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“Avery, when are you gonna let that man love you?” Whitley asks, motioning towards Jaxson with her eyes and my pulse races. Love. I’m not even sure I know what that is. My mama never really showed me much affection, nothing even close to love. I know I love my siblings, but that kind of love is ingrained into us. We have to love them even though we don’t always like them. And I know I love my friends. But to love a man when all I’ve ever seen is how they always leave? I’m not sure I could ever let myself be that vulnerable, let alone to subject my kids to that kind of vulnerability. What Jaxson and I have is fun. It’s exhilarating and I look forward to the nights when we’re tearing up my sheets. But, to ever put myself out there and risk losing him as a friend? What if it all went wrong and he didn’t only walk out of my life, but the kids' lives, too? It wouldn’t be fair to them to put them in that situation. They’ve had enough people walk out on them.
“Whitley,” I warn, and her eyes go over my shoulder as I feel Jaxson’s heat hit my back. He doesn’t usually touch me in front of our friends, and I’m surprised he’s even standing this close to me.
“Hey, Jax. Beer?” She asks and he must nod his head yes because pretty soon she’s depositing a tall draft on the bar in front of me and he reaches by me to grab it, his arm brushing my shoulder and sending a bolt of electricity through me. The cook chooses that moment to put my to-go food in the window and Whitley hands it to me along with the receipt, which Jaxson immediately picks up and sticks in his pocket.
“I’ve got it,” he says, taking a pull from his beer and meeting my eyes. I huff out a breath.
“Gimme the damn bill, Jaxson.”
“Nope,” he says, popping the p and turning his attention towards Blake across the bar. “Hey little man, put those back where you found ‘em. You and Avery need to go get Genevieve.” I glance at the time on the clock and curse under my breath, knowing I don’t have time to argue with him about the check. I toss a twenty on the counter and stand, a challenge that I’m throwing down and he knows it. He narrows his eyes at me. “You leave that there on the counter and you and I are gonna have a lengthy discussion later.” I roll my eyes at his remark.
“Whatever,” I retort because I don’t really have a better comeback. Blake skitters to a stop in front of us, latching himself to Jax’s leg and tugging on his pants.
“Is you tomin over later?” He asks and Jaxson crouches down so he’s eye to eye with him.
“Areyou coming over later, not is,” he says, gently correcting him and ruffling his hair. “And of course. I wouldn’t miss an opportunity to hang out with my best buddy.” Blake’s face lights up as he throws his arms around Jaxson’s neck and my heart skips another beat. “Be right back,” Jaxson directs towards our group of friends before standing and lifting Blake up and striding out the front door with him without so much as a glance in my direction. I sigh and say goodbye to everyone before following.
Jaxson is shutting Blake’s car door as I make it out to the car.
“What the hell was all that?” I snap, standing with my arms crossed at the trunk so Blake can’t see the two of us.
“That was me doing something nice for you, Ace. Say thank you.” He says, taking a step towards me and I put my hand up in front of me to stop him from coming any closer, glancing at Blake to make sure he isn’t watching. I don’t want him to get confused about what’s going on between me and Jax.
“You don’t have to come over tonight,” I say, and he slips his hands into the pockets of his slacks.
“I know I don’t have to. I want to,” he says, nodding his head towards my car. “You better go before you’re late getting Vie.” Damnit. He’s right. I sigh and turn to go to my side of the car. “See you tonight, darlin’.” He calls out as I get in the car and even though it shouldn’t, that sounds like a threat. Another shiver passes through me as I back out of my spot and glance in my rearview mirror to see him still standing there, hands in his pockets, as he watches us drive away.
Jaxson
“Holy shit,” Avery says, rolling off me and laying on her back. Breathing hard, I roll up on my elbow so I can look down at her face. Her cheeks are flushed, her bare chest heaving with each breath. My eyes travel down to her tits and I hear her husky laugh. “Listen sailor, you may be ready to go again, but I’m gonna need a break.” She slaps her hand against my chest and rolls off the bed, grabbing her robe from the back of the closet door. She tugs it over her shoulders, knotting it in the front and I take a minute to take her in.
