Page 99 of One Good Crash

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"You always get what you want?"

"No."

"Exactly."

I stared at him for another long moment. "Isthatwhy you're in a bad mood? Because you think I'm planning to be alone with Dominic?"

If I weren't so stressed, I might've laughed. "I'm not interested in him, if that's what you're thinking."

Jax frowned. "You think I don't know that?"

"Honestly, I don't know what to think."

"Alright," he said. "Answer me this. Isheinterested inyou?"

It was something I didn't want to contemplate. Still, the answer was embarrassingly obvious.Yes. Hewasinterested, whether for himself or – I stifled a shudder – his clients. Either way, it was more than a little creepy.

Still, I lifted my chin to say, "It doesn't matter. He's not even gonna be there."

"Damn right, he's not."

I felt like I was missing something. "Sorry, what?"

"I'm just saying, you shouldn’t take any chances."

"I wasn't planning on it."

"You sure about that?"

I gave a sigh of frustration. "I don't even know what you mean."

"It means, I'll get your stuff. Not a problem."

I almost laughed in his face. "Not a problem? Are you serious?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

No. He didn't.

But it didn't matter. I'd had just about enough. "Well, obviously it'ssomesort of problem, because you've been crabby ever since you showed up."

For the briefest instant, he looked like he just might smile. "Crabby, huh?"

"Yes. Crabby."

"Alright. You wanna know why?"

"Iknowwhy," I said. "It's because Allie talked you into helping me, and…" I let my words trail off.And what?With another sigh, I finished by saying, "Listen, I don't blame you if you'd rather not. I just wish that you'd told me, that's all. You could've saved yourself a trip."

And then, there was the thing I didn't say.And I could've saved myself a world of humiliation.

Jax said. "You wanna know whatIwish?"

"What?"

"I wish you'd be more careful."

"Iamcareful."

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