A grunt is my only response as I start to gather my inks together for my afternoon appointment.
“Nothing’s going on,” I mutter, focusing on wiping down my station. “Just didn’t get much sleep last night.”
Jax snorts. “I’ve seen you work on three hours of sleep after multiple weekend benders and you were neverthisdistracted.”
Keeping my eyes on my work, I concentrate on laying out my equipment. “I’m fine.”
“Bullshit.” Pulling up a chair, he turns it around and sits, resting his arms across the back. “You’ve been acting weird for days. Showing up late, leaving early, walking around with this dopey-ass grin on your face.”
I roll my eyes. “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”
“Claire thinks you’re using again.”
My head snaps up. “What? That’s fucking ridiculous.” My hands clench at my sides. “I’ve been clean for years and she knows it.”
Jax raises his hands in defense. “Hey, I’m just telling you what she said. We’re all worried about you, man.”
“Well, don’t be. Like I said, I’m fine.”
“Then tell me what the hell is going on.”
Setting down the machine, I run a hand through my hair and sigh. “Look, it’s not a big deal. It’s just... I met someone.”
His eyes go wide, and a slow grin spreads across his face. “No shit? You’re actually dating someone? Like, an actual woman who tolerates your cranky ass?”
“Very funny.”
“Who is she? Where did you meet her? And why the hell haven’t you mentioned her before?”
I hesitate, trying to figure out how much to say without sounding completely insane. “Her name is Noia and she’s a writer.” I clear my throat, knowing I’m going to catch shit for this one. “She writes spicy romance novels.”
My best friend barks out a laugh. “A romance writer? Seriously?”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Just that you’re not exactly the hearts and flowers type.” He leans forward, suddenly interested. “So how’d you meet her?”
“It’s... complicated.”
“I’ve got plenty of time.” He glances at his watch. “My next appointment isn’t for thirty minutes.”
Knowing he won’t let it go, I give in and lie my ass off. “Fine. She was parked on the side of the road, in the rain, trying to change a flat tire, and I stopped to help her out.”
“And?”
“We started talking, and... I don’t know. There was something about her.”
“Wait, is this why you’ve been staying at that lake cottage instead of your apartment?”
I nod, relieved he was the one to come up with a reasonable explanation. “Yeah. My place is... getting renovated.”
Jax eyes me suspiciously. “You never mentioned you’re doing any renovations.”
“It was a last-minute decision.”
“So you’re shacking up with some writer chick you just met? That doesn’t sound like you at all.”
“It’s not like that,” I say, even though it kind of is. “We’re just... figuring things out.”
