Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 48

Jackson

Practice had run late.

The field lights blazed against the darkening sky as the team broke down drills and scattered toward the locker room, everyone hyped up about tomorrow night’s game. My body ached, my jersey was clinging with sweat, and all I wanted to do was hit the showers, grab a burger, and crash so I could rest up for the biggest night of my life.

Tomorrow wasn’t just any game — it was the game. A college recruiter would be in the stands, watching my every move. Coach had been relentless all week, drilling us harder than ever. Every pass, every run, every play had to be perfect.

But even with the pressure mounting, something else had been clawing at the back of my mind.

Jessa.

I tried not to think about the cafeteria blow-up or the way she’d been walking around school like a ghost these past few days. I told myself I was focused on football, on my future. But the truth was, I’d been avoiding her problems because… well, because it was easier.

And maybe because deep down, I knew I’d let it all happen.

I was tossing my duffel bag into the trunk of my car when I saw her.

Mariah.

She was leaning casually against the driver’s side door, her dark hair glinting under the parking lot lights. Even in the baggiest hoodie, she somehow looked like she’d stepped out of a photoshoot. My pulse kicked up instantly — not that I’d ever admit that out loud.

Mariah didn’t move when I walked up. She just crossed her arms and tilted her head, a mischievous spark in her eyes. “We need to talk.”

I paused, wiping sweat from my forehead with a towel. “About what?”

“About Jessa,” she said simply, her tone cutting through the night air like a blade.

I groaned, tossing the towel into my car. “Mariah, please. I just survived practice with Coach breathing down my neck. Can this wait until tomorrow?”

“Nope.” She popped the ‘p’ with deliberate sass. “You’ve been avoiding this long enough.”

Her voice had that no-nonsense edge that told me I wasn’t going anywhere until she’d said her piece.

I leaned back against the car, folding my arms. “Fine. Say what you need to say.”

Mariah pushed off the door and stepped into my space, her expression shifting from playful to serious. “Tomorrow night’s game is huge for you. I get that. I respect that. But while you’ve been chasing glory on the field, Jessa’s been dealing with crap you’ve been pretending not to see.”

My chest tightened. “Mariah—”

“No, Jackson.” She jabbed a finger at me. “You don’t get to interrupt me right now. Your sister has been bullied, humiliated, and torn down — and you just stand there with your idiot friends and do nothing.”

I froze. My breath caught, and for one terrifying second, I thought I might actually kiss her.

Mariah tilted her head, her lips grazing dangerously close to my ear as she whispered, “Maybe… if you pull it off, you just might get a date with me.”

My pulse went wild.

Before I could react, she pulled back, flashing me a wicked grin before turning on her heel.

“You’ve got until tomorrow night, Lombardi,” she tossed over her shoulder, hips swaying as she walked away like she hadn’t just wrecked my entire focus.

I stood there, staring after her, completely rattled.

I’d spent months telling myself Mariah was off-limits. She was Jessa’s best friend — complicated, untouchable.

But now?

Tomorrow night wasn’t just about impressing a college recruiter anymore.

It was about proving myself to Mariah… and maybe, finally, stepping up for Jessa too.