Page 108 of Just Friends
It’s funny; a second ago, this was the one thing I most wanted to hear him say. You’dthinkI’d jump into his arms and cover him in kisses—but instead, I squinted at him, probing his eyes, hunting out the lie. “Oh really?” I asked, clearly doubting him.
“Really,” he said. “I wasn’t ready before. I am now.”
“Uh-huh,” I said, folding my arms. “Because you weren’t ready earlier today.”
“You’re right. I wasn’t. I know it sounds crazy—”
“It sure does,” I agreed. “How do you know you’re actually ready for a relationship? How do you know you’re not just panicking at the thought of me moving out? How do I know you’re not just saying what you think I want to hear to keep me around? How do I know I can trust you; that you won’t screw the first girl that throws herself at you when you’re on the road?”
He pressed his lips together and nodded. “I know. I get it, Pipes. I’m asking you to trust me when I haven’t given you much reason to trust me at all.”
“At least you recognize that,” I muttered. “That’s promising, I guess. But I’m not sure it’s enough.”
“I figured you might say that, too.” He reached into his trousers pocket and pulled out a cell phone.
“Luckily, I was prepared for that.”
He fiddled with his phone.
“Hey, what’re you doing?” I asked, growing impatient.
“Sorry, this’ll just take a second.I’m setting something up.”
“Settingwhatup?”
“It’s just a little something,” he mumbled, clearly half-distracted. “There’s something I wanted to do while we’re here.”
I sighed. “I wish you’d just tell me.”
“I will, I will. One minute. I’m almost done.” A second or two later, he held the phone at an arm’s distance and aimed it at himself.
“Are you really taking a selfie right now?” I asked, slightly annoyed.
He started speaking, but he wasn’t talking to me. “Hey, everybody. It’s me, Jax.”
“What is this? What are you doing, Jax?” I asked.
“And this is the view from the balcony of one of the rooms at Oakwood Mansion.” He aimed the camera over the railing and at the pool down below. “Nice pool, eh?” He aimed the phone higher, at the darkening sky. “We just had a pretty sweet sunset, too. Bummed you guys missed it. Oh well.”
“Who are youtalking to, Jax?” I asked in a hushed voice.
But he kept talking to his phone. “And that sweet voice you’re hearing belongs to my hot date, the lovely Miss Piper, looking as gorgeous as ever.” He aimed the camera at me. “Wave to the people, Pipes.”
I didn’t wave; I hid my face in my hands. “Oh my God, Jax.Pleasetell me you’re not live-streaming.”
“I am, actually,” he said, finally talking to me.
“live-streaming to who?”
“To anyone who wants to watch,” he said with a shrug. “Isn’t that the point?”
I peeked around Jax’s wide body and glanced inside the hotel room. Katerina had her phone out, and the girls were huddled around her on the couch to watch, too. Austen spotted me and waved.
“Did you post this stream on Soulmate’s social media?” I asked in a whisper.
“Yup,” he said, “and on mine, too.”
“Why?!”
