That was the real killer.
The look in his eyes. Concern. Warmth. Affection.
Like he cared.
Like he actually cared.
I ripped my arm away from him with more force than necessary. It wasn’t like he was holding me back or gripping me hard. I just couldn’t bear to have him touching me right now.
And there was no way I could go back to pretending, either. Not right now. Not after fighting with my mom, and not after the things I’d heard him say when I’d been taking a moment for myself before returning my mom’s call.
I was done.
This was over.
He just didn’t know it yet.
“Get lost, Jax. I’m out of here.”
“Do you need a ride?” he asked.
“Yes. Which is why I’m going to go find my friend.” Why was I even explaining myself to this guy? I should have just called him out on his bet, put him in his place, and left him in my dust.
I would have if I’d had the energy. If my head wasn’t currently pounding out a bongo beat for the ages.
“You mean Hannah and her boyfriend?” he asked. Something in his tone…
I stopped. “Yeah. Why?”
“They left,” he said. “I saw them leave a while ago while we were talking.”
“While you were talking,” I muttered.
“Excuse me?”
Even as I’d said it, I was taking my phone out again and…yup. Sure enough. Hannah had texted that they were leaving. Giving me one last shot to grab a ride back. But I’d told her I was fine. I’d said I’d find another ride. I’d been so caught up in my stupid game with Jax, I’d missed my best shot at a quick getaway.
“I can give you a ride,” he said.
I kicked at the dirt with my mom’s never-before-worn hiking boots. They were stylish, all right, but they hurt like hell since they’d never been broken in. “I’ll find another way home,” I said.
“Do you need a place to crash?” His words stopped me again and I closed my eyes against a wave of humiliation.
If there’d been any doubt about how much he’d heard…that just cleared it up. I whipped around quickly. “Why? Are you offering?”
My tone was snide and rude and…I didn’t care.
Game over.
Rose out.
His eyes widened in surprise for a second. “Uh…yeah. I guess. I mean, if you need a place to crash…”
I’d never seen the laid-back, suave, too-cool-for-school Jax so off his game. He sounded flustered. It would have been hilarious if, you know…it was funny. But since I was currently wading through a swamp of humiliation?
Not so funny.
“Yeah, well, thanks, but I’ll find a place.” I started to turn. “Despite what you might think, I’m not that easy.”
“Hey.” He shifted so he was in front of me, blocking my path. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant…you can have my bed. I could take the couch.” He held his hands up and it was genuine indignation in his eyes when he added, “Despite what you might think, I’m not that much of a jerk.”
I gave a huff of rueful amusement. No, not that much of a jerk that he’d take advantage of a girl who had no place to go.
Just enough of a jerk that he’d make me fall for him to make a quick buck.
Not that much of a jerk, though. I rolled my eyes and turned back to the party.
“You know how Simone and I came to be friends?” he asked suddenly.
I stopped walking. Okay, now that I had not been expecting.
Curiosity battled with annoyance and my need to get out of here. I turned back and crossed my arms. “How?”
He moved closer and I found myself backing up, right into a tree. “My parents fight. A lot.”
I blinked. Well…huh. What was I supposed to say to that?
He didn’t sound upset, just stating the facts.
“So?” I said.
“So, Simone used to hear it and she offered me her house. Her dad’s cool like that. So, what I’m trying to say is…I’m not making a move or whatever. I just know what it’s like to need a place to stay. No questions asked.”
I stared at him for a long moment because for a second there, I’d seen it. Not pity, thank goodness, but understanding and…sympathy.
That glimmer of kindness was enough to make my throat thicken with emotion.
Which meant it was high time I got out of here. I was in no state to be playing his games.
I was way too raw, much too vulnerable.
Tonight, there was no way I’d win.
“Come on,” he said, shifting toward me, his voice horrifyingly gentle. “You look like maybe you had too much to drink.”
“I don’t drink.”
He paused as if that shocked him. Surprise! I’m a good actress, remember? I hated alcohol but I knew how to act like the life of the party. I was better at acting all giggly and tipsy than any drunk girl would ever be.
Was this a talent to be proud of?
Heck yeah.
I was an actress, and a dang good one at that. I tipped my chin up, summoning up some pride in the midst of this epic embarrassment. “And I don’t take rides from people who’ve been drinking.”
His lips quirked up in a smile I couldn’t read. “I don’t drink, either.”
I blinked. He’d had a drink in his hand when I’d shown up…
He seemed to be reading my thoughts. “The drink you stole out of my hand was a club soda. I figured you were too drunk to notice you weren’t drinking beer, but now…” He eyed me oddly. “I guess you weren’t drinking at all, huh?”
I leaned in a little and lowered my voice like I was telling him a secret. “You are super observant. Has anyone ever told you that?”
He let out a choked laugh of surprise at the sarcasm. “Let’s go,” he said, nodding in the direction of the long driveway where all the cars were parked.
I hesitated. I so did not want
