“Everything all right, Soph?”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m just so over today,” I sigh my reply while balancing martini glasses on my right hand.
“You know that chap or was he causing trouble?”
“No, he’s fine. We have mutual friends, and he was asking how I’m doing, that’s all,” I explain and look around, seeing only a few patrons left. I’m glad I’m not spending my night watching couples being all lovey-dovey.
As someone wondering whether they want to be in a relationship or not, seeing blissful couples isn’t helping. My focus should be on my parents and helping them. At the same time, I know that I could be happy in a relationship if I only found the right guy. But no one I know is the one, even if I feel something towards the guy who has been a thorn in my side for what feels like forever.
Arlo glances my way, narrowing his eyes. “That’s all?”
“It sure is. Now, stop this little interrogation and help me with dusting the top shelves. I want to get those finished before taking off for the night.”
“Sure, but please, do let me know if the walking sex-on-a-stick gets rowdy.”
Laughing, we get to our task while my mind whirls with full of thoughts and images ofhim. When Jackson Bennett walked in earlier, I almost laughed. I knew this wasn’t his scene. Before I served him, I should have said something about who I was. Even a basichi, remember when you ghosted me after Rose and Eli’s housewarming partycould have worked. But no, I acted like I didn’t care about him being at my workplace. That’s a lie if there ever was one. I can’t stop glancing his way whenever he isn’t looking.
Why do all the assholes, including him, look so damn attractive? And why does light travel faster than sound, and you fall for someone’s looks before they open their mouth and ruin everything? And who the fuck allowed Jackass Bennett to look like a freaking rock star from my teen dreams? I finallyunderstand what Rose meant when she said that seeing Eli after all those years was like he walked out of her adolescence fantasies.
And now Jax’s single.
Tiffany.I don’t believe she’s as bad as he makes her seem. Who knows if you can believe everything that comes out of Jax’s mouth? I shouldn’t even trust that mouth knowing where it’s been. I can’t believe I spent tonight listening to him complaining about his exes and women in general. I get that he’s mad. But the way he talks about all those women makes me angry too.
Still, I try to act like nothing’s wrong while I think about how to make him see how much of a dick he is. I don’t usually like revenge. It’s for petty people—even the word makes me cringe. But Jax being at my bar woke something inside me. Something primal. I need to get revenge on him. If not today, I don’t know when.
I’m amazed that Jax trusted me with his keys only because we both know Rose. He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who would be that naïve. I could be wrong, but all the signs say otherwise.
When I thought I needed to make a change, I didn’t mean him walking into my life looking like that. If there was one person on this planet I didn’t want to see again, it would be Mr. Jackass. Ugh, why does he need to be that sexy with his bad-boy attitude, tattoos, and general vibes of assholery?
And as for why I wantrevenge?
Because a scorned woman is someone you shouldn’t mess with. It’s something he’ll learn before the night ends.
A year earlier
“Oh wow, look at this view. She’s such a lucky woman.” Haisley points around us, eyes full of wonder. We’re at Rose’s new place, which she just moved into a few weeks ago. She reunited with her first love Eli earlier this year, and they decided not to waste any more time apart. That’s how my friend ended up living in this two-story penthouse in the middle of the Financial District.
Eli used to live here alone, but since Rose moved in, they have renovated the place to match their styles together. I noticed her little touches around the massive apartment when she gave us a tour earlier.
“It’s even better when it gets darker, and a million lights make the city sparkle around us,” a deep voice surprises us. I turn to see who’s talking and see a guy who screams trouble. And I don’t mind getting into that kind of trouble.
He’s tall, probably around six three or six four. His body is slim, and he wears all black. The shirt he’s wearing displays his toned arms, and some tattoos peak from where his shirt sleeves end. Black skinny jeans and Doc Martens complete the look. The contrast between his clothes and those glimpses of colorful tattoos makes me want to get lost in admiring all that beauty. But those tattoos aren’t the only thing—his eyes are the color that you would expect to see in the middle of an evergreen forest where the shadows make the vibrant shades of green just a bit darker and tempting. The overhead lights hit them just right in this spot.
The stranger notices me checking him out, and I can’t miss hisamused smirk that highlights his facial features further.Damn it.
“Enjoying what you’re seeing?” he asks and lights up a cigarette.
I roll my eyes, replying with a question. “And how do you know Eli?”
“He’s my brother.”
Haisley nods at the short answer. “And your name is…?”
“Jax, happy to meet you,” he says and offers his hand first to Haisley, then to me.
When our fingers touch, I swear, it’s like an electric current runs under my skin. There’s something familiar with his touch even though we just met. He must be feeling it, too, because he doesn’t let go of my hand before Haisley fakes a cough to catch my attention.
“Where are my manners? I’m Soph, and my friend here is Haisley.” I point at my best friend.
