Page 55 of Dirty Pucking Tease

My gaze flicked to the rearview mirror to see Jax still standing where I had left him.

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Owen eased his white car up beside me in the bar parking lot where Kaia had left me, and I jerked the car door open and slid in. I wasn't angry with Kaia. I was angry with myself. I actually expected Kaia to leave me, which was why Owen wasn't far. I'd left her at the house that morning without a word, all because I panicked and didn't want our parents to see us leaving together, and it took me all day to realize that was irrational. Our parents wouldn't be suspicious because I gave her a ride. I deserved it, and she was right. I couldn't have it both ways, but I couldn't figure out how to get out of my old ways.

"She left you, huh?" Owen chuckled. He knew she'd probably leave me, too. I didn't bother answering because we both knew the answer. "That's what you get for bailing on her and then ignoring her all day."

"Shut up," I mumbled, sinking back in the seat, but I knew he was right.

Owen surged forward, pulling the car into traffic, quickly changing the subject to hockey and our upcoming game.

"So, are Cam and Kaia coming to the away game this weekend?"

My gaze flicked over to him as my mind reeled, and confusion surged forward. That was a weird question because Cam and Owen had a thing, and I would think he would know if she was coming this weekend.

"Why don't you ask Cam?"

"We haven't really talked since I dropped her off after the cages."

"Why?" I asked, dragging out the word.

"I don't know." He shrugged, not taking his eyes off the road. "She's called and texted a few times, but I haven't answered."

"Is this about the Cages or Trystan?"

"I don't know... Both... Maybe." Owen had it bad for Cam, and he never knew where he actually stood with her because Cam was in love with Trystan.

"Trystan's mad at her too," I said, turning to look out the window. "I think the only person not angry with her is Kai."

"So you haven't talked to her either?" I shook my head. I hadn't talked to Cam since I'd told her to leave the Cages, other than to tell her she wasn't welcome at the house, and I really didn't plan on it, but I also knew that cutting Cam from my life wasn't an option as long as Kaia was in my life.

Owen swerved his car into my driveway, stopping behind Kaia's black car. Shoving open the door, I shifted in my seat. "Go home, call Cam, and work your shit out. You need a clear head for the game."

"I could say the exact same thing to you." He winked. "See you in the a.m., bro." I slammed the door and watched him back out of the driveway. Owen was right; I needed to work out my shit.

Walking through the garage, I could hear the muffled laughter coming from the kitchen. Pushing open the door, I stepped inside to see my mom, Kaia's dad, Syn, and Harlowsitting around the small round kitchen table with a board game in the middle.

"Come play, Jax." My mom laughed. "We are about to start a new game."

There wasn't a place at the table for Kaia, but that didn't surprise me. Kaia hated board games. She'd never admit that it was because she was terrible at them, though, and she was a poor loser.

"I need a shower and sleep." I forced a smile. "Maybe next time."

I wasn't sure what I was going to do when I got upstairs. I wanted to crawl into Kaia's bed with her, but I knew I couldn't, not with our entire family downstairs. Most of the time, it was just Kaia and me home, but everyone but Trystan was here tonight.

Both doors leading to Kaia's bedroom were not just closed but locked. Since the first night we moved into this house, Kaia had never locked the door from the bathroom to her room.

I showered quickly and then slipped into a pair of boxer briefs. My gaze flicked from my bed to the open double doors leading to the terrace overlooking the front yard. The same terrace that I shared with Kaia. Her bedroom had the same double doors as mine. I should go to bed, but I couldn't help but wonder if Kaia's doors were closed.

Stepping out onto the terrace, a gust of wind blew, and I sucked in a deep breath, inhaling her sweet scent. Kaia stood at the edge of the terrace, staring out into the darkness in nothing but one of my t-shirts that hung mid-thigh, and my fingers ached to touch her.

"Are you still mad at me?" I whispered.

"No." She glanced over her shoulder. "I'm sorry I left you."

I shrugged. "I would have left me too."

"So what now, Jax?"

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