Page 38

WE’RE GETTING LAID TONIGHT!
Seconds later the limo pulls over, and I hear Jaxon climb out of the car. I watch him pass by the long, tinted window, moving toward the back of the car before he opens the door and his hand appears in the wedge. One by one, he helps Bri and her friends from the car. I can hear them on the sidewalk, squealing and laughing. Having the time of their lives.
Meanwhile, I’m drowning.
“Claire.”
I look up to see Jaxon’s face in the doorway. His gaze unflinching. Direct. Worried.
Fuck that. He doesn’t get to worry about me. Pretend he cares. Because he doesn’t. He made that perfectly clear the night he fucked me and then left me without so much as a goodbye.
Without answering, I down the rest of my champagne and toss the empty flute onto the leather seat beside me.
Scooting across the seat, I ignore his hand, climbing out of the car on my own. It’s awkward, but I manage. As I walk past him, he snags my arm, pulling me back to press his mouth to my ear. “I’m sorry, Claire.” Like he can read my mind, he gentles his grip on my arm. “I never meant to hurt you I never wanted to—”
It happens again. The rollercoaster feeling only he can give me, and I feel myself bending. Melting. Giving in to him and the way he makes me feel.
Don’t
Don’t trust.
Don’t feel.
He’ll only hurt you again.
He’ll leave you, just like last time.
I pull my arm from his grip and shake my head.
“I don’t believe you.”