Page 51 of His Pretty Little Lies
"Be nice," I hear Jax say as he rounds the kitchen island toward me, his comment directed at Naomi. I wave him off,saying I'm okay, and take a sip of the coffee he made me. The wave does nothing because now he’s hovering over me, his hand going up and down my back.
"She didn't do anything," I scold Jax in Naomi's defense.
“No one even told me her name.” Naomi speaks, stepping more into the kitchen. The curls falling around her heart-shaped face appear more delicate.
“I’m Kinsley,” I introduce myself. Naomi gives me a curt nod.
“I don’t like when I’m not told about things.” Her eyes assess me. I know Jax may not like the way she’s acting toward me, but I get it. I’m a stranger that’s in her family's home. And it’s not like it’s just some regular family. They all have reasons not to trust outsiders.
“Trying not to overwhelm her,” Jax tells her, dropping a kiss on top of my head.
“So it’s generational then,” Naomi responds, and I don’t have a clue what she means.
“I can’t wait for it to happen to me.” Nix does a shimmy dance in her seat.
“I don’t know how to feel about this.” Naomi's brows furrow together.
“See, I told you that you feel things. No one listens to me.” Nix rolls her eyes.
"Can I ask what we're talking about?"
"The men in this family." Naomi starts to tell me.
"Nope, nope, nope." Nix shakes her head. "It's the women, too." Nix glances at me. "She's saying 'men' in the hopes she won't fall hopelessly in love one day. That it's not only the men in this family but also the women. I mean, you have to be head over heels in love to deal with the obsessiveness the husbands have over their wives. And let's not forget Marks. She stalked Uncle Ro." I can tell from Naomi's expression that she hates every word coming out of Nix’s mouth.
"I mean, you're a Marino. If you get an inkling that you might be falling for someone, just kill them," I joke.
"I could do that." Naomi starts to nod.
"Oh God, don't give her ideas," Nix groans.
"It's not a terrible idea," Jax says.
"I like her." With that, Naomi turns and leaves the kitchen.
"She was…" I trail off.
"She's just Naomi. There aren't words for it." Nix takes a piece of bacon off my plate.
"Eat, Bunny; we need to speak to my uncles." He kisses my cheek before refilling my coffee.
"Wait, like I'm talking to them too?" A sudden sense of panic fills me. The reasonable side of me knows they aren’t going to do anything to me, especially with Jax here, but I can’t help but feel a bit intimidated. They are, after all, three of the most powerful men in this city. Scratch that, more like on this coast.
"You don't want to be in on the conversation?" Jax asks.
"I mean, I do, but am I allowed?" Plus, why does having this conversation feel like the equivalent of meeting the family? I mean, I know I have met them, but this seems deeper.
"We need to tell them the story you told me about your mom's patient. I'm guessing Damon has informed them what he now knows about the warehouse and everything from last night."
"Oh, I'm a little surprised they didn't know about the warehouse already."
"Right, there is always more going on that I'm not told about." Nix gives another frantic eye roll.
"You're pushing fifteen," Jax reminds her.
"Don't even give me that. How old were you when you got to go down to the hole?" Nix tosses back at her brother.
"That's not how it works, and you know it. Don't make it about gender either. Naomi is proof enough of that."
