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I check the message and frown. “Shit.”
It’s from Low, asking if I’ve worked my magic over on Hunter and got him to agree to let her come to the party. The truth is I haven’t even brought it up to him because I forgot to.
I am the worst friend …
I’m standing by the counter where snacks and drinks—some alcoholic, some not—are scattered across the counter. I eye the open door that leads to the living room. Music is blasting from the stereo and chatter is flowing through the air. So many people are crammed into the living room. Even high, I can feel that familiar panic stirring inside me. I don’t want to feel it again. However, if I want to be a good friend to Low, I need to woman up and go out there and talk to Hunter. I could just text him, but then he’d realize I’ve been hiding out in the kitchen.
Or maybe he already knows and is kind of relieved I’m not out there. After all, he was supposed to be pretending to be my date. Perhaps he really didn’t want to do that and was just trying to be nice.
Loser, Raven. It’s written on my side, right by all the other shit my uncle carved into me.
I rub my lips together as I stare at the doorway, trying to muster up the courage. I make it a few steps before someone walks through the doorway.
Dark hair, stormy eyes—it’s Jax. And he looks worried. He peers around the kitchen, and a flicker of relief washes over his features when his eyes land on me.
“Thank fucking God.” He strides across the kitchen toward me, his boots scuffing against the hardwood floor.
“Did something happen?” I ask, wondering why he’s so worried.
When he reaches me, he loops his arms around my waist and pulls me against him, like actually hugging me.
“Jax,” I start to say, concerned about how worried he is.
But then he kisses me, intensely but briefly, his tongue briefly slipping into my mouth and tangling with mine.
I barely have time to gasp, and then he’s pulling back
He takes a few uneven breaths. “We didn’t know where you went.” He opens his eyes, and it looks like a storm is going on inside him.
“Oh … Sorry.” I feel kind of bad now for sneaking out.
“It’s fine.” His fingers splay across the small of my back. “I mean, if you want to leave, it’s fine, but next time, please tell one of us so we can go with you. It’s not good for you to be down here alone.”
“Because of the game?”
“And because the people here are sketchy.”
“Right. Sorry. I think I might be a bit stoned and not thinking clearly or something. I just needed a break, so I walked out.”
He gives a hesitant pause. “Why did you need a break?”
I shrug. “There’s a lot of people in there, and it was making me feel uncomfortable.”
His expression softens. “You could’ve said something to me instead of just slipping out of the room.”
“I know, but you guys were busy talking to people.” I shrug again. “I promised myself I wouldn’t be a burden to you guys.” I sigh, looking away from him.
“Hey, look at me.” He cups my cheek and angles my head up so our gazes collide. “You’re not a burden, I promise. We love having you here.”
I don’t bother mentioning that Zay is probably excluded from thewe.
“And I’m sorry we got distracted,” he adds. “It’s been a while since we’ve been around these people and, for some reason, they all want to find out what we’ve been up to. We’re the guys who left the family. It’s a big deal in this world, which is why we usually keep our distance from everyone. Well, that and about a hundred other reasons. But, unfortunately, money won this time.” He skims his finger along my cheekbone. “It might be good that we’re doing this, though. With this game starting up between the families, we could get some insight, like say if someone gets too drunk and starts spilling secrets accidentally.”
“Good point.” I give a short pause. “Jax … you don’t think that someone here slipped that note into my pocket, do you? Like maybe as part of the game?
His brows knit. “Did you see something or something?”
“No … I just …” I dither, trying to decide if I want to bring up my thoughts on Benton. He is Zay’s brother, after all, but still … “It’s probably nothing. It’s just Benton keeps giving me these weird smiles and looks, like we’re sharing a secret or something. And then this Ellis guy, who’s with him, keeps staring at me.”
