Jax and I worked well together, bouncing ideas off each other as if we’d always written together. For hours, he opened up about life without his mom, while we passed the guitar back and forth. I loved watching him work. I loved the way his brow furrowed as he softly sang the words, trying to perfect the melody. I loved how excited he got when it started to come together and the way his eyes constantly found mine in the flickering candlelight.
I had to shift my gaze downward for fear that the lightning in his stormy eyes would strike me dead right on the spot. I grabbed my phone off the coffee table to check the time only to see a text from Ella.
Ella: Soooooo??????
I stifled a laugh as I tapped out my answer.
Liv: Soooooo far soooooo good. ;)
“I take it that’s Ella checking in to make sure she doesn’t need to come rescue you,” Jax joked, taking another drink and emptying the contents of his glass.
“Something like that.” I chuckled.
He placed the glass on the table. “I believe I promised you dinner. What sounds good to you?”
“You know what? The weather is still pretty crummy. Let me take a raincheck, andI’lltake care of dinner tonight.” I stood, placing my guitar back in its case.
“Are you sure? With the power out, that might be a little difficult. I could at least order a pizza or something.”
“I’m positive. Besides, isn’t necessity the mother of invention?” I grabbed our empty wine glasses and my phone, unlocking it so that it illuminated the space around me. “Grab the candle and come with me.” He followed me into the kitchen curiously, setting the candle on the counter. I placed our glasses beside it before plucking another bottle of red wine from the rack on the counter. “Will you do the honors?” I passed him the bottle and a corkscrew.
“Of course,” he said, setting to work on opening the wine.
I slid open the patio door and pulled the screen door closed, allowing the sound of rain to fill the room. Standing on my tiptoes, I pulled the wooden cheese board from one of the top cabinets. As I began putting together my hodgepodge charcuterie board, I became aware of his thoughtful eyes following me, watching me work with intrigue. I moved through the kitchen, cloaked in darkness, pulling items from the cabinets and a couple from the fridge, placing them artfully on the board.
“Okay,” I said, carrying the board to the small rustic grey dining table next to the patio door. “Dinner is served.”
I moved the candle to the table and he followed, grabbing the wine and glasses, placing them on the table and taking his seat beside me. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Pop-Tarts on a charcuterie board before.”
“They’re strawberry.” I grinned, plucking one from the board and taking a bite. I’d piled together a smorgasbord of snacks including almonds, grapes, pretzels, string cheese, Goldfish crackers, some cookies from the bakery, some leftover pepperonis from pizza night with Ella and Grace, and iced strawberry Pop-Tarts.
“This might be the best dinner I’ve ever had.” His lips curled into a smile as he grabbed a Pop-Tart.
“You might need to raise your standards a little bit.” I smirked, taking a sip of my wine. My hair blew lightly around me as the breeze flowed through the screen door.
“I think my standards are just right.” Thunder rumbled and we fell quiet for a moment, taking in the sounds of the autumn storm.
I glanced over at him to find him already looking at me. I quickly looked away, taking another sip of my wine.
“What do you say we play a little game?”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “What did you have in mind?”
“Well, we have some wine. How about a little getting-to-know-you drinking game?” He raised his brow at me. “Maybe Never Have I Ever?”
“Sure,” I said cautiously. “What are the rules?”
“You’ve never played before?”
I shook my head.
“We each take turns saying something we’ve never done. If the otherhasdone that thing, they take a drink.”
I shrugged. “Sounds simple enough.”
“Ladies first.” He smiled over at me, taking another bite of his Pop-Tart.
“Okay.” I pressed my lips together, suppressing a laugh. “Never have I ever played Never Have I Ever until today.”
