Page 54 of Dirty Pucking Tease

"Kai," Joe shouted. My gaze flicked to my manager strolling up to me. "You're cut. Wrap up and clock out."

"I just got a table, but I can see if Anna can take it." He nodded as he passed me to help a customer at the opposite end of the bar.

Anna agreed to take my table, and I quickly grabbed my things and exited out the back so Alex wouldn't see me.

My jaw clenched when my gaze landed on Jax sitting on the hood of my car.

"Get off my car," I growled, my tone laced with anger. He'd avoided me all day, ignored all my calls, and now he showed up here like nothing was wrong.

"Kai," he said, sliding off the hood and reaching for me.

"No," I said, dodging him, but I wasn't fast enough, and he caught me by the elbow. "Jax."

"Please, just give me five minutes, Kai," he pleaded, spinning me to face him and pushing my back into my car. "I know I fucked up."

"Yeah, well, you seem to do that a lot," I said, avoiding eye contact as I crossed my arms over my chest. "And this is getting to be exhausting."

"I know." His hands dropped to my waist. "I'm sorry."

I shook my head, shoving his hands off me. "You need to learn to use your words."

"I know," he said, putting his hands on the car hood behind me, blocking me in. "I've never been very good at this, but please let me try."

"You have two minutes," I muttered. "Talk fast."

He dropped his arms to his side. "Can we..."

"No," I cut him off. We weren't leaving this spot together until he explained. "One minute."

"I'm terrified of ending up like my parents."

"I know." I sighed. "Trystan told me it was bad."

"And I don't want to disappoint my mom either. I've put her through a lot over the years, and I'm trying to do better."

"And you think she would be disappointed in us?" My brows furrowed in confusion. "Because I can't be your secret forever, Jax."

"That's not what I meant. I just think we need to know for sure that this is forever before we throw a grenade into the family."

I didn't believe that was the actual reason, but at least he was talking to me, and I understood his need for time. "You have to stop shutting me out."

"I know." His hands curled around my hips, and I didn't knock them away this time. He dropped his head, nuzzling my neck. "I'm really sorry, Kai."

"Okay." I sighed. "We can keep our distance while your mom and my dad are home for now, but eventually, this is going to come out, and it's better..."

"I know, Kai," he said, cutting me off as he stood back to look at me. "I just need time."

I nodded. "Where's your car?" I asked, scanning over the parking lot.

"I had Owen drop me off. So, can I catch a ride with you?"

Pulling my car door open, I tossed my purse inside. "You should probably walk. We wouldn't want them to get the wrong idea." I slid into the driver's side.

"Wait," he said. "Are you serious?"

I slammed the door shut and turned the key, starting the engine before rolling the window down.

"You can't have it both ways, Jax." Part of me understood why Jax was worried about our parents because neither of us knew how they would react, but the other part didn't care how they would react, and I wanted him not to care either. We were adults. "I'll see you at the house." I rolled up the window, putthe car in drive, and drove away, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might explode.

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