

She shook off the feeling.

By the time she was in Aunt Maggie's souvenir store, she finally had the pressed leaves and flowers for the Fourth of July cards.

When she entered, Aunt Maggie was dusting off her snow globes and Reagan finally felt a sense of ease after the wreck of the past few days.

"Reagan," the old woman beamed and leant for a hug, "You're here! Is Jack with you?"

"Uh," Reagan awkwardly swallowed down the lump in her throat, "No, he couldn't come today."

"He let you off on your own?" She gave her a scowl, "He's still here, isn't he?"

"Yes," She nodded as she took a seat, "Just busy. Said he couldn't come."

"Oh," Aunt Maggie blurted out and turned around abruptly, "Oh. Did he tell you to go alone?"

Reagan realized that this somehow ticked a sense of realization onto Aunt Maggie and she didn't know how to properly respond.

"Yes?" She coughed out unsurely and suddenly, Aunt Maggie retreated from the shelves and sat down on the work desk across where she sat.

"Well," Aunt Maggie said, "He told me to give this to you when he left but maybe he meant today..."

"I'm sorry?" Reagan blurted out as she continued to rummage through an old drawer.

"He came in here a few days ago," Aunt Maggie beamed, oblivious to Reagan's confusion, "Told me to give it when you finally came here alone and I thought he meant once he left Oregon. Well, I don't see any other reason why he'd let you go here alone unless this was part of whatever he's got up his sleeve."

You have no idea.

Reagan didn't know whether to stop Aunt Maggie because the reason she came alone wasn't Jack's idea but if she was honest, curiosity was getting the best of her.

In a few seconds, Aunt Maggie fished out a single-chained charm bracelet and smiled.

She pushed her glasses further up the bridge of her nose and rolled the chain into a ball, handing it to Reagan.

"He made this when he came," Aunt Maggie smiled, "It will look beautiful on you."

Reagan didn't know what to say.

When she finally saw the chain on her palm, she felt her heart drop.

It was a simple bracelet with charms made up of mismatched silver and each one felt like a stab to the gut.

Hung around the metal was a small flower, a tiny camera, a key and a small letter J. What hurt the most, however, was a long metal plate with words inscribed. She turned it over in her hand and when the letters finally caught light, Reagan felt her chest tighten at the sight of the seven simple words engraved onto the metal.

can u guess what it says???

HELLO HELLO IT IS SUMMER I WANT TO FINISH THIS STORY OH MY GOD

also reader demographic survey hello whats ur age and where are u from i wanna make friends pls be my friend

ALSO

is it a good idea to do a character ask

i hope i'll be able to update v soon

thank u for still reading this ❤️