Page 114 of Collided (Dirty Air 2)

“Right. But what’s a contract if you can’t be with the person you love.”

“I told you he doesn’t love me.”

Maya rolls her eyes. “Really? Because the way he keeps staring at you from his spot by the bar tells me differently.”

I look up from the top of the table to find Liam hanging out with Jax and Noah, his eyes finding mine like two magnets. My eyes narrow before I slip back to the floor.

“Do you think if I hide under the table, he won’t find me?” The idea has a certain amount of credibility to it.

“You never know. Maybe we can convince Santi to cause a diversion.” Maya looks around for her brother.

“Okay, text him.” I pass Maya her clutch that houses her phone.

“Never mind, I think the jig is up.” She giggles as Noah plops himself next to her.

I point at Noah with a scowl. “You skedaddle. This is our girl time.”

Noah ignores me as his face nuzzles Maya’s neck.

“Sorry, Sophie. Noah, stop.” She pushes him away with little effort. He grabs her bottle of champagne and chugs it, choosing to wipe his mouth with the sleeve of his tux.

“You guys are disgusting. Truly, I’m nauseous from looking at you.”

“You’re nauseous because you drank your weight in champagne.” Noah taps his bottle to mine.

A pair of shoes stops in front of me, my drunken reflection shining off the leather. I look up, thinking I’ll find Liam, except Jax’s smiling face greets me. His crazy curls are kept down with rows of short braids, and his grin does little to comfort me. A pang of something happens in my chest at seeing Jax instead of Liam, but my brain feels too numb to register the sensation.

“Come on, love. Leave the two of them to get their rocks off.” Jax squats down, his hazel eyes leveling with mine. “Let’s turn that frown upside down. What do you say? We don’t have to tell Liam because the wanker’s been in a terrible mood ever since your little romp in the desert.”

I grab his extended hand while picking up the champagne bottle, not willing to part ways just yet.

Jax tsks at me like he scorns a child. His tattooed hand wraps around the bottle, faux skeleton fingers pulling at the neck and placing it on a random table. “I think we’ve had enough of that to last a lifetime.”

“Says the man who chugs champagne for a living.”

“Hey, I may be a world champion at chugging bubbly for a living, but I place on some podiums too.” He winks at me.

I laugh until I start hiccupping again. Jax talks like he doesn’t have an F1 World Championship win under his belt.

He leads us through the crowd, going slow since I continuously trip over my sneakers. My eyes land on Liam who stands by himself, dark and gloomy in a corner. I give him a lame wave with wiggling fingers. His frown deepens, not amused by my sudden friendliness.

Jax takes me outside the ballroom. We ride an elevator down to the ground level, the silence between us giving way to confusion at why he wants to help me. I hurt his best friend. His help doesn’t make sense unless Liam sent him.

Stop wishing for things that aren’t there, Sophie.

I don’t get a chance to ask him because once we walk outside and fresh air hits me, my stomach rolls and my head swims. My body teeters.

“Oh no, you don’t.” Jax grabs my hair before the champagne betrays me, my stomach revolting against me as acid hits my throat.

“Shit, Sophie. I really loved these shoes. You’re lucky my best mate loves you enough to buy me a new pair.”

I don’t remember anything else except for Jax’s voice, sounding more concerned than pissed. My world fades to black, a welcome feeling to ease me from the ache in my chest, pain giving in to numbness.