Page 102 of Prey Tell
“How’s Juliet?” I ask casually, keeping my face neutral.
Jax shrugs. “She’s fine. I guess she’s seeing someone new. I’m happy for her.”
I press my lips together. Okay, so he knows she’s seeing someone. Maybe this will be easy, then.
“I didn’t realize she would be up for dating so soon.”
Jackson looks at me with a weary expression. “You know Jules. I’m sure she has her reasons.”
I nod once. “Right. And I’m sure those reasons are fact-checked and peer-reviewed, too.”
Jax laughs. “Of course.” I feel him look at me as I sip my tea. “Why do you ask?”Fuck.There’s a hint of suspicion in his voice.
Do I ask him? Tell him? How do I tell my best friend that I might be falling for his sister?
I school my face into something indifferent and hard. “She’s grown up. Smart. Intelligent. It’s hard for me not to notice,” I finish, my heart pounding in my chest.
Jackson snorts. “What, you have a crush on my sister now?”
I shrug. “I was asking how she was, Jax.” When I turn to face him, he’s watching me with narrowed eyes.
“Do you?” he asks, his voice a little harder now.
“Do I what?” I ask, playing dumb.
“Do you like her?”
It’s now or never…
“Maybe. But I wanted to talk to you first.”
Jackson laughs again, and I feel my blood turn to ice as he continues. “No offense, but she’s way too good for you.”
I grind my teeth together. “Obviously.” Before I can ask him more questions, Jackson sighs and stands.
“I need to get to bed.” My eyes dart to his when he hesitates by the sink, his jaw feathering as he considers his next words. “There’s something I want to talk to you about. Are you free for lunch tomorrow?”
Fuck. Lunch. Juliet.
I’ll reschedule. This sounds serious. “Yeah. Here?”
He shakes his head. “No. Maybe we can do that pub we like in town?”
“Perfect. See you tomorrow.”
After he walks out, I decide to forgo the tea for scotch. Sitting on my couch, I watch the city below me as I take small sips, considering Jackson’s words.
No offense, but she’s way too good for you.
Before I know it, I’m grabbing a second glass, and then a third, and then a fourth. By the time I’m sloshing the expensive whiskey as I pour, I decide that maybe Jackson is right. Maybe she is too good for me. I mean, she’s bound to realize that soon, right? I may have money, but I’m still a Ravage. I’ve never been in a serious relationship. Why thefuckdid I ever think she could be my first? Jackson knows me better than most people. I put feelers out and he shot me down.
Groaning, I lean back on the couch and stare up at the ceiling as the room spins.
I tried so hard to keep my distance from her. That’s the most frustrating thing about this. I tried to get her to stay away, but she broke through my wall so much easier—and faster—than I ever thought anyone could.
But maybe there’s room for growth here, too.
Maybe I can use the lunch with Jax tomorrow to prove to him that Iamgood enough for her. That I can prove it—that I never want to let her go.
