Page 50 of Fine, Dork

I stepped out into the sunny San Francisco day, and it only took a minute for J to join me. “How is she?” I asked.

Jaxon grimaced. “Not great, but she’ll be okay. She said she’s looking for another job.” He sighed, and we started walking. “Hey, thanks for being cool about that. You could have made her feel like shit, but you didn’t.” He grinned at me. “You’re kind of a sweetheart, aren’t you, K?”

I laughed. “Shut up. Only for you.”

27

Kinley

Supportive girlfriends went to their boyfriend’s hellish family events—namely, Tyson’s engagement party. I was a damn supportive girlfriend, even though my stomach twisted into knots at the thought of seeing Jaxon’s mom. The last time I saw her was at some charity event that Jaxon dragged me to almost four years ago. Sasha made a shitty passive-aggressive comment to my face. I hardly remembered what she said.

Okay. Every word was burned into my brain. Oh, Kinley. How lovely to run into you after all these years. It’s surprising to see you at an event like this. I hear a strip club might be more your scene these days.

Jaxon didn’t hear it. He was in the bathroom, and I never told him what his mother said. A part of me was terrified that he’d agree with her back then.

“Wow.” Jaxon stood in the doorway of our bedroom with a sexy smile. “You look hot, K.”

I laughed and attempted to flatten my hair. I went a little overboard with the curling wand. “Thanks. Hey, Jaxon?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you sure you want to tell them we’re dating? It’s going to piss them off, and I understand if you want to wait.”

Jaxon raised both eyebrows at me. “Kinley, I am proud as hell that you’re my girlfriend, and I’m not going to keep it to myself.”

And my heart was a gooey love mess again.

When we arrived at the reception center, Jaxon laced his fingers through mine and gave me a soft smile.

I smiled back at him. “All right, lover boy, let’s do this.” We walked through the front door together and into the reception hall. I wanted to photograph it all, and not because the decorations were on point. The calla lily centerpieces were tasteful without going overboard, and the sky blue silk draped along the wooden ceiling beams was gorgeous. But it was the people that caught my eye. Jaxon’s family and all of Tyson’s friends and colleagues looked red-carpet worthy. Their smiles were off, though. They were stiff and fake, and the contrast and irony of it all begged to be captured.

“So, I think we’ll go congratulate the happy couple, piss off my parents, and then get the hell out of here. Sound good?” Jaxon slid his arm around my waist and scanned the room for his brother.

Tyson and Chandler stood near the center of the room, chatting with some well-dressed people who looked like they had sticks up their asses. When we approached, Tyson paused mid-sentence and narrowed his eyes at Jaxon’s arm around my waist. He smiled at the tight-ass people. “Excuse me for a moment.”

“Jaxon, glad to see you could make it.” Tyson made no effort to mask the sarcasm.

Jaxon just smiled. “I’m here to offer my official congratulations on your engagement, Tyson.”

“Thank you, Jaxon.”

Good god, the tension between those two was unbearable! “Congrats, Tyson!” I smiled and reached out to shake his hand. One might think I knew the guy seeing that I spent most of my childhood with Jaxon, but Tyson was hardly an acquaintance to me.

Chandler wandered over to us with a tight smile, and her eyes settled on the neckline of my dress. Oh, come on! It wasn’t that low-cut! I matched her fake smile and shook her hand, too. “Congrats, Chandler! I’m so happy for you guys!”

“Thank you,” they said together.

“So is this, are you?” Tyson’s eyes flicked back and forth between Jaxon and me.

“Dating?” Jaxon tightened his hold on me. “Yes. Kinley is my girlfriend.”

“Wow, I mean—"

Before Tyson could finish whatever his asshole comment was going to be, Sasha floated over in a sparkling, silver floor-length gown. Her makeup was understated and flawless, and not a hair on her gorgeous blonde head was out of place. “Kinley! My goodness! How nice to see you.” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

“They’re dating now.” Tyson smirked at us.

Sasha laughed. “That’s how it looks.” Her eyes settled on Jaxon’s arm around my waist and then on my neckline. “Jaxon, you’re clearly going through some rebellious phase, and I’ve decided to let it go. Some people need that phase more than others, so have your fun, and then grow up.”

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