A hot twist of anger curled in my chest. “What the hell is your problem?”
“I think the answer to that is obvious,” he said, lifting a brow. “You.”
“You don’t even know me!”
“I know exactly who you are and what you’re doing here. What you’rereallydoing here, that is,” Jax replied, taking two steps toward me. Now that he was closer, the height difference between us was far more apparent, and I had to tilt my chin farther up to meet his gaze. “I’m telling you. Leave right now. Unless you want to end up like your dad.”
I gritted my teeth, dropped the box, and took a step toward Jax, closing the distance between us to prove that I wasn’t afraid of his stupid intimidation tactics. “You know my dad is dead, right?” I said, voice dripping with fury.
A muscle ticked in his jaw, and the corners of his mouth curved into a sadistic smile. “Yes.”
“So what exactly are you trying to say?” I asked, clenching my hands at my sides. “Are you threatening to kill me because I accidentally walked in on you getting a blowjob? If so, that’s a ridiculously unhinged overreaction, and you should probably seek help from a psychiatrist.”
“I’m not threatening you. I’m just warning you about what this town will do to someone like you if you choose to stay,” Jax replied, voice calm and even. “It has nothing to do with what just happened in the driveway. It’s about what you’re planning to do here.”
I slowly shook my head, nose wrinkling. This guy was making me sound like some sort of diabolical mastermind who’d moved to Crown Point with the dastardly intention of planting a nuclear bomb in the town hall… but we’d never even met or spoken before. He had no reason to think badly of me. In fact, he had no reason to think anything about me at all.
“I honestly have no idea what you mean,” I said.
“Bullshit. You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
Jax paused for a beat and moved even closer, eyes narrowing as he backed me up against the trailer wall. One hand went to my face, gently stroking my cheek as my chest heaved in short, shaky breaths. The gesture would’ve been sweet if it was performed by anyone else, but with Jax, it was frightening. Dangerous.
“I’m giving you a chance to stop it all before it starts,” he went on, fingertips slowly sliding down my face. “If I were you, I’d take that chance and fuck off back home before it’s too late.”
I lifted my chin defiantly and gripped his wrist to pull his hand away. “This is my home now,” I said, mustering up a sweet smile with a matching saccharine tone. “You’re going to have to get used to that.”
Jax remained silent for a few beats, jaw tight and gaze flinty. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you, Kinsey,” he finally said. His eyes lingered on me for another few seconds, and then he turned on his heel and stalked away.
“Okay, cool. Nice to meet you too!” I called out after him. “Asshole,” I added under my breath.
Jax didn’t respond. Didn’t even turn his head over his shoulder for a split-second.
I shook my head as I stooped to pick up the box again. I couldn’t believe what had just happened. What an absolute prick.
I stacked another box on top of the one I already had, and then I left the trailer and headed toward the front of the mansion. My skin suddenly prickled with the feeling that I was being watched, so I glanced upward. Jax was standing at a second-floor window, staring down at me with his muscular arms crossed over his chest.
My stomach did a nervous somersault as I registered the cold expression in his narrowed eyes. I quickly looked down again. I had absolutely no idea why Jax seemed to have a problem with me… but I had a feeling I’d soon find out.
4
Kinsey
“So, this is it.”Mom parked the car and gave me a warm smile. “Are you still nervous?”
I peered out the window, taking in the view of Crown Point Academy. I had to admit it was impressive. A wrought iron gate guarded the entrance, flanked by high walls of cream-colored stone. Beyond that lay several cream brick buildings with red-tiled roofs, arranged around a large central quadrangle with a decorative gazebo in the center. Each building had two stories and an abundance of arches and balconies. Several smaller buildings were scattered throughout the area as well, all constructed in a similar architectural style as the main ones.
I took a deep breath and wiped my clammy palms on my new plaid skirt. “Nervous is an understatement,” I said, looking back at my mom.
“You’ll be fine! I bet the girl they’ve picked to guide you around will introduce you to everyone she knows, and you’ll all be best friends by the end of the week.”
I suppressed a groan. Did all adults finish high school and immediately have every memory of it erased from their brains? So many of them talked about it as if it were the easiest thing in the world. As if it wasn’t an incredibly difficult space to navigate with hierarchies, nasty gossip, and social landmines everywhere.
“I better go,” I said, glancing at the clock on the center console. The CPA administrative staff had asked me to arrive at the office forty-five minutes before the bell so a designated guide could show me around the campus before the halls filled up.
“Good luck. I’m sure you’ll be fine,” Mom said, leaning over to give me a hug.
I forced a smile and hugged her back. Then I grabbed my bag, glumly left the car, and headed down the main path at the front of the campus. A sign on the left pointed me toward the admin office, so I followed that until I reached a door that looked promising.