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Landon raises his brows and looks around, searching for Malia. Dillon takes one glance at me, and the way his eyes widen is telling enough. He knows she never showed. Great. It’s not enough that I was stood up, but now I have to experience the humiliation of my brothers witnessing it.
They close the distance to me.
“Where’s Malia?” Landon asks. “Restroom?”
The corner of Dillon’s mouth quirks in a way I know is identical to my own. “She stood you up, didn't she?” he asks with humor in his voice. He takes the seat that was reserved for Malia.
I drop my gaze and sigh. Dillon laughs.
“Seriously?” Landon asks.
I shrug. “Maybe she slept in. Or maybe she’s sick or something. I didn’t get her number, so who knows for sure.”
“Sick?” Dillon asks, doubt dripping from his tone. “Yeah, bro. I don’t think so. I knew I liked Malia back in the day, but I like her even more now. She’s the only one unaffected by your Jaxon charm. She won’t let this come easy. You’re going to have to work for her.”
“I’m so glad one of us finds this amusing.” I look out the window for the fifty-first time, hoping to spot Malia walking up.
“Oh, come on,” Dillon says, still grinning. “If this happened to you all the time then maybe I’d feel bad, but you’re the Jaxon Wyle, the woman whisperer. Your ego can handle it.”
Landon grabs a chair from an empty table and sits to my right. “Jaxon Wyle getting stood up. Well, there’s a first for everything.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up. Get it all out of your systems. Why are you guys even here?”
“We wanted to s
ee Malia, too,” Landon says. “Figured it would help your cause.” He gives a winning smile. “She liked us. You’re the one she hated.”
“And apparently still does,” Dillon adds.
I run a hand through my hair. “Apparently. I suppose I should respect that she wants nothing to do with me now.”
Dillon reaches out and picks up the chai tea. “I’m sorry man,” he says sincerely. “But who knows, maybe she just wants you to sweat it out for a bit before she decides to hear you out.”
Landon shrugs. “Try reaching out to her in a couple days. You know where her sister lives. Drop off some flowers or something. Kitty loves it when I bring her flowers.”
Dillon sniffs the contents of the cup and wrinkles his nose. He’s a coffee guy. “But don’t come off as stalker-ish,” he says. “If you go to her sister’s house and she says she still doesn’t want to see you, then you’d better back off. You don’t need a restraining order on your record if you have to fight for custody one day.” He turns the cup to me with the barista’s number on it. “And if you can’t make things work with Malia, there’s always Pam.” He smiles.
Landon jabs my side with his elbow. “Or Grace over there.” He lifts his chin to Grace. I glance over, and she smiles and waves at me. I give her a small smile and quickly advert my gaze.
My cheeks burn. “You guys suck.” They both chuckle.
Landon’s phone beeps. He looks at it. “Don’t forget that you have that solo client this afternoon. You’ll have her for the next few weeks, in fact.” He looks at his phone again. “Her name is Holly Golightly.”
The name sounds familiar, but I can’t place it. “Do we know her?”
“I don't think so. She’s not from here,” Landon says. “And Kitty will get Audrey from school today.”
I nod and look at my watch again. Forty-five minutes past ten. “Well, I better get back to the ranch to prepare.” I stand up. “Mark your calendars, boys. Today is the day Jaxon Wyle officially got stood up.”
They laugh and I shake my head as we all leave the coffee shop.
Chapter Eleven
MALIA
I look at the time on my phone. Ten forty-five. Well, I did it. I officially stood up that no-good cheater Jaxon Wyle. I’m sitting across from my dad who is currently reading the newspaper and sipping his coffee. Mom is already in her garden, humming a tune that floats its way in from the open windows along with a cool breeze.
Aside from the Jax situation, it’s a beautiful morning. Or perhaps knowing that I stood him up adds to the pleasantness of the day. If I were home in Hollywood right now, I’d be sitting all by myself in my beautiful too-big, too-empty house, feeling like the loneliest person in the world. But today, I glance up from my cup of tea to see Dad’s smiling face. I listen to the birds chirp along with my mother’s humming, and I gain appropriate satisfaction in knowing Jax is sitting all by himself at the coffee shop. Yup, it’s a pretty perfect morning.
