Page 54 of Fake Dating Daxton Hawk
I cut them out of my life.
I hate lies.
Jordan’s words have been on repeat in my head all day, ever since she spoke them in the pool.
It takes a lot for me to trust someone. I’m really starting to trust you.
Fuck. I have screwed up this whole situation with Jordan.Complicateddoesn’t even begin to describe the mess I’ve gotten myself into. While I knew from Secret Santa that Jordan had issues with her parents, I had no idea of the extent. I didn’t realize how scarred she’s been or that she stopped speaking to them.
I’ve got to find some way to tell her the truth about Steel, but I have no clue how. Before today, I anticipated the reveal would be rough. Now, I have no doubt it will mean the end between us. I can’t have that happen. Ican’tlose her.
Jordan glances around at our isolated surroundings from where we sit on the side of the pool. “Are we overstaying our welcome?”
The sun has set and the party has died down with the exception of Josh’s closest friends lingering throughout the house. Jordan and I are the only ones out by the pool, chatting with our legs dangling in the water.
I check the time on my watch. “Josh doesn’t care how long we stay. But it’s nine o’clock and we probably should be getting back to the city.”
I text my driver to meet us out front. While doing so, Jordan pulls her dress over her bikini and checks her phone. I don’t think anything of her actions until my own clothes are on and I’m ready to leave, but her mouth hangs open and her eyes are plastered to her screen.
“Everything okay?”
“My TikTok video got fifty thousand views.”
Barely using the app myself, I have no conception of how impressive that number is. Considering Jordan’s reaction, I take it this is an achievement for her. “Well done. What’s the video about?”
“I posted that aerial dance routine I showed you.”
“I’m not surprised, then.”
“Daxton, you don’t understand, I’ve never had more than a thousand views on a TikTok before. Even a thousand is rare for me.” She squeals and has the cutest grin on her face. “Okay, sorry, let’s go.”
Jordan walks ahead of me, back into the house with her nose in her phone the whole time. I follow silently behind, stuck in a world of my own. We discussed some pretty heavy details about our pasts today. It was nice to be open with Jordan about my childhood; I never spoke about the domestic violence on Secret Santa. There’s so much more I want to share with her—the reason why my relationship fell apart with Mom and Brad—but I can’t. Not yet, anyway. I shared those details with her on Secret Santa. She’ll piece together that I’m Steel.
A large group of guests are standing by the road when we step out to the front verandah, a clutter of frustrated voices traveling among them. Cars are dense, all at a standstill in the street.
“What’s going on?” I ask someone passing by. They shrug and continue walking.
Jordan looks up from her phone for the first time in minutes, only now noticing the hold up. She returns her phone to her bag. “What happened?”
I spot Josh and Amabella a few feet away leaning against the veranda railing, the two of them laughing and flirting. It’s nice to see Amabella enjoying herself with a good guy. I don’t want to interrupt them, so I quickly call out from where I stand.
“Hey, what’s the issue with the road?”
They both look my way. Josh takes Amabella’s hand and they join me and Jordan. “There’s been a massive crash,” he says. “A truck rolled over and all the roads are closed. No one’s leaving here until the morning.”
“Shit.”
“You two can stay here for the evening. It’s no issue.”
“Fun. More time for us to all hang out,” Amabella says before any of us have a chance to discuss accommodation arrangements. “Speaking of which, Dax, I need to steal you away for a moment.” She winks at Jordan then grabs me by the sleeve, guiding me to the far end of the veranda. “I promise I’ll have him right back by your side.”
“No rush.” Jordan turns to Josh and starts chatting with him about the day.
“Everything all right?” I ask Amabella once we’re out of earshot. “How are things going with Josh?”
“Really well. I like him a lot. Things might progress to the next level with him tonight, if you know what I mean.”
“Good to hear. Just make sureIdon’t hear it later tonight.”
