Claire barely looked up. “Talking to Jax. Seeing what time he wants to come get us.”
Sara frowned. “Why is he coming to get us? We can’t drive?”
Taylor rolled her eyes. “Girl, you were plastered if you don’t remember that part.”
Claire turned to them, deadpan. “Y’all lost the keys to the rental. Jax drove us home last night.”
Sara blinked. “That might explain why I vaguely remember seeing eye candy behind the wheel while I was squished in the middle seat.”
Claire just laughed. “He’s coming to get us around two. Right before the cookout.”
That got their attention.
Macie raised a brow. “What cookout?”
Claire sipped her coffee like it was a punchline. “Every other Sunday, a bunch of his friends get together to grill and hang out. This weekend, it’s at Jax’s place.”
Taylor’s eyes widened. “Wait… like at his house?”
“Yeah. He invited us. Said we should come.”
Macie perked up fast. “Is Trevor gonna be there?”
Claire grinned. “Trevor and Carter. And whoever else shows up.”
The girls exchanged looks. Hangovers forgotten. Energy returning.
Macie slammed her coffee cup down like she was announcing war. “We’ve got a few hours.”
She stood and pointed toward the hallway like a general. “Let’s start getting ready.”
Claire just laughed, shaking her head.
Because yeah—she wasn’t the only one Jax had under his spell.
But unlike the others, she wasn’t just getting ready for a cookout.
She was getting ready for something else entirely.
Something more.
15
The View
Clairebarelyhadtimeto sit before she heard the familiar rumble of Jaxon’s truck pulling into the drive. The girls shot off the couch like they were being chased, bags in hand, laughter already spilling through the room.
Claire followed behind, the last one to the door. She locked it, turned—and there he was.
Leaning against the truck, arms crossed, smile waiting.
She smiled back without hesitation before heading down the steps.
“How was your morning, ladies?” Jaxon asked as they climbed into the truck, his voice laced with amusement.
“Just peachy,” Sara muttered, pure sarcasm and sunglasses.
“Well,” Jaxon laughed, “your SUV’s at my house. Mike dropped it off after closing down last night. Figured you could come early, hang out while I set up and cook.”
