Page 13 of This Is War: All's Fair Duet
I grasp his arm, drawing him back with me. Jaxon’s gaze cuts to Logan, and he smiles even bigger. “I was really excited to accept this position, as my stepbrother is also living here this year.” He wets his lips, pointing in our direction. “And tomorrow we start our baseball season, finally on the same team again. It’s going to be fun after being at different schools for a year.”
From one side of me, Hazel breathes out, “Awww, that was sweet,” while Logan stiffens on my other, his breath coming hard and fast. I have plenty of thoughts spinning through my head that have everything to do with Jaxon as well, but I need a few minutes alone to be able to process them. If Jaxon being here as our new RA means what I think it does, I’m— My eyes crash shut. Well, I’m at a loss for words, unable to fathom the truth. Confusion prickles along my skin, my mind scrambling once more to put together what on earth happened last night.
All at once, Logan tugs the arm I’ve been hanging onto free and strides quickly from the room, my gaze trailing in his wake.
Hazel shoots me a perplexed frown. “What the hell is going on with him?”
My brows draw together sharply as the heavy wooddoor to the common area slams shut behind Logan. “I’m actually not sure.”Shit.My gaze flicks over to Jaxon, who’s clearly also watched his stepbrother’s departure. A muscle in his cheek twitches, and he shifts, his eyes finding mine. There’s a hint of anguish on his face that pulls at my heartstrings and makes me even more invested in figuring out what the deal is between them.
8
RYA
A moment later,the RAs put an official end to their meeting and release us to go about our business. I have so many things I’d like to speak to Jaxon about, but I don’t even know how to go about it. Am I simply the girl he was stuck with last night who got so drunk she awkwardly peed in front of him? What happened after that is all a hazy memory of heat and kisses and then… nothing. There’s a void in my brain of what exactly transpired after that. But considering I woke up in someone else’s bed— I stop, correcting myself. Jaxon’s bed. Because that’s the only thing that makes sense now that I know he’s the new RA. That’d be why it was a single room, not a double.
Frustrated I don’t know what happened in between, I look up and note that several people have stopped by to say hello to Jaxon on their way out, so I’m goingto have to wait to say anything to him. And now everything I want to discuss is also caught up in Logan’s obviously shitty relationship with his stepbrother. It all twists around and around in my head until I’m dizzy, without a clue as to how to move forward.
“Hey, I’m heading back up to the room, you coming?” Hazel’s question drags me from my thoughts.
I bite my lip, my eyes sliding back to the group surrounding Jaxon, mentally urging them to move along. “Go on up. I’ll be right there.”
“Oh. Should I stay with you?” She gives me a quizzical look with a raised brow. “Why do you look so pale? Are you still feeling sick? I thought you were better.”
I frown right back. “What? No. I’m fine. I just want to?—”
“Talk to the mega-hot guy? You didn’t really seem like you wanted to dish about it earlier, but … damn. He’s really good looking.”
“Hazel.” My friend can downshift and change gears so fast it makes my head want to pop off. I cringe, unsure how much to spill. “He is. It’s just Logan didn’t say anything about my phone. So I’m wondering if maybe Jaxon still has it.” I tamp down my rising anxiety because it occurs to me that in addition to my phone, he might also have my clothes. That’s enough to make me want to throw up all over again.
“Oh. Right. I can go with you.” She clenches her teeth, glancing down at her phone. “Ugh, but my dad is supposed to be calling in five minutes.”
I shake my head. “Don’t worry about it. You definitely don’t want to have to explain why you didn’t answer.” Hazel’s dad might be the strictest man I know. It pisses her off on a regular basis, which I get because I’ve heard the receiving end of a couple ugly calls. I’d never say it to her, but I don’t like the man at all.
“See you upstairs, then.” Hazel gives me a quick hug. “We can figure out the best route to our classes when you get back, ’kay?”
I nod, squeezing her shoulder as she pulls away. “Yeah. Sounds good,” I murmur, pasting on a bright smile to reassure her so she’ll leave my side. Hazel and I have gotten to know each other pretty damn well in the last few months, which makes sense, seeing as how we’re living together and all incoming freshman dance majors are required the same handful of classes. We’ve been stuck together like glue.
Apparently, she doesn’t sense anything amiss because she takes off, exiting through the main entrance to the common room as do the majority of the hall’s residents.
Tucking the hair escaping my messy bun behind my ears, I pivot back to where Jaxon was a minute ago, buthe’s not there. My gaze sweeps the room until I finally find him, surrounded by a group of girls.
I glance down at myself in the not-so-cute baggy joggers I’d chosen to bum around in earlier and the thin sweatshirt I’d taken a pair of scissors to last week when I was bored. I thought the top had looked kinda cool with a boatneck that slipped from one shoulder, but the more I think about it, I can’t tell whether it looks artsy or if I simply look like aFlashdancereject.
Between my choice of clothing and the fact that my hair needs a wash, I’m self-conscious and convinced I look like a sack of potatoes rather than anyone Jaxon would want to be seen with. I’m definitely not the girl he was kissing last night. Continuing to watch him from a distance isn’t going to get me anywhere, though, so I screw up the courage to venture closer.
“Can’t wait to watch you on the baseball court!” one overly friendly chick gushes.
I put a few fingers over my mouth to disguise my laugh. Okay, so maybe I have less to worry about than I thought. At least I’m well-versed in baseball from time spent with Logan. I clench my teeth and close my eyes for a moment. It’d been one helluva surprise to discover Jaxon is a ballplayer, too. But I’m certain Logan had to know. It hits me that maybe that’s how he knew how to find him earlier. Logan had told me that his first practice startstomorrow, but there was an option to work out this morning with the team… Shit, that probablywaswhere he found his stepbrother. At least that mystery is solved.
My attention cuts back to Jaxon who is eyeing the girl with a raised brow. “Yeah. I spend a lot of time on that baseball court.” He’s giving off very strong get-me-the-fuck-outta-this-conversation vibes. I inch closer, finally catching his eye. With what appears to be a sigh of relief, he immediately points a finger at me and grits out, “Excuse me. It looks like I’m needed for something. Talk to you all later.”
He eases away, then quickly grabs my hand as he comes past me, spinning me around and hauling me along with him. We exit via a different door than Hazel and I initially entered. He strides quickly down one gloomy hallway after another until I’m all turned around. “Wait, where are we going?” This place is like a maze, so I’m not surprised I’m lost. And to be honest, it’s giving me the creeps. From what I understand, the interior of the building has been remodeled over the years, but they’ve done their best to maintain the original feel of the old place. Antique wall sconces flicker with light along our path.
At my question, Jaxon shifts his head enough that the dim light accentuates discolored skin on both his chin and cheekbone. I suck in a breath, my eyes going wide as mygaze flicks over the obvious bruises. “Oh, shit. What happened to you?”
“I’m fine.” Jaxon comes to a stop, turning to face me. “And I was taking you to one of the study rooms.” He shrugs, gesturing to a doorway at the end of the hall. “You sought me out after the meeting. I figured you might have something to say. Am I wrong? Or did you want to ask me things you don’t mind other people hearing?” His brows raise. At my frown, he sighs. “Sorry. That was harsh.” He rubs a hand over his jaw. “Rough day, I guess.”
I chew on my lip as I try to discern the root of his issue. I assume it’s not me, though I do have things I want to ask him. Maybe he had an argument with Logan. But if so, what was up with all the smiles back there? And then the tormented look on his face when Logan walked out? My fingers itch to skim over the bruised skin, and without thinking, I lift my arm, lightly tracing them along his jaw.
