Page 208 of Wait for Him

Asshole.

He knows exactly what he's doing because I taught him what he's doing.

"I'm sorry that happened to you today, Jax."

"Whew." He lowers the bottle. "You must be tipsy if you're bringing out the big guns. Jax? Damn, girl."

"Jackson has too many syllables, and I don't only call you that when I'm drunk."

“Whatever you need to tell yourself." He takes another pull and steps into the pool, the water climbing his thighs. "And I'm fine. But thank you for saying it."

"You're welcome."

"How's it been, being around James?" He settles onto the underwater ledge an arm's length away. Close, not closing. "He seems like a really cool kid. Had me laughing my ass off all day last time we were at Bennet's."

"He's amazing. God, we have so much to catch up on. But yeah, he's so great. He accepted me right off. Stayed the weekend with me that same night, and we talked for hours. Days. About everything." I can't stop smiling now, and I don't even try. "He told me I'm a badass. He said I was pretty."

My voice goes small on the next part despite my best efforts.

"He likes me, Jackson."

My eyes water, and I scowl at the bottle in my hand.

Fucking champagne.

"That's beautiful, Rose. I'm really happy for you. Both of you."

"Thanks." I wipe beneath my eyes before my mascara decides to join the evening's list of casualties. "What are you doing out here? Have you talked to Rian since the altar?"

"I didn't have it in me to stay at the reception, but I demanded everyone else stay and enjoy the food. Samson didn't cook all week for nothing." He rolls the bottle between his palms. "And yeah, I spoke to Rian after. It was amicable, believe it or not. She made the right decision for herself, and I can't fault her for a second of it. She's taking the honeymoon alone. Going to find herself a pool boy, she said.”

He runs a hand through his hair and takes another long pull of champagne.

"Why did she do it?"

He's quiet for a moment before he looks down at the bottle. "I didn't give her much choice, Rose. I fucked it all up."

"I'm so sorry."

And I mean it. Cleanly this time, without needing to inspect the sentiment for hidden contaminants. Whatever door this opened for me, I hate seeing him hurt. I've always hated seeing him hurt.

"Don't be." He looks out at the water instead of at me. "It's for the best."

"I can give you some space. You came out here for a reason."

"I don't need space from you, Rose. Quite the opposite, actually."

Then he looks at me, and fuck, I know that look well enough to know whatever comes next is going to require more sobriety than I currently possess.

"What did you mean that day outside Bennet's place?"

Please don't go there. I need my head on straight for that conversation, and my head is currently three-quarters of a bottle deep and doing the backstroke.

"I don't remember," I say far too quickly, then reach for his bottle and take a pull straight from it, which may have been a tactical error considering how dark his eyes just went. His mouth was there. Now mine is there. And judging by the way he's staring at my lips, we both just did that math in real time. Fuckshit.

"Liar."

"Nuh uh." I shake my head, because twenty years of legal training and the best defense I can mount is nuh uh. Very mature, counselor.