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“You’re staring at me,” she whispered.
“Because I think you are incredible,” he confessed openly – and the tone caught her by surprise… as well as his amendment. “As a friend, of course.”
“Of course,” she said hoarsely, quickly looking away… only to feel his fingertips touch hers – and this time she didn’t pull away.
“I’ll carry your books,” he said simply, looking at her. “If this is okay? Do you mind if I hold your hand again?”
“No.”
“No, don’t hold my hand?” he paused, smiling. “Or ‘No, I don’t mind’.”
“I don’t mind,” she glanced at him, unable to resist. “You think you are something, don’t you.”
“I assure you – I don’t,” he replied easily and slid a look towards her. “But you feel free to think that I am ‘something’… because that just means you are at least thinking about me.”
Mary couldn’t help the laughter that escaped her – nor how pleased it made her feel to hear him laughing with her as he held her hand. This was wonderful, and probably the best twenty-four hours she’d spent in forever.
“So, would it be too forward of me to ask you to dinner tomorrow night?” Jax asked, sounding almost amused as his lips twitched slightly. “As friends?”
“As friends,” she repeated, smirking, and meeting his eyes.
“Of course.”
“Just like this evening.”
“Naturally.”
“And yesterday at the bonfire…”
“I honestly didn’t know you’d be there.”
“I know. I’m teasing you.”
“You feel free to tease me anytime,” he retorted easily – and both hesitated, looking at each other in that moment. Mary knew that ‘teasing’ could be taken many ways, including intimately.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” he whispered in a hushed voice, before a lazy smile touched his lips. “But now my friend is thinking of me and wants to tease me? What kind of friends does that make us, my sweet Mary?”
She swallowed as she stared at him, fascinated by this turn - and intimidated.
“Don’t be scared,” he breathed faintly. “It’s okay for us to be friends, or a little more someday.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Why?”
“Because it puts me in danger,” she whispered and saw his eyes harden with anger. “… Of getting my feelings hurt,” she quickly amended.
“Has he ever laid his hands on you in anger?”
There was something so personal in him asking that she couldn’t answer as she stared at him mutely. Her eyes were stinging as she thought of that moment, the pain, shame, and betrayal she felt… and how hard recovery was.
“You don’t have to tell me,” Jax said tightly. “I can see the answer in your eyes, and already had an idea that it might have occurred. Tomorrow we are going for pizza – and going shopping.”
“Shopping for what?”
“A couple of goodies to keep stashed around you at all times, because I never want you to be scared again,” he began and hesitated, looking away from her. “I know this is just friendship – butthis friendreally needs to helphis best friendso he can see her smile a lot more.”
He cleared his throat.