Avery Marks is fucking beautiful. She’s barely five feet tall and the heels she wears to work only boost her up about an inch or two, but fuck me if she isn’t drop dead gorgeous. Shoulder length blonde hair, hazel eyes that are sprinkled with flecks the color of honey. I’ve spent the last eight months memorizing every freckle and curve on this womans' body. Most of the women I’ve dated in the past have been tall and skinny, all legs and six pack abs. But Avery, she’s all curves and soft skin. She’s everything I needed but never knew I wanted.
“You’re gonna have to be able to keep up, honey,” I chide and get out of bed, tugging my sweatpants over my hips. Leaving my chest bare, I quietly follow her out of her room and down the hallway to the kitchen. She flicks the light on over the sink and pours herself a glass of wine, grabbing an oatmeal cream pie from the cupboard, her snack nearly every single night. She drags herself up onto the counter and I fit myself between her open thighs, dragging thevof her robe down a little so I can see the swell of her breasts.
When I got here earlier, she tore into me about the little stunt I pulled at the bar. Making a move like that in front of our friends isn’t something she’s used to me doing, but I’m tired of pretending like we are just friends in front of them when all I really want to do is hold her hand, drag her into my lap, or put my arms around her.
“When are you going to stay over atmyplace?” I ask as I lean in, burying my face in the crook of her neck before sliding my tongue across her ear, earning me a shiver. I don’t mind coming here, but my place is a lot bigger and the master bedroom is in another part of the house away from all the other bedrooms, which would definitely afford us a little space so we could be, ahem, loud. She sighs and slides her hands around my back and into the waistband of my sweats.
“I would have to find a sitter for the kids and,” she starts but I cut her off.
“Why the fuck would you find a sitter for the kids?” Her eyes widen a little at my question, but she narrows them right back at me.
“Because, Jaxson,” she hisses my name, “I can’t exactly just leave them here.” My face goes hard.
“I never asked you to leave them here, Ace,” I grit out, going on before she can interrupt me, “I wouldneverask you to leave them by themselves and I’m actually pretty fuckin’ pissed that you’d think that I would,” I push myself away from the counter, brushing her off when she tries to stop me from walking away. I prowl out of the kitchen and to her bedroom, tired of playing this game with Avery. I hear her quietly calling my name as she trails behind me.
“Jaxson, stop for a minute and talk to me.” I ignore her request and snag my t-shirt off the ground, tugging it over my head and slipping my feet into my sneakers.
“No, I think I’m done talking,” I say, pocketing my keys and my phone, looking around to make sure I have everything. “I can’t do this shit with you anymore,” I say, my voice weary. “I’m tired.”
“Then let's just go to bed,” she says, tugging on my arm and I shake her free.
“No, Ace. I’m tired of this game we’ve been playing. I can’t do it anymore.”
“I just, I didn’t think that you’d want me to bring the kids. I just assumed if you wanted me at your place, you only wanted, well, me.” I halt my movement forward and flex my hands into fists before releasing them and turning on her. I quickly move into her and she backs up into the bed and drops down on it on her ass. I follow her down and prop my fists on either side of her before leaning into her space.
“And do you know why you didn’t think that I’d want you to bring your kids, Ace?” My use of her nickname and me calling them what they are,herkids, obviously having an effect on her. “Because you didn’t fuckin’ ask,” I grit out, my voice becoming harsher by the minute. We’ve been doing this shit for seven months, us tiptoeing around the fact that we’re in a relationship but not reallyina relationship, because god forbid Avery Marks put a label on something. I take a step back. “Come find me when you’re ready to be honest. Until then, I’m just your boss.” I turn on my heel and leave the room, through the living room where I came in three hours ago to help Genevieve do her homework, and I throw the front door open, running smack into a woman.
