Chapter Fifteen
“This conversation isover.” Grayson crossed the room to the stand by the front door, and grabbed his keys. “I’ll take you home.”
“Everyone wanted to talk. Let’s finish talking.” Jax didn’t move, including the glare he had fixed on me.
“I agree.” I stared back with as much ice as I could muster. “I want to know what you meant.”
Jax was on his feet now too. He stalked toward me, stopping with his nose inches from mine, anger flashing on his face. “You’re in your current place, staying with Lyn, because you let your lease run you. You’re heading off to Hollywood on a whim, without any thoughts of what you’re leaving behind—”
“On a whim?” I was only a few decibels from shouting. “I think you meanpursuing my dream. You know, that thing I’ve worked toward for years. Growing my skills, building a fan base, and making connections. Thatwhim? I’m not leaving anything behind, because my friends, the ones who don’t try to emotionally manipulate me into giving up something I love, will keep in touch.”
Grayson sighed. “He didn’t mean—”
“Oh. My. God.” I turned my frustration on him. “How often are you going to say that? Maybe if Jax doesn’t mean things, he should stop saying them.” Like calling me agirl in tacky outfits.The memory surged back on a rush of bile, and lodged in my throat. I swallowed it as best I could. “You’re right. It’s time for me to go.” If I kept talking, none of this would be salvageable. Maybe it wasn’t anyway.
“I think that’s a good idea,” Grayson said, and reached for the door.
I brushed past him. “Stay here. I’ll call someone.”Who tries to understand me.
Was I as guilty of that as they were?
I didn’t know. I did know it hurt when Grayson closed the door behind me, leaving me in the cold. Why couldn’t I just give them what they wanted?
Because that wasn’t who I was. And now it had thrown up a huge divider between us.
I could knock. Ask for a chance to make things right. But I’d said what I meant to. There may not be arightin this case. And it may have cost me good friends.
I grabbed my phone to call for a ride, and found a message waiting from Anne.Did you make it home all right? Work’s over. Let me know if you need anything.
Actually, I’m at the guys’ house. Can you come get me?It was a plain message that would raise a dozen questions. I’d answer them when she got here.
Her reply buzzed through seconds later.Of course. On my way.
I was sitting on the curb, trying to use the cold concrete to numb my thoughts as effectively as it was my ass, when Anne pulled up.
“What happened?” She asked as soon as I slid into the car.
Where to start? “Jax...”