Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 224

Jackson

Noah’s truck had barely disappeared down the street before I exhaled like I’d been holding my breath for an hour.

Jessa was gone.

With Noah.

Alone.

In his truck.

My eye twitched.

Mariah leaned against her car, arms folded, watching me with that smug little smile she always wore when she knew exactly what I was thinking.

“What?” I demanded.

She lifted a brow. “You look like you’re about to file a missing persons report on your own sister.”

“I’m not ” I started, then stopped, because it sounded ridiculous even in my head.

Mariah’s grin widened. “Oh my God. You are.”

I groaned, dragging a hand down my face. “This is weird.”

“Welcome to having feelings,” she said brightly.

I shot her a look. “Don’t.”

She laughed.

And then, because my brain was apparently broken lately, I heard myself say, “Noah had a good idea.”

Mariah blinked. “Uh oh.”

“I’m serious,” I said quickly. “How about… coming over to my place?”

Her smile turned wicked. “Oh. So you want a little snow day hangout?”

“It’s not a snow day yet,” I muttered.

Mariah tilted her head. “Jackson…”

I sighed. “Okay, fine. I just–my house is empty right now. Mom’s at work. And I don’t feel like sitting alone thinking about… everything.”

Her expression softened for half a second.

Then she ruined it immediately.

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Chapter 224

“You know he’s probably going to make out with your sister.”

My entire body recoiled.

“Mariah,” I groaned. “You had to say that?”

She cackled. “I’m just saying! Snow day makeout? Classic teenage activity.”

“Stop talking.”

She laughed harder. “Relax, QB. I’ll see you at your house then.”

She pushed off the car and started toward hers.

Then she paused, turning back with a smirk.

“Also, I drove my dad’s car to school today, so don’t judge me if it smells like old man mints.”

“I wasn’t going to judge you,” I muttered.

“Yes you were.”

She winked and climbed in.

Twenty minutes later, she was at my house.

And somehow… it felt normal.

Not normal–normal. Nothing about my life was normal anymore.

But Mariah sitting on my couch, kicking her shoes off like she belonged there?

That felt dangerously right.

She glanced around. “So this is where Ridgeville’s golden boy broods.”

“I don’t brood.”

“You absolutely brood.”

I rolled my eyes, but she was already smiling at me like she’d won.

I stepped closer. “You talk too much.”

“Oh?” she teased. “Make me stop.

That was all the invitation I needed.

I kissed her.

Hard.

Not the careful, hesitant kiss from Benny’s.

Not the surprise kiss in the diner doorway.

+25 Bonus

This was different.

This was me being done pretending I didn’t want her.

Mariah made a soft sound against my mouth and grabbed the front of my hoodie, pulling me closer like she was tired of the space between us too.

Her hands slid up my neck.

Mine found her waist.

For a second, I forgot about football. About Noah. About my sister. About the entire world outside this house.

Mariah tasted like peppermint gum and trouble.

She kissed me back like she meant it.

And I was completely screwed.

We stumbled against the couch, laughing breathlessly, kissing again, slower now, deeper.

Mariah’s fingers threaded into my hair.

“Okay,” she murmured against my lips, “so maybe being a couple is good for the soul.”

I smirked. “Told you.‘

“You did not tell me,” she whispered. “You grunted at me for three weeks.”

“That’s my love language.”

She laughed, kissing me again.

And then-

My phone rang

Mariah froze.

I froze.

We stared at each other like we’d been caught committing a crime.

The phone buzzed again.

I groaned. “Are you kidding me?”

Mariah whispered, “Don’t answer.”

“It could be important.”

“It could be Noah telling you your sister just got engaged.”

I shot her a look and grabbed the phone.

+25 Bonus

Mom.

Of course.

I answered, still breathless. “Hey.”

Her voice was tense immediately. “Jackson, honey.”

My stomach dropped. “What’s wrong?”