Page 35 of Fine, Dork

Sick, ugly jealousy spread through my chest and clawed at my heart. I stood up from the table without another word and headed back toward Jaxon’s building. I needed my stupid bags, and then I’d book a hotel and start looking for more jobs abroad.

“Kinley!” Jaxon called after me. I paused and glanced over my shoulder to watch him drop some cash on the table as a tip. He was always so thoughtful, taking care of the shit I hadn’t bothered to give a damn about. He was too good for me. It was so painfully clear.

I kept walking, and when I reached Jaxon’s locked door, I realized that I was an idiot. Why the hell would the door be open? Jaxon didn’t do irresponsible shit like leave his front door unlocked in a busy city. That was something I would do.

I pressed my back against the rust-red door and closed my eyes.

“Kinley,” Jaxon sighed. He caught up fast. “I didn’t kiss her back. I don’t want her. I told her it was over, and I meant it. She said she understood and wouldn’t do anything like that again.”

“Please let me get my bags, and I’ll get out of your space.”

Jaxon groaned and pulled out his keys. “Why are you acting like this, K? It’s such a fucking double standard! Give me a break!”

I shot him a glare. I was mad at him for being everything I needed but more upset with myself for not deserving it. He was right. I’d kissed hundreds of guys to his one girl. I was being unfair, but that was another sign that he was too good for me. Jaxon stood by for years and watched me date assholes without flying into a jealous rage. He didn’t let it ruin our friendship. I, on the other hand, was ready to cut a bitch thinking about Savannah’s lips on his. I was prepared to march out of his life forever because I couldn’t handle the pain in my chest.

Jaxon Wood was so much better than me.

He sighed and unlocked the door when I didn’t answer. I shoved past him and grabbed my bags. It looked like hooking up with Jaxon ended up being another Kinky Kinley screw up. I turned to leave his apartment, but he blocked my path. “This isn’t how we do shit, K.” Jaxon folded his arms and gave me an angry look.

“Maybe it should be.” I pushed against his chest, but he didn’t budge.

“Kinley! Go inside! You don’t get to run from me!” Fury danced in his eyes like blue flames, making them irresistibly bright. Fuck, they were beautiful. I had a sudden urge to pull out my camera and take his picture.

“I’m not running!” I snapped and dropped my bags. I marched over to his couch and sat rigidly on the edge.

Jaxon sighed and closed his front door. “Do you— Is this—“ He ran his hands through his hair and stared up at the ceiling. “What is happening right now?”

I fucked up this homecoming so, so bad. “I don’t know. I’m tired. I haven’t slept for like three days. I think I just need to sleep.” Tears were starting to burn the corners of my eyes. I grabbed my bags from the entryway and hurried down the hall to his guest room before he saw my tears.

The mattress was bare. Shit. Did J want me to sleep in his bed with him? I couldn’t do that now because I was a jealous, emotional screw-up. I’d never in my life felt this crazy jealousy. Fuck, it was embarrassing! I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and headed back out to Jaxon’s living room. “Are there sheets for the guest bed?”

Jaxon glanced up at me with pain in his eyes. “Yeah, sorry. I didn’t put any on because I thought—" He shook his head and squared his jaw. “I’ll get them.” He brushed past me and pulled a set of clean white sheets from the hall closet. He carried them into the guest room and started putting them on the bed.

I scoffed. “Stop it. I can do it!” I yanked the fitted sheet from his hand. Why did it piss me off that he was putting sheets on the bed for me?

He raised a single eyebrow at me. “Cool. Let me know when you’re done being pissy, and we can talk.” With that, Jaxon turned and stalked out of the bedroom, closing the door behind him.

19

Jaxon

Was Kinley allowed to be hurt that Savannah kissed me? Absolutely. But was she acting like a freaking crazy person over it? Yep. We weren’t even dating! I didn’t have to tell her about the kiss, but I was trying to be honest because she deserved honesty, just like Savannah did. Didn’t women want honesty?

Fuck! I was honest with Savannah about wanting Kinley, and it turned her into this unrecognizable, irrational person. My honesty caused her to throw herself at me and kiss me! And with Kinley, my honesty caused her to lock herself in my guest room. What. Did. Women. Want?

Kinley still hadn’t come out of my guest room since yesterday evening. We fucking needed to talk, but she was stonewalling me. I tried to speak to her the night before, but she’d yelled through the door, “I’m tired! Leave me alone!”

I glanced down at my watch now. I had twenty minutes before I needed to leave for work. I headed down the hall and knocked on her closed door. She didn’t answer, so I tried the handle. It was locked. I knocked again. “Kinley?”

“What’s up?” Her voice was groggy like she just woke up.

“I have to work today. Do you need anything before I go?”

“Nope.”

I sighed and leaned my forehead against the door. “Are we going to talk yet?”

“There’s nothing to talk about.”

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