Page 20 of One Good Crash
Stupidly, I thought of that tampon. Like a total coward, I'd shoved it further under the car seat and made a mental note to grab it after the party.
I just prayed I didn't need it sooner.
Jax leaned his head close to mine and said, "Keep an eye out, will ya?"
"For what?" I asked.
"My brother." He paused. "Or a tiny redhead."
Okaaaaay.The brother, I got. The redhead, not so much. "I’m guessing you mean a specific redhead?" I tried to laugh. "I mean, this isn't like some sort of scavenger hunt, is it?"
After everything else tonight, I could practically see it.Find a can of corn, something fluffy, and one tiny red-head.
"No," he said. "It's more like a save-my-ass type of thing."
"Ohhhh, right." I gave him an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I should've remembered. This is about that ten-minute deadline, isn't it?"
Earlier, Jaden had threatened to tell Darla – whoever that was – some horrible thing if Jax didn't show up within ten minutes. I wasn't wearing a watch, but Ididknow that we were surely beyond the ten-minute mark.
Jax gave me a silent nod and kept on going.
As we moved forward, I glanced around. I saw no sign of his brother. As far as redheads were concerned, I spotted at least three, but none of them could be called tiny. Rather, they were all tall and statuesque with legs that went on forever.
The nearest redhead – the one who happened to be heading straight toward us – was wearing a very tiny dress. Did that count?
Probably not.
I looked to Jax and said, "The tiny redhead – I'm guessing that would be Darla?"
"Right." As he said it, he lifted a glass of champagne off a passing tray. Without breaking stride, he handed me the glass. "Here. You'll need this."
"Why?"
"Trust me."
A moment later, we nearly collided with the tall redhead in the micro-dress. Or, more accurately,shenearly collided withus.
Ignoring me entirely, she gazed up at Jax and practically cooed, "There you are."
I stiffened.Yes. There he was.
Funny though, he didn't look nearly as happy to seeheras she was to see him.
Her dress was a shade of deep emerald that showed off her stunning green eyes – eyes that were molesting my fake boyfriend, even as he looked past her, still scanning the crowd for his brother or Darla.
Undaunted, the redhead reached for his unclaimed arm and gave it a squeeze. With a flirty smile, she said, "You're late."
"Am I?" he said, still looking past her.
"Totally," she said. "And you promised me a dance."
"No," he replied, "I promised to toss you out if you made a scene."
She drew back. "I'm not going to make a scene."
"Good to know," he said.
Silently, I looked from the redhead to Jax.Was I supposed to be doing something?Their conversation had reminded me that I wasn'tjusta girlfriend. I was supposed to be – how had Jax put it? – apsycho jealousgirlfriend.
