Promise of Forever by Jessica Wood Read Free Book Online

almost died, that I realized that I still want to be with him.” I closed my eyes, feeling a wave a shame wash over me, knowing that my lie was hurting the one and only man I loved. But you can’t love him , a voice reminded me.
    Silence fell between us. I could feel his eyes locked on me as I continued to look at the ground. I expected him to accept my lie, give up, and walk away. But I was wrong.
    “This doesn’t make any sense. At Clara and Sam’s wedding last week, you were telling me how much you loved me and asking me to forgive you. And we spent the entire day and night at our spot at the lake. You agreed to go on a date with me. We kissed. You fell asleep in my arms. I know that meant something to you. I just know it.”
    “Please don’t read into all that, Jax. It’ll only hurt you more,” I said flatly.
    “What are you not telling me, Clo? What exactly happened the other day before the accident? What’s changed?”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I managed to say, trying to keep my composure. “Nothing happened. Please just drop it, Jax.”
    “Damn it, Clo. I’ve known you since we were seven. I know when something’s wrong. Just tell me what it is.” His voice grew louder, but he sounded more hurt than angry.
    “You don’t want to know,” I finally said, unable to help myself. I knew he wasn’t buying my story.
    “You don’t know that. I have a right to make that judgment for myself.”
    “I do know.”
    “I can deal with it. I don’t know what happened or what’s wrong, but I know we can face any problem together, Clo. Please let me in and tell me what’s going on.”
    I could hear the turmoil and desperation in his voice, and I felt a crack in my resolve.
    “There’s nothing you can do, Jax. There’s nothing that we can fix or change. I just don’t think this will work out. I think we made a mistake in being friends again. Please just accept my decision.” I was pleading with him now, willing him to not push me any further before it was too late.
    “I don’t believe anything you’re saying right now. I don’t believe this has anything to do with an ex-boyfriend. What are you hiding from me? If you’re going to fucking break up with me before you even give us a fighting chance, then at least give me a reason why. You owe me at least that. I won’t let this go without knowing why. Please just—”
    “I’m your sister, Jax—your real half sister, that’s why!” The words came out before I could stop it, and as soon as I realized what I’d said, I felt paralyzed with fear.
    He fell silent and remained motionless.
    When I finally pulled my gaze from the floor and met his gaze, the bewildered look across his face shattered my heart.

CHAPTE R SIX
    Jackson
    At first, her words made no sense to me, like she was speaking a different language that I’d never heard before. But when my brain finally processed what she had said, her words somehow stayed in the dead-silent space between us, mocking me as I tried to figure out if I had somehow misheard her. 
    “I’m your sister, Jax—your real half sister.” 
    And just like that, like a flip of a switch, the rug was pulled out from under me and my whole world suddenly changed—shifted and turned upside down in a matter of seconds.
    This can’t be happening...
    When I recovered from the initial shock of her comment, I realized how stupid I was to fall for this joke. This was just her attempt to get back at me for the Pippi Longstocking braids she woke up with at the hospital. 
    “Don’t be ridiculous, Clo. That’s not funny at all.” I let out a forced laugh. “If you want to get me back for messing with your hair the other day, you should at least say something that’s believable.”
    “I wish it was just a joke, Jax…but it’s not. It’s very real.”
    It was then that I finally noticed her clearly. She didn’t look like she was joking. She didn’t look like she was enjoying this. She looked