Page 60 of Some Nights

18

Saona

“What the hell was I even thinking?”

“It’s going to be fine.”

“No, Jax. It’s really not.”

My mother caught me in a haze after being kissed, cuddled, petted, and fucked so so so freaking good in between each action. She asked me to come to dinner. I told her I couldn’t because I had company. Just like my mother, that didn’t mean anything to her. She said, “Well, just bring your friend.”

And stupid stupid stupid me, went and asked Jax. I should have said no. I should’ve suggested we hopped in his truck and drove to Baltimore and I could have taken the train back tomorrow. Anything but being in a cab on the way to my mom’s place.

“Why didn’t you say no?” I snap to Jax.

The cab driver is staring at us through the rearview and not even bothering to mask it.

Jax pulls me to his side and presses one of those kisses that turn me into melted putty into my temple. “Maybe this is the first step between you and your mom. Since you’re bringing a friend, she won’t do anything to upset you.”

My head swivels to face him and I swear if this wereThe Exorcist, it would have gone around before coming back to him. “You are so innocent.”

He hugs me tighter. “Come on. It will be okay.”

Thirty minutes later, we’re sitting in my mother’s living room and everything is far from okay. Jax is pleasant, polite and over all picture-perfect. He’s charmed my sister and my niece and nephew. My mother is polite but frosty.

And then there’s David’s mother, who I didn’t know was coming. She hugged me with the over-effusiveness that only fakeness can breed. She tried to get me to call her Mama. I stopped short of telling her I would rather douse myself in gasoline and light a match. My sister didn’t. Of course, that got us reprimanded by my mom.

Things couldn’t get worse…until my sister’s husband strolls in with David. While it’s kind of funny watching David try to size up Jax, who has almost a foot on him, I wish we were home. My sister’s laughter doesn’t help. I hate that I put him in this situation. I should have known better.

Things were going so well. We haven’t argued much. The last time we did was last night when he refused to let me put the Uber back home on my account, so I insisted we take the train home. It had been a fun ride with Jax getting a kick of the singing panhandlers. We ended up like we ended all arguments this week—in a naked-heap-post-orgasmic-haze.

I distract myself from the casual talk on the table by trying to pick my favorite orgasm this weekend. All have been good but that quickie by the door before the cab came to pick us up stands out.Because it was the last.

“You loved it. Right, Saona?”

Fucking loved it. “Huh?

Everyone’s staring at me and I don’t know who said what. I turn to Jax and he’s smiling but it disappears with his next words. “David was just telling us about your honeymoon in Paris and how much you two loved it.”

“I loved Paris. I saw every corner of it…by myself. Italy too. I had to take those long walks I’ve always dreamed about all alone. The strangers I met there took wonderful photos of me.”

“Well, I’m not much for the artsy stuff. I was happy to welcome my bride in our hotel and show her how much I missed her.” The last part he mouths for our benefit.

Jax stiffens next to me but I slip a hand over his under the table. I lean and whisper in his ears. “He’s being a dick. Don’t let him get to you. Our honeymoon was as big a disaster as our marriage. I’ll tell you later.”

“Saona, we are at the table,” my mother scolds.

“Excuse me, I didn’t mean to be rude.”

“So, Jax, is that your real name?” I hate the way she addresses him. Like she’s a receptionist at a doctor’s office.

“No, ma’am. It’s Jackson.”

“That’s a nice name. Where did you go to school and what do you do?”

Sierra’s sigh earns her a stifling look. I want to grab Jax’s hand and get out but he’s nonplussed.

“I went to the University of Maryland and I work for the government and part time at a bar.”

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