He raises one eyebrow.
I am a disaster.
“We need to talk,” he says quietly.
My pulse sprints.
“O-okay,” I whisper.
He nods toward his office.
But before I can move, a voice cuts in.
“Hey, Ruby, got a second?”
It’s Evan.
Of course it’s Evan.
Jaxon goes very still beside me.
I look between them like a rabbit deciding which wolf will eat me slower.
“Actually,” Jaxon says calmly, “she’s coming with me.”
Heat ripples through my whole body.
But Evan steps forward, jaw tight. “She doesn’t belong to you.”
Silence.
People look over.
Jaxon’s expression doesn’t change, but the airdoes.
He turns his head slightly, leveling Evan with a slow, icy stare.
“Watch your tone,” he murmurs.
Evan bristles. “It’s not a tone. It’s the truth.”
Okay, I need an adult. A priest. A sedative.
I stand up quickly.
“It’s fine,” I choke out. “I…I’ll talk to Evan. It’s fine.”
Jaxon looks at me.
Just looks.
And the hurt under the control shreds me.
He nods once. It’s tiny. Quiet. Polite.
And absolutely devastating.
Then he turns and walks away.
