I grab the first, second, third, then the fourth one. Plus my purse, and my laptop bag, then headout.
By the time I am downstairs, the struggle is real. Jaxson must have spotted me and sympathized because he rushes inside tohelp.
Taking hold of all four bags and my laptop, Jaxson says, “Why didn’t you just call me to ask for help? I would have totally come upstairs and carried these to thecar.”
“Well, I thought I could manage,” I say, biting on my lowerlip.
He laughs. “Manage to toppleover?”
“Asking for help is something I have never been goodat.”
He opens the trunk to the car, places the bags in, and says, “I’venoticed.”
As he pulls onto the road, I steal a glance at him, his features in the dark, highlighted by the city lights seeping into thecar.
He smells so good, and for some reason, I imagine reaching over and running my fingers through his thickhair.
He probably thinks of you just as a friend, Lauren, so stay in your lane.Besides, you and Simon will probably workout.
We roll to a stoplight and he turns to face me, catching me staring. “Are youhungry?”
“No. I had a late lunch. But thanks forasking.”
He nods. “So, just straighthome?”
“Yes, I’m really tiredanyway.”
“Oh, I forgot to ask, whatever happened withSimon?”
I hesitate for a few seconds, knowing Jaxson isn’t fond of Simon. “He, uh, had a great reason for not showing up that night. We actually have a date tomorrow. I honestly think we have a chance to make itwork.”
Jaxson keeps his eyes on the road and says nothing at first. Then about a minute later says, “Oh.”
That’s it?See…justfriends.
We ride the rest of the way in silence and when he pulls up in front of my building, he kills the engine, hops out, pops the trunk open, then a few seconds later opens my door forme.
“I’m carring these up for you,” he says, holding up the bags offabric.
“Okay, thankyou.”
While on the elevator, he keeps his dark browns glued to the number display, avoiding eye contact. He seems annoyed.Why?
“So, you’re really going out with him again?Simon?”
I say nothing. Justnod.
He shakes his head. “What is it about him? He seems like a jerk to me. Any guy whostands—”
“He had a good reason. And I believehim.”
“You’re gonna get hurt. You deservebetter.”
“By better do you mean,you?”
Just tell me you want me, please. Finish thatkiss.
He glares at me and I can see the anger, or perhaps it’s disappointment in his eyes. “No, Lauren. Like you said yesterday, I’m just afriend,remember?”
