Page 84 of Dirty Pucking Tease

"You did all this for me?"

"It wasn't easy, but of course. I knew you would want everyone here." He dropped his mouth to my ear so only I could hear him. "And maybe I can play out that bar fantasy later."

This was the best birthday present he could have given me.

56

It was close to two a.m., and the party was starting to dwindle down. My gaze followed Kaia as she said her goodbyes to friends and family, and all I could think about was getting her home and breaking in our new bed. The bar stool beside me moved, and I caught Alex in my peripheral vision as he slid onto the stool next to me.

"I'm surprised you came," I said without taking my eyes off Kaia.

"I'm surprised you invited me."

I shrugged. I honestly was, too, and if this situation had gone any differently, I wouldn't have, but Alex had been the bigger man, and I respected that. I knew Alex wasn't a threat, not as long as Kaia didn't have her memory back because she didn't remember how she felt about him, but I couldn't say I wasn't still a little worried about what would happen when her memories returned.

"Congrats, by the way," he said. "I heard you two made it official." I forced a smile but didn't say anything. "You know how lucky you are, right?" Sucking in a deep breath, I pushed off the bar before twisting to face him. He apparently needed toget something off his chest. Squaring my shoulders, I lifted my chin, ready to take whatever he was going to throw. "If this had happened just a few weeks later, she may have been mine. You get a second chance that you don't really deserve."

I wished I could argue with him and tell him he was wrong, but he wasn't. "You're right, and I do know how lucky I am, but I think we both know it was always going to be me." His jaw flexed, but he didn't look angry. "I know I fucked up, and all I can do now is move forward." I paused, glancing over my shoulder to where Kaia was dancing with Trystan. "I love her, and I will never hurt her like that again." My gaze shifted back to Alex, who was smiling.

"Good to hear, but you should know that even after I'm long gone, there will always be another me waiting to step in the next time you fuck up, and next time you may not get another chance."

"I won't need one."

"What are you two chatting about?" Cam slurred. I rolled my eyes when she didn't give us a chance to answer the question. "Jax, you mind if I chat with Alex for a minute?"

"About?" She raised her brows, giving me a none of your fucking business look. "Cam, this could only be about one of two things and..."

"Jax," she warned.

I shook my head. "No. Is this about Kaia?"

"What?" She frowned. "No."

"Then it could only be one other thing, and you have no business fighting in the cages, and you damn sure aren't dragging Kaia there again."

"Why would you think it has anything to do with me fighting?"

"Because you and Trystan haven't spoken once tonight, which means something happened, and you always want to do dumb shit when you're hurt."

"Mind your own business, Jax."

Gritting my teeth, I snarled, but I also knew I couldn't stop her. "Fine." I threw my hands up. "Do what you want, Cam." I had no intention of dropping it. She wasn't going to listen to me, but she'd listen to Trystan. I spun on my heels and strolled away.

"Hey," I said, stepping in beside Kaia. Kaia and Trystan's gazes flicked to me. "You need to go deal with your girl. I don't know what you did this time, but she's planning on fighting in the Cages again."

Trystan's gaze shifted over my shoulder to where I'd left Cam with Alex.

"Where is she?" Kaia asked.

"Discussing the Cages with Alex."

"Trust me," Trystan said. "I'm not the person you want help from. I believe her exact last words were, 'Don't ever fucking talk to me again.'" Our eyes went wide.

"What the fuck did you do?" I snapped.

"Happy Birthday, Kai," Trystan said. The sadness in his tone was painful. "I'll see you in a couple weeks." We stared silently as Trystan disappeared through the crowd and out of the building.

"What the fuck happened?" I asked, twisting to Kaia.

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