Page 98 of Stay with Me

I was beginning to think sharing was a bad idea.

“Why?” she asked, and my brows rose. “Why no boyfriend?”

Cocking my head to the side, I stared at her. “Seriously?”

“Seriously.”

I folded my arms across my chest. “You can see with the glasses, right?”

She squinted, scrunching her nose. “Yeah, I can see. And you’re really pretty. And you’re nice. You have to be smart to be in a nursing program, so what’s the deal?”

“Pretty?” I murmured.

Then she blinked again as she pushed off the door, approaching me. “I get it. The scar on your face? It doesn’t distract from your prettiness. You have to know that. And I kind of wanted to say something earlier, but thought it would be way uncool to bring it up,” she went on. “But you looknicetonight. I can tell you’re not wearing a lot of makeup, and you looked great before, but you look awesome without it.”

Dermablend was no joke—a heavy makeup used for maximum coverage, and I always knew it was noticeable. I just thought I looked better with it.

“I’d kill to have your lips,” Roxy continued, drawing my attention to hers. They were nice lips. Bow-shaped lips. “And I’d murder someone to have your boobs. You cover them up, but I know they are there, and they look nice.”

“They’re not,” I blurted out before I stopped myself.

Confusion marked her face. “What do you mean? Do you have, like, the most awesome bra in the history of bras? If so, can you let me know where you got that?” She placed her hands over her small chest. “Because these babies could use some help.”

I smiled softly. “No. It’s not that. Sorry.”

“Damn.” She pouted. “Then what?”

I’d never talked to anyone about what I looked like in the buff and finding the right words was more than difficult. “The scar on my face is nothing compared to the rest of me. It’s pretty bad. For real.”

Roxy opened her mouth, but it was clear that she wasn’t sure what to say, so I rushed on. “I don’t have a lot of experience with guys, so I think we’re dating, and I think I ... I like that.”

“You like him,” she corrected softly.

Sighing, I nodded. “I do. I do like him. And I know it’s dumb.”

“It’s not dumb.”

I carried on as if I hadn’t heard her. “I mean, he’s hot, like so hot and so nice, he’s the perfect combo, and with everything going on with my mom, now probably isn’t the smartest time to get involved with anyone.”

“Yeah, the stuff with your mom does suck.” She shifted her slight weight from one foot to the next. “Sucks big-time, but also doesn’t really have anything to do with Jax, you know? They are two separate things.”

I could see that. “But I plan on heading back to school in August.”

“So?” she said. “Shepherd is like three hours from here. Big whoop. You guys can still date. Not only can you drive, there are these neat things called trains.”

I laughed. “I’ve heard of those things a time or two before.”

“He likes you,” Roxy said, and then nodded to drive the statement home. “Jax likes you, Calla. Trust me, I know.”

“Do you?”

Her chin jerked up and down again, but before she could continue, the door opened and Nick stuck his head in. “If you two are done doing whatever you’re doing in here, we really could use your help.”

I glanced at Roxy, and she rolled her eyes. “Boys,” she said, spinning around. “What would they do without us?”

I didn’t answer, but I wanted to giggle at the look Nick shot her way. We headed back out and the bar was packed. Jax stopped me, tied on my apron, gave me a not so secretive tap on the behind, and sent me on the floor.

“Girl, I don’t know what’s going on tonight, but it’s a madhouse,” Pearl said as I picked up the notebook to write orders.

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