“Your actions tonight don't help that case, Jaxon!You think I didn't walk away from high school with scars?The constant taunting and tormenting from you and the rest of your team?Me and trust issues go hand-in-hand now thanks to you, and every time I think I can let go with you, there's another situation that proves that I can't.”
“When have I ever given you a reason to doubt that?Savannah, all I've done these past two weeks is prove to you that I've changed.”
I knew that.
The rational part of me knew that, but anger tore its claws through me, and now those scars were like open wounds.
“You do realize that if we were anywhere else tonight, in any other hotel, you would've been arrested, right?”
“And I still wouldn't care.”
My glare hardened on him.
“Open the door, Jaxon.”
We stared at each other, and I made him see the fire in my eyes.Tonight was not the night to pressure me; I wasn't backing down, and when his jaw clenched, I knew I won.
He looked away first and his fingers moved to the switch on the door console.
Click.
The locks disengaged and I didn’t hesitate.I pushed the door open and stepped out, my heels striking sharply against the pavement as I walked straight to my front door, never looking back.My hands trembled slightly as I pulled my keys out of my bag, feeling his hard gaze on my back.
The door sprung open and just as I stepped inside, my ears perked at the roar of the car engine.Instinctively, I turned to look, but Benji’s car sped furiously down the street, Jaxon disappearing into the night.
The sound of the TV welcomed me as I stepped inside, the warmth wrapping around me like a blanket.Nerissa was stretched across the couch, one leg draped over the armrest, completely absorbed in what looked like some kind of dance competition.A bowl of chips was tucked beside her.
I shrugged out of my coat and heels before dragging myself over her and sank beside her.
“Hey.”
“What's with the face?”She glanced at me and ate a chip.“I figured you'd have gone to Jaxon's with how handsy you two were before you left.”
“Not happening.”
“Trouble in paradise?”
I scoffed and reached for a chip, crunching angrily.“Far from paradise.God, he can be so reactive sometimes.Not everything needs to be handled with your fist.”
Nerissa’s eyebrow lifted slowly, reaching for the remote and turning down the TV.“Okay… you want to tell me what's going on?”
“He got into a fight with Chase.In the hotel lobby.”
“What?”
I rubbed my temple and quickly explained what happened—the argument, the shouting, Chase baiting him, the moment everything snapped, the car ride over here.
When I finished, Nerissa shot upright.
“He said what?”
I groaned.“I know!All Jaxon had to do was walk away and—”
“I'm not talking about Jaxon.Your ass of an ex said that to you?How much of a fucking prick can you be?Honestly, like, what the fuck?”Then she stood up so fast, the throw pillow beside her hit the floor.“The man must've been dropped on the head as a child because that's the only explanation for him being so fucking disgusting to you.Ooh girl, it should've been me.I would've kneed him in the balls so hard that he'd be coughing up dicks.”
I stared at her—because what else could I really do?
“I hope Jaxon kicked his ass to kingdom come.The absolute nerve of this man!Who cheats on their partner, is in the process of marrying that person, and still finds time to cause drama with his ex?”
