Page 135 of Chaos

He’s slumped on the edge of the seat.

“What about them?” I avert my gaze. I don’t want to draw attention to them, even if it’s impossible not to keep glancing back at Jax.

“Well, you said you are single after your boyfriend cheated on you. They look like an excellent opportunity for a rebound.” She giggles into her hand. “Should we buy them a drink?”

“Um. I don’t think tonight. Maybe some other time?” Turning back to my margarita, it seems much less tasty than it was a moment ago.

Everything feels sour.

I just want him to come over here, scoop me up, and run out the door with me cradled to his chest and tell me everything is going to be okay.

“Oops. Looks like we missed out.” Lisa sighs and turns back to another coworker.

Wait. What does she mean?

Twisting around, I catch a glimpse of the waitress laughing with her hand on Jax’s shoulder.

And, he’s smiling back at her.

His wicked, sexy, flirty grin.

That’s mine.

Not hers.

Was it all bullshit? The tears? The begging? He really is just a dog who chases any bone?

Anger brews in me like a raging storm.

Standing violently, my glass crashes to the floor.

A piece of me hears my friends gasp, but I don’t look.

All I can see is him with that woman’s hand on him.

I barely acknowledge pushing the waitress aside.

“How can you be so happy when I’m fucking breaking inside?” I scream into his face. My palm snaps against his cheek.

He looks up at me in shock, but I don’t give him a chance to answer.

To hide my pain and tears, I turn and run past the wide-eyed customers and out the door.

SIXTY-FOUR

JAX

Song- Half A Man, Dean Lewis

The sting on my cheek is nothing compared to the pain I feel inside.

As she spins on her heel and makes a dart for the exit, that familiar deep ache in my chest resurfaces. When I look at her, I’m struck by the raw agony reflected in her expression.

That I caused. Again.

No matter what I do. I hurt her. I just can’t seem to make it stop.

Her words loop in my head. She thinks I’m happy? Doesn’t she know that I physically recoiled when the waitress put her hand on my shoulder?

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