Chapter 15
Kate
Iruncoldwater on a paper towel and dab my face, careful not to mess up my makeup… even more. Jaxon did a decent job of all that on his own.
If it wasn’t for the beard burn on my cheek and neck, swollen lips smeared with my lip stain, and the stickiness between my thighs, I would say I imagined it. Who knows, maybe the champagne got to me and it was all a figment of my imagination. It wouldn’t be the first fantasy I’ve had of Jaxon, and now that I know what he tastes like and felt his erection against me—I can guaran-fucking-tee it won’t be the last.
My mind is reeling over how his body overpowered mine when I reached for his cock—his very hard cock. Just thinking about it has my nipples standing at attention and my mouth watering. His hands were firm, but there was a gentleness to him, where I knew he wouldn’t hurt me, only for pleasure. I was so close to falling apart in his arms when he pulled back. Why did he pull back? He said he was tired of fighting the pull he felt between us. Was it all just a ruse?
I adjust my dress and ignore the throbbing in my core. I think I’ve let enough time pass for everyone not to question what transpired in the alley when they see us returning together.
Tossing the paper towel in the trash, I reach for the handle of the restroom door. I take a few deep breaths and steady my shoulders before pulling on the handle, ready to face him.
Making my way back through the party, I grab a glass of champagne from one of the passing servers. I spot my sister standing at one of the cocktail tables off the dance floor.
“Hey, I was wondering where you went,” she says as I step up beside her and set my restless hands on the table.
“The line for the bathroom was ridiculous. You know women always travel to pee in packs and take forever.”
She giggles but buys my lie. I can’t believe I just lied to her, but this is a conversation for sober us or, well, hungover us tomorrow. And I definitely can’t discuss it with her before I talk about it with him. Speak of the devil. Where is he?
I crane my neck around, trying not to make it too obvious, but I don’t see him. The crowd has thinned a little, so I can see better. I spot Kelsey and Chase still wrapped up in each other’s arms on the dance floor.
I come up empty by the bar, too. Where the fuck is he? I smirk when I find Natasha at the other end of the bar, her tits leaving an imprint on some random schmuck’s arm. Poor guy never saw it coming.
Out of the corner of my eye, Finn approaches the table, placing a drink in front of Lauren and pulling her into his arms.
“Well, shit,” Finn mutters, drawing my attention back to him and his phone lit up in his hand.
“What is it?” Lauren questions.
“Jaxon just sent a text and said something came up and he had to go. Just left in an Uber.”
He left? He just up and fucking left? Yeah, I’d say something came up—his dick. Jaxon took the cowardly way out. At least have the decency to face not only me but your supposed best friend to say goodbye.
“Oh no. Did he say what happened?” Lauren’s perfectly manicured eyebrows draw together in concern.
“No,” he responds, typing out a message and pocketing his phone. A frown settles on his face.
My inner Kate is screaming and enthusiastically raising her hand like one of my sister’s students when she asks a simple question. Me! It was me that happened! I’m the reason he bolted.
A variety of emotions flow through my veins—embarrassment, shame, anger. I don’t even know how or what to feel.
I ignore the conversation beside me as I attempt to calm the raging war inside my head. I could leave, go home, and bang on his door and demand answers. Instead, I throw back the rest of my drink and welcome the burning sensation down my throat.
Twice in one night, Jaxon ran away from me. I got the message loud and clear, buddy.
What’s that phrase? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me? There most definitely won’t be a third time.
“Are we going to eat or what?” my brother says as he rises and adjusts baby Charli in his arms.
“Shouldn’t we wait for Jaxon and Andy?” The words slip free from my mouth before I stop myself. Tonight, I’m hosting my family for Christmas Eve dinner. It was technically Kyler’s year to host, but with the new babies, I offered to host the second year in a row to take some of the stress off them.
You would think for all the trouble my sister went through to get me to say yes for the McAdamses to be included on the invite list, he would at least have the fucking decency to show up on time. Not like he had a fucking long commute or anything.
Finn steps up to the table and steals a piece of bread from the bowl. “Oh, right. No, he and Andy went to Florida for Christmas to visit Courtney’s parents.”
“Ahh, I see. Well, thanks for letting me know. I wouldn’t have set the table for two additional plates, then.” I try to cover up my annoyance with that, not the fact that he fucking ran away after nearly dry humping me to orgasm in a dark alley just a few days ago. Was that trip planned before? Maybe I can give him the benefit of the doubt that when Finn invited him tonight, he had said that he couldn’t make it, but Finn forgot to pass the message along. Yeah, I’ll go with that.
And here I thought fleeing was Finn’s thing.Maybe it should be the new family motto—Kiss a Lawson, flee the state. Must be a twin thing since that’s another thing Lauren and I have in common.
Everyone gathers around the table.
“I need a refill.” I grab my wineglass and rush to the kitchen without another glance. I set my glass on the counter and press my palms into the granite. I press my chest down, stretching, and take a few moments to catch my breath.
“What’s wrong?” my sister says from behind me, and I straighten up. I busy myself around the counter, trying to avoid her gaze.
“What makes you think something’s wrong?” My voice is shaky that I’m not sure even I believe me, let alone someone who knows me better than I know myself.
Lauren approaches and leans against the counter with her arms and ankles crossed, matching my stance. “Well, for one, you don’t need a refill.” I follow her pointed finger to my full wineglass. “And two, there are three bottles of wine out on the table. So spill.”
I close my eyes and compose myself. “Can I ask you something?” She nods. “Was Jaxon always planning to spend the holidays in Florida?”
Lauren purses her lips together. “Umm, I’m not sure. He called Finn this morning and asked for a ride to the airport. He wanted to save from airport parking during the holidays.” Ahh, that explains his truck still being home all day—not that I was watching. But I’m glad that I didn’t storm over there and bang on his door demanding we talk about it to ease the possible tension tonight. Then I would have made an even bigger fool because I would have thought he was just ignoring me.