“Really?” She turns her head to look at me, genuine surprise in her eyes. “That’s... progress.”
“He said some things to me,” I tell her, then proceed to share what happened in the kitchen the other morning when he explained about the sketchbook. “He told me he wanted me in his life, not just his bed. That he wants to be the one I turn to when I need someone.
“And then, just a few minutes ago, he stormed into my office, pushed me up against the wall, and told me he’s not my dad or Ryan and that he would never intentionally do anything to hurt me.”
Noia listens intently as I explain everything, her expression softening with each word. When I finish, she shakesher head.
“Well. At least you know where his head is at. The one on his shoulders, I mean.”
My arm flops again, but she evades it, and we both dissolve into laughter.
When our giggles subside, she turns onto her side and looks down at me, her expression suddenly serious as she props her head in her hand. “So when are you going to tell him how you feel?”
My heart skips. “Tonight.”
My mind flicks back to the night we hung out watching Pretty Woman and the famous tie scene. The way Jax’s eyes darkened, focusing on my mouth when he told me there were so many things he could do with a tie. How when his voice dropped an octave, heat flooded my veins, and it took everything in me not to jump his bones right then and there.
Suddenly, I have the best idea. Sitting up abruptly, I look at my bestie. “You wanna come help me pick out a tie?”
“A tie?” she asks with an incredulous laugh. “What’re you gonna do? Tie his ass up?”
I give her a sly grin. “Something like that, yeah.”
Noia’s eyes widen before she bursts into another fit of laughter. “Oh my god, you’re going to recreate the tie scene from Pretty Woman, aren’t you?”
“Duh.” I push myself up off the floor, offering her my hand. “I’m thinking a visual aid will be a fantastic way to show him how I feel.”
She takes my hand, and I pull her to her feet. “See? This just proves I’m not the only slut-monkey in this relationship.”
An hour later,after a quick shower and change of clothes, we’re at Lakeside’s only men’s clothing store, perusing a rack of silk ties.
Noia holds up a bright red one with tiny sailboats. “What about this?” she asks, waving it in front of my face.
I giggle and wrinkle my nose. “I need something that screams, ‘I’m ready to give us a chance,’ not ‘Let’s go sailing.’”
“Fair.” Noia shrugs and her grin turns nefarious. “Are you sure it doesn’t scream, ‘I want your cock to sail straight into my vagina’?”
We burst out laughing and I give her a shove.
Returning it to the rack, we continue our search.
I run my fingers over the silky fabrics, trying to find one that feels right. Something that’ll immediately catch Jax’s attention.
“How ‘bout this one?” Noia pulls out a deep emerald green tie woven with subtle silver threads. “It matches your eyes, and it’ll make your hair really pop.”
Taking it from her, I examine it closely. The silk feels smooth and luxurious between my fingers, and the color is perfect—rich and vibrant, but not too flashy.
“What do you think?” she asks, watching me closely.
“It’s perfect.” I smile, already imagining what Jax’s reaction will be when he sees it.
After checking out, we decide to make it a girls’ day. First stop is lunch at a cute bistro overlooking the lake, where we share a bottle of wine while I fill Noia in on what it’s been like living with Jax.
“So you’re just... what? Ignoring each other?” she asks, popping an olive into her mouth.
“Pretty much. When he comes home, he’ll either go downstairs to his man cave or straight to his art studio, and I’ll stay in my room. We’ve even stopped eating together. It’s torture.”
“And how are the...” She points at my boobs. “...new additions?”
