Page 12 of A Little Crush (The Little Things #6)

RORY

T he temptation to peek around the trunk in hopes of getting a glimpse of whoever’s coming closer is strong, but I fight it, pressing myself a little further into the tree until my skin screams in protest. I gotta hand it to Tatum and Reeves.

This is definitely a good way to get the adrenaline pumping.

“Oh, ghost,” someone sing-songs. Finley, maybe? It could be Lia. “Come out, come out, wherever you are.”

Shit. Already? How did they find me so fast?

I seriously suck at this game.

Digging my fingers into the rough bark, I squeeze my eyes shut, praying it’ll somehow prove the whole if I can’t see you, you can’t see me childhood assumption holds a semblance of accuracy when a hand wraps around my mouth.

A squeal of surprise crawls up my throat, muffled by a large palm. My body stiffens in response.

Someone else. Someone else found me. They snuck around from the opposite side, and I was so distracted by the rhino traipsing around the forest calling for me that I hadn’t noticed.

My eyes bulge, and my legs threaten to give out as a shadowed Jaxon slowly moves around me while keeping his hand on my mouth and my body pinned to the tree.

He found me.

Why did he have to be the one to find me?

I hold his stare, my pulse thumping in my ears as the previous footsteps fade into the distance as whoever is still searching continues on their merry way, leaving me alone in a dark forest with the one and only Jaxon Thorne.

Slowly, he lowers his hand, brushing his fingertips against his full lips in a silent but effective “be quiet” order.

When I dip my chin in acknowledgement, his eyes fall to my mouth, and my lips part in response. This wasn’t how I expected Game Night to go.

Not in the slightest.

It probably would’ve helped if I’d chosen a better hiding spot because right now, the only way to stay out of sight is to be pressed against each other, and boy oh boy is that a problem.

He’s close. Too close. Way too close. And without a buffer.

A person or a dog or even a damn lightbulb would be nice right now.

Nope. There’s nothing but me and him and the dark trees surrounding us.

Unable to look him in the eye, I wipe my sweaty palms against my jeans and turn my head to the side. He smells the same.

The realization is…annoying. On a lot of levels.

Because, yeah, he smells amazing, but memories are tied to smells.

And just like that, I’m transported back to that night.

It doesn’t help that it’s dark and eerie, and my senses feel like they’re on overdrive.

Like he’s all around me when that little tidbit is the last thing I need, especially after the girls’ gossip session earlier.

“You good?” Jax breathes out. The sound is so quiet, I barely hear it over my racing pulse.

I nod .

More rustling sounds nearby, and he pushes closer, caging me in on both sides. The moonlight dances across his silhouette, making him look damn near ethereal.

I want to ask about his ex. If he’s okay. If he’s still hung up on her. If he’s had anyone to lean on. Anyone to open up to. Not that it should be me. It shouldn’t. I burned that bridge a long time ago, but…I don’t know. The idea of him carrying such a heavy weight all on his own is…heartbreaking.

“Surprised your boyfriend didn’t find you first,” Jax adds, his voice as hushed as before.

My brows crinkle.

Boyfriend?

Jaxon explains, “I thought for sure Dodger would’ve followed you out here.”

I stay quiet, unsure what to say because Dodger?

Yeah, he most definitely is not my boyfriend.

But Jax thinks he is. I guess it makes sense.

We’ve kind of clung to each other during all the gatherings so far.

Dodger promised he wouldn’t leave my side because he knew how uncomfortable I felt being home and around Jax.

Yet here I am, chest to chest with the devil himself.

The irony isn’t lost on me. But the fact that Jaxon assumes my relationship with Dodger is more than platonic?

It’s…surprising, and I don’t know if I should correct him.

I mean, is his assumption entirely a bad thing?

Maybe if Dodge is my fake boyfriend, Jaxon won’t think I’m hung up on him anymore.

And I’m not. So really, he might’ve just gifted me a huge favor, even if he didn’t mean to, so who am I to question it? Right? Maybe?

It would help if Jax wasn’t standing so close.

If I couldn’t feel his hips pressed against mine.

Okay, hips is a stretch. Thighs, maybe? Is he really supposed to stand this close?

Does it matter? Now that I know he’s not married, at least I don’t have to deal with the added guilt of still being attracted to the guy.

Even so, he might not be married, but he sure as hell thinks I’m taken, so…

“I didn’t mean to make it sound like Dodger would follow you out here to cheat and win,” Jaxon adds as if my silence confirms his theory.

“More like to cop a feel like the rest of the couples out here.” He smirks, but it looks forced as he glances over his shoulder at the dark abyss surrounding us.

“Nothing like a quickie when you might get caught, right?”

I wouldn’t know, but it’s not like I’m stupid enough to admit it out loud.

Turning back to me, he frowns, his gaze bouncing around my face like a ping pong ball. “Unless you’re into that kind of thing. People watching or?—”

“I’m not,” I rush out.

“Oh.” A divot forms between his brows. “Good.” His head jerks back and forth.

“I mean, not good. You’re allowed to have your own preferences as long as you and your”—his throat constricts on a tight swallow—“partner are both in agreement. I guess I never pictured you as someone who, not that I picture you at all, but?—”

“You guys are terrible ghosts,” Tatum interrupts from my left, managing to scare the shit out of both of us. Clutching my chest, I give the tree the rest of my weight, both because my legs might give out and even a centimeter of added space between me and Jax is much needed for so many reasons.

I don’t need any light to know Tatum’s grinning from ear to ear, far too amused by whatever she heard during her not-so-accidental eavesdropping session to care that her best friend feels like her face is on fire.

Then again, maybe the lack of light is a good thing. At least they can’t see how much I wish I could disappear in this moment.

“The demon has been released!” Reeves yells from somewhere in the distance.

The sound of muffled but rushed galloping footsteps mingles with squeals of laughter as people race to find the ghosts before the demon can rip them to shreds.

But me? Well, call me a sucker, but I already feel pretty tattered after my awkward encounter with Jaxon.

But what’s worse? Is the reminder that Jaxon thinks I’m dating Dodger Anders, and I didn’t correct him.

When Tatum finds out, she’s going to have a field day. And so will my parents, considering how I literally told my mom earlier this week that I most definitely am not dating the guy.

Fantastic.