“I thought you just said it was your fault?”
I slowly look up to find him grinning. Actually grinning.
The glare I give him could melt glaciers.
He sighs. “I’m going to have to get on my knees, aren’t I?”
“How about you go fuck yourself.”
“What if it’s between your legs?”
Caleb makes a choking sound behind his hand, and I blink, stunned as embarrassment heats my cheeks.
“Are—are you serious right now?”
“You seemed to like it last night,” he challenges.
“Ew!” Nix squeals, grabbing Caleb’s sleeve and tugging him toward his car.
“Wait,” I call after her, sparing a glare at Jax. “Look what you’ve done,” I hiss at him.
“Right,” he sighs. “I underestimated how stubborn you are.”
“You sure fucking did, buddy.” I make to follow Nix, intending to yank her back by the hair before she can slip into Caleb’s car, but I’m suddenly lifted off my feet.
“Hey—” I try, but Jax slings me over his shoulder, clamping a taut bicep around the back of my thighs.
“For the record,” he drawls, turning us toward his car as the blood rushes to my head, “I’m not really a fan ofbuddy. I think I’d prefer something more affectionate.”
“How about jackass?” I pound my fists onto his back, trying to wriggle free as my hair gets caught in my mouth.
“Ehh,” he gives an unfazed hum, leaning down to open the door. “I was thinking something more like honey or dear. I mean, we are going to be living together.”
“I’m not living with you!” I snarl as he plants me in the passenger seat.
“Or maybe something like darling.” He braces his palms on the hood, caging me in. “Or is that too old school?” He shakes his head, grabbing the seat belt and dipping in to reach over me.
“Fuck you,” I say into his ear.
“Right now?” He raises his brows and then glances out the windshield. “I don’t know. I’m not one for an audience. Let’s wait till we get home,darling.”
He pauses over me, brows knitting, and then clicks his tongue. “No. I don’t like it. I’m going to stick with buttercup.”
“I’ll stick with jackass.”
His jaw ticks. “Fine, then.” He takes a deep inhale through his nose. “But you’re still coming home with me.” He then locks the seat belt.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Jax
Iflick a cigarette into the white pebbles lining the drive, watching it smolder as I wait for James. He’s been in the city this last week, unaware of Nix staying here. But now Kira is here too—begrudgingly.
I know she’s only here because Nix refused to go with her, but thank fuck for that because if she hadn’t come, I’d have had to put them up in some hotel room. And then what? How the fuck was I supposed to make her forgive me from across town? Make them all forgive me?
They’re all pissed. Kira, Nix, Caleb…
Nix says I should’ve told Kira, not shown her. Says I took the coward’s way out. But if I’d told her beforehand, she never would’ve gotten in the car with me. She’d have taken some shitty bus, or worse, walked, just to see it for herself. All I did was strategically skip that unnecessary step, ensuring she didn’t undo all the healing she did while in the hospital. It wasn’t cowardice that kept me from telling her, it was foresight.
