Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 243

Chapter 243

Jessa

I watched Jackson mutter something under his breath and stalk off toward the stairs.

His bedroom door shut a second later.

The sound echoed in the house like punctuation.

For a moment, it was just me and Mom standing in the living room, the air still thick with everything that had just happened.

I turned slowly.

“…Was that really necessary?” I asked.

Mom’s face tightened, like she’d been holding herself together by sheer will.

“Jessa,” she said quietly, “you have no idea what it’s like being a parent.”

I blinked.

Especially not what it’s like being a single mother with a son.

She exhaled shakily, rubbing a hand over her forehead.

“I can’t be there for him in the ways he needs,” she admitted. “There are things a boy needs his father for. Guidance. Conversations. Perspective.”

Her voice cracked.

“And unfortunately… that’s not happening.”

My throat tightened.

Mom looked down, like she couldn’t even meet my eyes.

“When I saw that post today… I felt like I failed him. Like I’ve failed both of you. Because I don’t know what to do with him sometimes, Jess.”

She swallowed hard.

“I’m not his father.”

I didn’t know what to say.

Because what do you even say to that?

So I didn’t.

I just turned and started up the stairs.

Halfway up, I paused.

Jackson’s door was shut.

Of course it was.

I stared at it for a second, my chest aching with that familiar twin–sense of knowing when he was hurting even if he’d never‘ admit it out loud.

I walked over and knocked softly.

Chapter 243

“Jackson?”

No answer.

I hesitated, then slowly pushed the door open.

He was sitting on his bed, elbows on his knees, staring at the floor like it might give him a way out of his own brain.

He didn’t look up.

I stepped inside anyway.

“Hey.”

His voice was rough when he finally spoke.

“What.”

I swallowed.

“I’m sorry.”

He blinked, finally lifting his head.

“For what?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “Maybe it’s the twin thing. Maybe it’s just… obvious.”

I took a breath.

“I know you’re hurting. And embarrassed. And Mom shouldn’t have done that.”

His jaw tightened.

Then he let out a humorless laugh.

“She overcompensates.”

I frowned.

“What?”

He leaned back against the wall, eyes distant.

“She’s not here half the time, Jess. She’s always working. Always exhausted. Always trying.”

His voice softened, almost reluctant.

“So when she is here… she panics. She tries to be everything at once. Mom. Dad. Police officer. Therapist.”

He shook his head.

“And that was a pretty good example of it.”

I looked down at my hands.

I didn’t want to admit it, but I understood.

Mom loved us so hard it sometimes came out sideways.

I inhaled slowly, then blurted, because my mouth always moved before my brain did around him—-

“If it helps you feel better…”

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Chapter 243

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Jackson narrowed his eyes.

“Oh God.”

“I’m a virgin too,” I said quickly.

His face went blank.

Then-

“Jess.”

“I’m just saying-”

He groaned, dragging a hand down his face.

“I really don’t need to know that.”

I winced.

“Sorry.”

Then, quieter, I added, “Honestly… Noah was my first kiss.”

Jackson froze.