April didn't have a word for what Jax Reed steaming her dress was doing to her, and she suspected if she found one it would ruin her. Of course he noticed the wrinkles. Of course he had a solution. Of course Jax Reed would fuck her senseless and then steam her dress like aftercare came with an instruction manual.
April turned and reached up to kiss him again. Gentler now. Grateful.
When she pulled back, Jax smiled.
"Go," he said. "Before the others send a search party. No one would be that stupid to risk a chance with you."
April laughed despite herself.
She checked her reflection one last time.
The woman looking back at her was glowing. Controlled. Dangerous in a way that had nothing to do with revenge and everything to do with knowing—finally—what it felt like to choose and be chosen.
She grabbed her clutch, squared her shoulders, checked her phone.
Laura:I'm getting texts from you like you're trapped inside a telenovela written by HR.
Laura:Can you call me for sixty seconds and tell me:
Laura:A) what you did
Laura:B) what Chad did
Laura:C) what you need me to do (besides panic)
April:Can’t explain
Laura:You can. You're choosing not to.
Laura:(I respect it. I hate it. I'm here.)
April:I’m busy, I’m at a GALA
April:wearing emerald silk
April:there are cameras
Laura:Whose gala.
April:liams
Laura:The brother.
Laura:After your FAKE ENGAGEMENT to his brother's BOSS.
Laura:April this sounds like a Dateline episode.
April:its fine
Laura:“Fine” is doing a lot of work in that sentence.
April silenced her phone.
Checked her reflection in the mirror.
The woman staring back looked composed.
The woman staring back was lying.
