Page 10 of Grade A Girl

Jaxson

Fuck.I look at Kade’s face. His jaw is set, and his Adam’s apple bobs with a deep swallow. I know he wants to blow, but he’s trying to maintain his cool. Blair is still averysore subject for him, not that Charlie would know that. Hell, until two days ago,Ididn’t know it.

“Shit,” she whispers to herself when she sees him. “I’m sorry, Kade. I shouldn’t pry like that.” She places her hand on top of his. He slides his hand out from under hers and places it in his lap. Charlie’s shoulders sag, and she looks at me like she’s been burned. My leg bounces a mile a minute under the table with nervous energy.

“It’s fine.” He looks at the time on his phone. “I have to get to the restaurant.”

He stands, leaving the two of us sitting there, alone. Charlie’s crushed. How can he not see it? She’s curling in on herself, looking anywhere but at us, and he’s too fucking absorbed in his feelings for Blair to even recognize it. I can’t stand it. Her big eyes shine with unshed tears as she starts poking her food with her fork, seemingly uninterested.

“Hey, don’t worry about him. Blair’s a bit of a sore subject, even after all these years.” I squeeze her hand in mine.

“Will you tell me?” She looks up at me through her lashes.

I want to tell her. She has a right to know, especially with what we are proposing with both of us. I lick my lip and shake my head sadly. “Kade needs to be around for that conversation. How about we cook for you tomorrow night?”

She smirks and shrugs in indifference. “The big bad chefs have a Friday night off?”

“For you, anything.” She gives me the prettiest smile, and I fall a little harder for her. The more time I spend around her, the less I see Blair, and the more I see how amazing Charlie is.Shit. I’m falling hard and fast for this girl.Not that it’s altogether surprising. I’ve always been the guy who falls hard and fast.

She blushes again and rubs her cheek, trying to hide it. I lean forward, my breath fanning across her face. “Charlie, can I kiss you?”

She sucks in a deep, shaky breath. “What about Kade?” She darts her eyes back and forth between mine, searching for answers.

“He wants you just as much as I do.”

She pulls back, the heated moment between us passing. She sits quietly, but I can see the gears turning in her head. I see questions burning in her big brown eyes. “This isn’t the first time you’ve done something like this, is it?”

I cock my head to the side. “What do you mean?”

Charlie swallows hard. “Shared?” I shake my head no. “Blair?”

I nod. “Yeah. Things haven’t been the same between Kade and I since she... left.” I can’t have this conversation without him. Charlie needs to understand where both of us are coming from, and she needs to decide if she might want us both after we explain. The thought of being able to have the kind of relationship I used to have is exciting. It’s the only time I’ve ever felt complete.

Kade and I aren’t intimate with each other. It’s always about her, but we complete one another. What he lacks, I make up for. I’ve never met someone else in my life like that—not even my own brother. Which is why when he left for the Marines and shut me out, I was crushed. I coped with several drunken nights and then lots of unimpressive sex by me. My heart wasn’t in it, and even though my dick wanted action, it soon caught up with my brain.

“Is that something you’d be interested in? Both of us?” I ask, holding my breath, waiting for her answer.

I’m not sure how I’ll even handle it if she doesn’t want us together. I know Kade needs this; he told me as much during our talk last night. If I’m being honest with myself, I need it, too. I felt the connection the three of us had today. The way Charlie’s pupils dilated when we both walked into the shop. She wants us just as much as we want her, she just has to.

“Yes,” she admits breathlessly. The grin that crosses my face is so large I can’t contain it. “But I’ve never done anything like this. I’m not even sure how it works.” She looks at the plate, her cheeks flaming red in embarrassment.

I brush my finger along her flushed skin until she looks at me again. “It starts with you coming to dinner with both of us on Friday. I’ll work with Kade to make the arrangements and text you the address. We’ll talk and clear the air. If it’s not something you want, then we don’t move forward.”

“What if it turns out I only want one of you?” Her voice is small as she plays with her hands in her lap. I know this is hard for her to talk about. It’s not a traditional way to start a relationship.

Hearing those words is like a knife to the gut.I can’t fathom her not wanting both of us. She’s too perfect.

“Do you?”

I can count the number of heartbeats that echo in my ears as I wait for her reply. She doesn’t want to hurt either of us because that’s not the kind of person she is. I think this is scary for her, and she doesn’t want to mess it up before anything even happens. “No.”

I smile at her. “Okay.” I stand and clean up everything so I can pack it and get it back to Kade. “You’re coming to dinner tomorrow. I’ll text you the address, and if you don’t show, we’ll know our answer.” I lean over her. Her chest heaves and her breaths are shallow. I plant a gentle kiss on her cheek “See ya later, babe.”

I get out of there as fast as I can and race toLocal Burn.Kade needs to get over this shit with his feelings about Blair. It’s been too many years for him to still be moping around. Not when he could have a chance at somethingrealagain. I ring the back bell until someone I don’t know answers, and I push my way past him, telling him I need Kade. I hear him mutter something in Spanish, but he doesn’t stop me.

“What doyouwant?” Kade growls, putting the knife down with a little too much force.

“You’re taking tomorrow off. We need to sit down and explain things to Charlie. It’s either my house or yours, but we’re clearing the air.”

Kade sighs as the guy who opened the door comes into view. “Victor, can you give us a few minutes alone?” Victor looks between us and walks out without saying a word. When the kitchen door closes, Kade lowers his voice. “I can’t do it, Jaxson.”

I run my fingers through my dark locks and tug at the ends in frustration. “Why the hell not? And don’t tell me it’s because Charlie reminds you of Blair. You know damn well after spending more than ten seconds in her presence she’s one-hundred percent different and just as amazing, if not more so.”

Kade nods, but the sad look in his eyes hasn’t faded. “I know she is. Charlie’s wonderful and is perfect for us if we could convince her.”

I smile a wolfish grin. “If you hadn’t run off today, you would know that she wants us both.” He snaps his head up and glares at me, not believing it. “Don’t give me that look, asshole. You know I wouldn’t lie about something this important.” I smile as I tease him.God, this feels good, just like old times.

The look of relief on his face says everything. He wants this just as much as I do. I know Charlie’s going to want us, too. We just need to tell her everything first and hope to God she’s willing to see past our initial attraction to her.