Page 126 of Stay with Me

A muscle in his jaw spasmed. “You’re not fine. And you’re totally bullshitting me.”

I folded my arms across my chest. “How so?”

“You were out there, talking to your friends like someone drop-kicked your puppy into oncoming traffic.”

“I did not look like someone kicked ...” My chest rose with a deep breath and then I said screw it and prepared to unload, because what was the point in lying and stewing about it? I met his gaze. “You know what? I’m not okay. And maybe it’s because I told Teresa about you.”

“You did?” The frustration leaked out of his expression and he started to grin. “Nice.”

I was going to hit him. “It isn’t nice. Because she told Jase, who in turn told Cam, who then told Avery, who by the way are like the most awesomely adorable couple in coupledom, and they came up here to surprise me, but I also know they all have a hidden agenda, and that’s to checkyouout, because I opened my big mouth and told them about that.”

His grin spread. “Good friends. I like that.”

Actually, I was going to throat-punch him. “Well, I’m so glad you like that, but the first time they see you is when there’sanothergirl who hasherhands all overyou.”

Jax drew back, straightening.

“Yeah. That,” I continued. Now that I wasn’t bullshitting him, I was on a roll. “They saw you and they saw Aimee before I had a chance to even introduce you guys, and that ... well, that sucked.”

“Babe ...”

“Don’t ‘babe’ me,” I snapped, taking a step back. “I know there aren’t any labels between us and we haven’t known each other that long and maybe this is something casual to you, but I really wished that the first time my friends met you wasn’t when Aimee was giving you a breast exam.”

“Something casual?” he repeated, and I wondered if he’d heard anything I’d said. “Is this something casual to you?”

I started to say yes, because ... well, because I wanted to be a bitch, and that ugly icy feeling was back in my stomach. My feelings were hurt and I wasembarrassed,and I wanted to play that game, but that’s not what I said, because I had no idea how to play that game. “No. This isn’t casual for me. Not in the least.”

His expression softened as he stepped forward. “Baby, this isn’t casual for me, either, and the fact you think it might be blows my mind.”

“It does?”

“Honey, every signal, every act and word I’ve sent in your direction from day one says this isn’t casual for me,” he said, leaning his hip against the wall. “I know you don’t have a lot experience with relationships and that’s cool, but I really don’t know how else to show you that. And the whole label shit?” he continued as he curved his fingers along my chin. “I think you know what we are.”

The thing was, I didn’t. I might’ve had a guess Sunday night when I’d stripped down to my undies and he’d worshipped my body like I was some kind of goddess, and he did so every time since then, but seeing him with Aimee? Yeah, I was inexperienced when it came to relationships, but I wasn’t dumb and I wasn’t stupid.

And it wasn’t like he’d been caught making out with her or that he even knew my friends would be popping by, but there was still the fact that every night he worked, Aimee was here. And every night he worked, Aimee was up his ass. And every night he worked, as far as I could tell if I was being honest with myself and unless she was the densest chick alive, he didn’t really do anything to stop her advances.

And he let her touch him.

Repeatedly.

And that wasn’t cool.

The back of my eyes stung, because that was that. What was happening wasn’t a huge thing, but it was inappropriate. For fuck’s sake, I worked right here. And I really didn’t know what to say right now, because I wasn’t okay with that.

I drew in a deep breath. “Look, I’ve got to get out on the floor. We’re busy.”

“And we’re not done talking.”

“Yeah, we are. For right now, okay? We can talk about this later or whatever.” I started to turn around, and his hand slipped off my chin.

“I never thought you’d be the jealous type.”

My feet came to a complete stop as I turned back to him and stared. Oh boy, that was the wrong thing to say. “I’m not jealous.”

He arched a brow.

I narrowed my eyes on him. “Fine. Maybe I am. Is that so surprising? I mean, I just said this”—I waved my hand between us like I was having a seizure—“isn’t casual, so yeah, I’m not going to like seeing a girl get all up on you night after night. Especially a girl you’ve hooked up with.”

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