Page 24 of True Abandon

“Why are you whispering?”

Shit. “No, I’m just waking up. I was sleeping.”

“Okay,” he says, unconvinced. “Did you lose power?”

“No. We’re still good here.”

“Kelli’s Facebook post said you lost power hours ago.”

Double shit. “Did we? I don’t know. I’ve been asleep.”

“This is why I wanted you to come to my place. I don’t like the idea of you girls being alone. What if something happens to you?”

I don’t answer. There’s no right way to answer that—he’s right—a normal girlfriend would want to be with her boyfriend during a blackout. The line remains silent.

“Do you mind if I go back to sleep? I’ll call you in the morning. I promise.”

Kevin lets out a sound that radiates disappointment and annoyance. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. It’s late. He’s tired, and there’s a serious storm outside that has everyone a little panicked.

“Yes. Call me. I love you.”

“I love you, too. Bye.”

I open the bathroom door and see Jax’s handsome face staring straight at me. “You didn’t tell him where you were.”

With a rise of my brows, I hold the phone up in the air and make a hand motion to say, “you are correct.”

I take a seat on the edge of the mattress before I realize that I took a seat on his bed. It’s a spot people who care about the other person in his condition would sit in. It also means our bodies are touching in some way. Even with the blanket between us, my back is up against his good leg. I should get up and move, but that would be even more distracting than just staying here. So I’ll just stay and pretend I meant to sit here.

If Jax is surprised by my location, he doesn’t show it. He just looks on, waiting for me to answer his comment.

“Telling him where I was would require me telling him about you.”

He nods. “Ashamed?”

“With every part of my being.”

He lets out a deep breath. His shoulders fall back onto the bed, I hadn’t realized they were so tense. “Tell me about him. Is it serious?”

“It’s none of your business.”

“Humor me.”

I bite my lip and then answer, “We’ve been together two years. He wants me to move in. I’m considering it.”

“Only considering it? I thought girls were anxious to move in and then get engaged. Isn’t it usually the guy who has to consider things?”

“Well, I was burned in the past by this guy that I really loved so excuse me if I am a little jaded.” My words aren’t bitter or full of anger, simply matter-of-fact.

“Why are you living a life you don’t want?”

“Excuse me?”

“In a job, you don’t love. With a man, you can’t commit to. I know I robbed you of your passion, but you’re just cashing it in at this point.”

“Wow. And to think, I was starting to warm up to you.”

“Trish, listen to me.” Jax places a hand on my thigh, the contact causing me to stop breathing for a moment.