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Jax lets my words sink in, absentmindedly pulling me closer to him. “I really doubt Benton would be in on anything like that. Ellis, however, is iffy. I mean, the guy’s pretty loyal to Benton, but you never know.” He briefly pauses. “I’ll text Zay and Hunter and have them keep an eye on them. And we have cameras everywhere.” He brushes his fingers underneath my chin. “I swear to you that nothing will happen to you. However, can you stay by either Hunter or me? I know you’re nervous about the party, but I don’t like the idea of you being alone with everything going on. However, I won’t pressure you to go out there,” he vows, lifting my wrist to his lips and gently placing a kiss against my pounding pulse. It’s right where one of my scars is, and I wonder if he can feel it. He doesn’t seem to. “If you don’t want to go out there, I’ll stay in here with you.”
He doesn’t say it, but I know it’ll be bad if he does, that he’s supposed to be working.
I really don’t want to go out there, but I also don’t want to make him hang with him in the kitchen because I’m being a scaredy cat.
“I do need to talk to Hunter about something,” I mutter. “So, I probably should go out there.”
He looks at me funnily. “Is everything all right?”
“Yeah, Low just needs me to ask him a question.” I offer him a smile when he looks at me confusedly. “She wants me to see if I can convince him to let her come to the party.”
Jax makes an uneasy face. “I get that she’s your friend and everything, but I don’t think that’s a good idea. Hunter won’t agree to it, anyway. Trust me.”
I blow out an exhale. Jax knows Hunter better than I do, so he would know.
“What should I tell her?” I wonder, worrying my bottom lip between my teeth.
He rubs his hand across his scruffy jawline. “Why don’t you just tell her that you asked, but he said no?”
“You want me to lie to her?” Normally, a little lie wouldn’t bother me at all. But Low is like the first real friend I’ve ever had. Well, besides the guys … if that’s what they are.
“You don’t have to,” Jax stresses. “But Hunter will say no, and it might be better if you don’t ask him in front of everyone because people might be pushy about letting her come, and that’s a bad thing.” He gives my hand a squeeze. “Trust me.”
He keeps saying that—trust me. Do I trust him? I think so …
“Okay.” I text Low a quick message.
Me: I’m so sorry, but Hunter says it’s not a good idea for you to come.
She replies almost instantly.
Low: No worries. It’s not your fault. Thanks for trying.
I feel bad for lying to her, but then I get distracted as Jax takes my hand.
“You ready for this?” he asks.
No, not at all. But I’m trusting you. Please don’t let anyone break me.
I keep those thoughts to myself and nod. “Yep, let’s do this.”
He smiles, but I swear I detect the slightest bit of concern in his eyes. Still, I hold on to his hand, and he starts toward the doorway. But right before we’re about to pull through it, he stops and turns to me. Then he leans in and brushes his lips across mine, causing my heart to flutter.
“I just wanted one more,” he whispers, either to himself or me—I’m not sure. Then he pulls back and looks at me. “You’re still okay with me kissing you, right?”
Am I?
Honestly, yeah. I just wish I knew what was going on between him and Hunter.
I sink my teeth into my bottom lip and nod.
He lets out a slow breath, like he’d been holding it. Then he leads me toward the living room.
The moment we reach the doorway, where everyone can see us, he lets go of my hand.
I give him a confused look, and he offers me an encouraging smile before leaning in and whispering, “Remember, you’re supposed to be Hunter’s date.”
Right. I forgot about that.
