Page 56 of Dirty Pucking Tease

37

Jax and I sat on that terrace for hours that night, talking, laughing, and setting more ground rules. Well, he set more ground rules, like we behaved as long as our parents were in the house. Being with Jax was complicated, not just because we shared a home and our parents were married but because Jax was broken. Watching his parents go through their divorce destroyed his belief in a happily ever after, even though he'd seen how happy my dad and his mom were.

Even though I told Jax I agreed to his new rules, I didn't agree with him. We weren't kids anymore, and hiding like we were didn't make sense to me, but for now, it was okay.

Our parents were supposed to leave for Australia the following day, but something came up, and their plans changed, which kept them home for the next four weeks. That was the longest our parents had been home at one time in several years.

Even though I was desperate to have a place where we could be a normal couple, we managed to make it work; on the beach under the stars, in his car behind the bar, in the showers at the rink, he continuously found new places to be intimate. Still, Jax was always super careful that no one would see us even if wewere in a public space, and after the third week, the sneaking around was starting to get old for me.

The night before our parents finally made their trip to Australia, I was in a better mood than I'd been in all year. I'd missed sharing a bed with him. It was always sex, then leaving because wherever we were, we couldn't stay. Then we'd go home, and he'd go to his room, and I'd go to mine.

I glanced over my shoulder to the bar where Cam and Owen stood drinking a beer and smiled. I wasn't sure if they were a couple, but I was happy they'd made up.

The bar had a live band, and it was packed.

"Kaia," Jeremy, the busboy, shouted over the music. "Table three needs you." I nodded and pushed my way through the crowd to table three.

It was Alex. Alex was here every night I worked, and every night, he asked me out. It had been four weeks, and he hadn't given up. I couldn't figure out if he was just that into me or liked the challenge.

"What can I get you, Alex?"

"A date tomorrow?" I shook my head. "Fine, I'll settle for a beer."

"What kind?"

"Surprise me."

From where I was standing, I could see the entire bar. Owen and Cam were still at the bar drinking, and Jax was standing with a group of college friends surrounded by Puck Bunnies. I was starting to hate the rule that we kept 'us' a secret. I hated that he wouldn't tell those girls he was off the market. Or maybe he wasn't. It was always hard to know where I stood with Jax until we were alone.

"Will anyone be joining you tonight?" I already knew the answer to that question. No one ever joined him. His routine was the same every night. He sat at the same table, asked me outwhen I took his order, and finally ordered something, and then every time I checked on him, he would ask me something about myself. It was like the longest first date ever.

"No. I can't stay long tonight. I have a fight."

"At the Cages?" He nodded. "You probably shouldn't be drinking then."

His lips curled into a grin. "I don't want the beer. I want the girl serving it to me."

Heat stung my cheeks, and my stomach fluttered. "I'll get you that beer." I stumbled over my words. I stormed off, pushing through the crowd.

"Lex," I called across the bar. "Could you take table three a beer?" She nodded and narrowed her questioning eyes. "I need a break."

"What kind of beer?"

"Surprise him."

"I got ya!" She smiled.

Alex was getting bolder, and right then, I needed Jax to remind me that I was his. I pushed through the crowd, but Jax wasn't where I'd just seen him. The bar was too crowded, and I was too short to see over everyone without being on the elevated floor in the dining room.

I needed air. I pushed my way through the crowd toward the rear exit.

"I've had a few offers." I froze. It was Jax. I twisted around to see Jax standing off the dance floor in the darkness.

"You're really hot." The tall, thin blonde with him smiled. I shifted on my feet, turning to move towards them. "Do you have a girlfriend?"

"No." He smiled that flirtatious smile I loved so much at her. "I don't really do girlfriends." My heart twisted hearing him say it out loud. I knew in my head that it was him letting her knowhe wasn't interested, but I also knew that wouldn't stop her. The sparkle in her eyes said she wanted him.

Rolling my eyes, I twisted around and bolted for the rear exit. I was trying really hard not to be that girl—the jealous girlfriend who overreacts, especially when I didn't know if I was actually his girlfriend. Truthfully, Jax wasn't doing anything wrong, but I was so insecure in this relationship that it pulled out the worst emotions in me.

---