“It wasn’t what I was expecting.”
“I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing,” I replied nervously.
“Can it be both?”
This girl was not going to make it easy on me. At every turn she had me questioning my moves and second-guessing myself. She was definitely different.
“It can. If…”
“Oh. If what?”
“If you want to explain it to me over dinner.” Maybe it was the adrenaline still pumping through my veins, maybe it was the pure stupidity or the hormones running rampant, but I was prepared to embarrass myself, again, for this girl.
“You want to go to dinner with me?” she asked.
“Well he doesn’t want to go to dinner with me,” Jax replied for me. I’d completely forgotten he was even there.
“Well, you can come too…” Not! I did not want him there, but sometimes the price was worth the reward.
As much as I wanted to take her to dinner, there was something I needed even more. I needed to know just how friendly Jax and Elise were. If they were together, I was in trouble. It wouldn’t necessarily stop me, but it would definitely put a dent in my plans.
“Thanks, but I’m not going to stand in the way of young love.” He answered my question without me asking it.
“Nothing young about me,” Elise grumbled.
“Oh shush you! The adults are talking.” He turned his gaze to me. “What our lovely Elise would like to say, is yes, Luca. I’d love to go to dinner with you.”
Looking around Jax, I tried to gage her reaction, but she wouldn’t look at me. When I caught her yawning, I changed tactics. Glancing down at my watch, I noticed it was already after ten.
“So, I’m thinking it’s getting late. Elise, would you like to get dinner with me tomorrow?”
“You still want…”
Jax’s hand clamped down over her mouth, silencing her. I wanted to laugh. It’s exactly what my sisters would’ve done if I was in her position.
“She’d love to. Pick her up at seven.”
Even though she wasn’t the one saying the words, she wasn’t fighting them either. Something I was counting as a win.
“If you’re sure.”
“She’s sure,” Jax confirmed as he let his hand drop.
“Well if you’re sure, Elise, can I get your number?”
Chapter Eight – Elise
I stood in front of the mirror trying to decide on whether to put my hair up or leave it out. While everyone loved my hair, I hated it most days. It had a mind of its own. Chocolate-coloured and curly, it never behaved.
“Stop fussing and get your arse out here!”
Some days I wondered why I let Jax in my life, let alone gave him a key to my front door. He was more than my best friend though. He was my everything. We came as a package deal, something we made sure anyone we dated understood. If they wanted to come between us, they were kicked to the kerb before they knew what hit them. He was also my biggest supporter and harshest critic. Probably the reason he’d let himself in while I was in the shower and was now undoubtedly sitting on my bed, his opinion on the outfit I’d laid out ready to go. More than likely an opinion I didn’t want to hear.
“Why are you here?” I called back as I tightened the tie on my robe and put the cap back on my jasmine-scented lotion.
“To make sure you don’t embarrass us.”
“Embarrass us?” I questioned, pushing open my bedroom door to find Jax exactly as I expected. Perched on my bed, feet up, glass of champagne in hand.
