Page 123 of One Good Crash

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"Yes. I am." I looked her straight in the eye and just said it. "You can't stay."

She blinked. "What? Why not?"

"For all kinds of reasons. Just trust me, you can't."

"But why?" she repeated.

"Well, for one thing, because I have a roommate."

"So?"

"So it's her place, too."

"I don't care," she said. "I'mstaying."

From behind me, a familiar male voice, low and steady, replied on my behalf. "The hell you are."

It was Jax.Of course.

I almost groaned out loud.

So much for no drama.

Chapter 51

I didn't turn to look. I didn't need to. I could feel his presence, like a wall behind me, a big, protective wall that I could lean against if I wanted to.

I was sorely tempted. But this wasn't his problem. It was mine.

I tried to think.Maybe if I loaned her money for a hotel?

But of course, it wouldn’treallybe a loan, because I'd never see the money again. Unfortunately, I didn't have a lot to spare.

My mom was glaring at Jax. "You're not the boss of her."

From behind me, he replied in that same steady voice, "Yeah? And neither are you."

I turned to give him a pleading look. "I can handle this, okay?"

His jaw tightened. "No."

"Sorry, what?"

"It's not okay."

I shook my head. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," he said, "you don't have to take this shit."

Already, my mom was sputtering, "Shit? You mean me?" She made a scoffing sound. "Well, this is just terrific."

I whirled back to her and said, "He wasn't talking about you. He was talking about the situation."

"He was not!" she said. "He hates me."

Gee, I wonder why.

Still, I said, "Oh come on. He doesn't even know you."

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