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CHAPTER 22

AURORA

“Oh, Victor. I can’t believe it,” Vera wails.

Vera’s distress annoys me as I fill Lykos’ water bowl. We spent the morning working out and just came in for a quick drink. Thirst quenched, I make my way toward the living room to see what’s going on, and my eyes are immediately drawn to the news story on the television.

“... body of Senator Tim Briggs has been identified. His remains were identified using the serial number on a metal knee replacement implant two days after the burning wreckage was discovered on Highway 301. Details of the accident are unknown at this time, and the investigation into the senator’s death is ongoing, although foul play is not suspected. Tragically, this news comes after the proposal of Senator Briggs’ anti-trafficking bill.”

Damn, those guys are good.

I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling while Dad paces the floor, and Vera clutches her pearls.

“I thought security drove him home after the gala?” Vera asks.

“They did,” Dad confirms. “He must’ve gone somewhere after they dropped him off.”

“This is terrible,” Vera shrieks. “Those poor women he was trying to help. Now, what’ll happen to his proposal?”

Dad rubs his hands over Vera’s arms in an attempt to soothe her. “There are many people in favor of this new legislation, my dear. It’s bound to keep momentum.”

Vera pats Dad’s hand. “That’s good, that’s good,” she says absently.

I watch the screen for a few more seconds before silently inching my way to the staircase and racing up to my room. I close my door, flip the lock, and fire up my computer. Almost immediately, FaceTime opens as a call comes through.

After accepting the call, I wave at the smiling face in front of me. “Hi, Jessa.”

“Hi, Aurora.” Jessa digs right in. “How’s the self-defense training going?”

I snort. “Great, although I overheard a conversation I wasn’t meant to hear.”

Jessa folds her hands under her chin. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“Jaxson told my dad that there isn’t much more for him to teach me and that if I wanted, I could be a UFC fighter. He said I was tough and resilient.”

“Sounds like Jaxson is a very smart man.”

My cheeks burn hot. “I guess so.”

“How did you feel when you heard him say that?”

“Honestly?” I blow out a breath. “A little pissed.”

“Why?”

“He never said it to me . Sure, he’d say, ‘Good job’ when I finally got a move right, but for the most part, it was always, ‘Keep working at it.’ I had to hear it secondhand.”

“I can see why that would be frustrating.”

“We talked,” I say. “I told him about what happened, things I haven’t been able to talk about with anyone, not even you.”

She nods. “We open up at our own pace. You’re not on anyone’s schedule but your own, and there’s no rule saying you have to tell me anything if you don’t want to. That being said, I’m glad you found someone you could open up to,” she says. “What did he say after you confided in him?”

“He kissed me,” I blurt.

Jessa studies my face. “Did it make you uncomfortable?”

“No,” I state. “He wrapped his arms around me, kissed me fast on the lips, and ran to the other side of the room.”

Okay, so he had to clean up a dead body, but I can’t tell her that.

“You sound disappointed.”

“A little,” I pout. “I didn’t even get to kiss him back.”

“Do you want to kiss him back?” she asks.

I hesitate. “Yeah.”

“But?”

“What if I can’t? What if I freak out?”

“Your feelings are valid,” she assures me. “But I think you’re putting too much pressure on yourself. Take it one step at a time. If Jaxson is half the man you’ve described to me, then he should be comfortable with you taking the lead. Does he pressure you at all?”

I shake my head. “No. That was the first time he’s ever touched me like that. What if the kiss didn’t mean anything?”

“Do you want a relationship with Jaxson, something more than friendship?”

I smile. “I think I do.”

She grins. “My advice, talk to Jaxson. Communication is key in any relationship.”

Am I strong enough to do that? Can I tell Jaxson how much I care for him?