The day of the "not-a-date" arrives, and I'm regretting every single life choice that led me here.
Jaxon shows up at my house early, where Ethan and I have been hanging out, pretending this date isn't happening, which is already a red flag. The only time Jaxon Walker arrives anywhere early is when he's planning something annoying.
I open the door and cross my arms. "Why are you here before our scheduled nightmare?"
He grins. "Figured I'd give you extra time to admire me before we leave."
I groan, stepping aside so he can come in. "I swear, if you make one more cocky comment, I'm cancelling this whole thing."
He smirks, walking past me into the living room. "But then you'd miss out on the best night of your life."
I roll my eyes so hard I nearly see the back of my skull.
Ethan is sitting on the couch, arms crossed, watching us like a detective trying to solve a case. He had been side-eyeing me ever since Jaxon texted to say he was on his way, and now, he's fully observing, like I might burst into flames from pure awkwardness.
"Try not to kill each other," Ethan mutters.
"No promises," I say, grabbing my jacket.
---
Jaxon, naturally, insists on driving. And not just drivingâshowing off.
We pull up to a ridiculously fancy restaurant, the kind with valet parking and menus that probably don't have prices.
I stare. "What. Is. This?"
He grins, unbuckling his seatbelt. "A restaurant."
I cross my arms. "We agreed on something casual."
He shrugs. "I changed my mind."
I fold my arms. "Translation: you planned this whole thing just to make me uncomfortable."
Jaxon's smirk worsens. "It's my greatest talent."
---
The meal is... surprisingly enjoyable. And that's what's throwing me off.
Jaxon still cracks jokes every five seconds, but instead of annoying me, I find myself actually laughing. Like, full-on, real laughter. And there's something different in the way he looks at me tonightâlike he's actually listening to me, not just waiting for his next sarcastic remark.
And then, out of nowhere, he asks, "Why'd you and Ryan break up?"
I nearly choke on my drink. "Excuse me?"
Jaxon leans back in his chair, his smirk just slightly dimmed. "I've heard things. But I'd rather hear it from you."
I set my glass down carefully. "Why do you care?"
His expression shiftsâjust for a second. Barely noticeable. "Because I don't like the way he looks at you."
My stomach flips. And I hate that it does.
I take a slow breath, weighing my words. "Ryan... pushed things. And when I told him no, he didn't like that."
Jaxon's entire body tenses. His fingers tighten around his fork, knuckles turning white. His jaw flexes, and I swear I see the muscle twitch, like he's actively restraining himself from reacting too strongly.
"Did heâ"
"No," I cut in quickly. "Not like that. But he kept pushing, kept making me feel like I was the problem for having boundaries."
Jaxon exhales, but his jaw stays clenched. His grip on his fork is so tight I half expect it to snap in half. His free hand, resting on the table, curls into a fist before he forces it to relax. "He's a piece ofâ"
"I know." I meet his gaze. "That's why I left."
For the first time all night, Jaxon is completely serious. And it's weird.
Then, finally, he speaks, his voice lower than before, almost dangerous.
"You ever run into that problem again, Carter, you come to me first."
His tone leaves no room for argument. Like it's not just a statementâit's a promise.
I raise an eyebrow. "You planning on starting a personal security business?"
His smirk returns, but softer now. "Only for you."
I roll my eyes, but for once, I don't have a comeback.
Because, for the first time in forever, I realize something terrifyingâ
I'm actually enjoying Jaxon's company.