Page 48

Claire
Bri’s friends are staring at me.
Especially Helena. She looks like she wants to brain me with an empty champagne bottle.
“Claire—”
“It’s Jaxon,” I tell her because I know what she’s going to say. “Jaxon Bennet.” Her friends continue to stare at me like I have some sort of contagious disease. For once in my life, I don’t give a shit what my sister or her friends think.
When her face remains blank, I shake my head, settling back in the seat. “Are you serious? We went to high school with him, for god’s sake.”
Her face remains blank. “You told Dad you didn’t recognize him.”
“Yeah.” I roll my eyes before shifting my gaze to stare out the window. “Well, I lied.”
We’re headed to Grind, the first club on the itinerary where Jaxon’s replacement driver will meet us and take over. He’s making the arrangements while he drives. I can hear the low murmur of his voice seeping through the privacy partition.
He’s leaving again.
I watch the city slip by, splashes of light and shadow hitting the dark tinted windows. Sounds push through the glass. Horns honking. Sirens screeching. Scores of people teem the sidewalks.
Bri and her friends start to chatter, the episode with Jaxon and me fading as their excitement builds. They start freshening their make-up. Fix their hair. Pop another bottle and toast my sister.
“You and Kyle are going to be so happy,” Sara gushes, tipping the champagne mag over her empty glass. “You’re so lucky.”
The rest of them chime in about how amazing the wedding is going to be. How perfect her life is.
I have to press my hand to my mouth to keep myself from laughing out loud. Not because it’s funny and not because it’s not true.
Because the guy I’ve been in love with since before I even really knew what love was, has a ten-year-old son.
And he left me to save his life.
I can’t be mad at him for that, no matter how much I want to be. It’s the rest of it I’m having a hard time working my head around.
We pull up in front of Grind and the line to get in is wrapped around the building. I hear Jaxon’s door open and shut, watch him circle the car to open the rear door for Bri and her friends. Hand them onto the sidewalk where they cluster together and talk over each other in a loud, excited rush.
His hand appears in the doorway, and I let him help me out of the back of the limo. As soon as I’m on the sidewalk, he lets go of my hand. “Goodbye, Claire.” He says it without looking at me.
Not, I’ll see you later.
Not, We need to talk about this.
Not, give me another chance.
Just goodbye.
This time, Jaxon gives me the closure I need.
And it’s the last thing I want.