Page 18 of A Little Crush
Before he has a chance to clamor to his feet, I place my hand on Hades’ side and call, “Wait.” I don’t know why. Ishouldn’t. She clearly wants nothing to do with me, but the cold shoulder? The awkward tension? Fuck me, it’s messing with me, and I don’t like it.
When she turns to face me, she tilts her head as if to say, “What do you want?” though she doesn’t bother verbalizing shit. Now that I have her full attention again, I’m not sure what to do with it.
“It’s, uh, it’s interesting you went with a German Shepherd again. Did you get him from the same breeder as Kovu and Mufasa?”
She pauses, suspicious. “Why?”
“Just trying to make conversation, I guess,” I ramble, determined to lower the walls she’s clearly erected since…fuck, it feels like forever. I pat the dog’s side one more time. “I see you stuck with the Disney trend,” I continue. “I saw Hades’ name on his tag. It fits him.”
“Thanks.”
“I’m really sorry about Kovu, too,” I continue. “I know I never got to tell you, but…he was the best.”
Her eyes well with tears before she sniffs and wipes under her nose. “Yeah. He really…he really was, wasn’t he?”
Sensing her unease, Hades stands, trots toward her, and presses his side against her outer thigh in a show of camaraderie.
Rolling her watery eyes, she bends at her side and scratches his head, muttering, “Traitor.”
“What was that?” I ask.
“Nothing.” She sneaks another peek at me. “I really should get back. Come on, Hades.”
“He can stay out here with me,” I offer. “Unless it would make him a traitor.”
Her unreadable gaze cuts to me again. “I’ll see you around, Jax.”
Turning on her heel, she walks off without another word.
All right, then.
6
RORY
Ido not want to be here. It’s selfish but true. If this was anyone else’s bachelorette party, there isn’t a chance in Hell I would’ve come, but it’s Ophelia. My future sister-in-law. Add in the fact my best friend is the maid-of-honor who organized the whole thing, and it’s not like I had much of a choice. Maybe it’s a good thing. At least now I have distraction instead of being holed up in my room for the rest of the night.
“So what do you have planned?” I ask Tatum as she pulls up to the large cabin in the middle of the woods. It belongs to my Aunt Kate and Uncle Macklin. He built the place with his own two hands after a nasty divorce a few decades ago. The place is as picturesque as ever with a big balcony, large glass windows, and mature trees surrounding all sides. “And why did you make me bring Hades?” I add.
“That part’s a secret.” She winks. “First half is all of Lia’s favorite’s foods. Second half is a surprise.”
My eyes thin.
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you’re nice and lubricated before you have to face Jax again.”
“Tatum!” I smack her shoulder, and she laughs.
“I meant with alcohol!” She wipes at the corner of her eyes as another burst of amusement escapes her. “But that’s the best unintentional pun I might’ve ever made in my entire life.”
Sure it is. I fight the urge to smack her all over again, distracted by her Jaxon comment and what it entails.
“Does this mean we’re hanging out with the guys tonight?” I ask, searching the mountain road for any of the guys’ cars. “Because I’m pretty sure a bachelorette party is supposed to be girls only.”
“And in most circumstances, it would be. But this isn’t about you or me. This is about Lia and Mav. And Lia and Mav?” She gives me a knowing look while opening the driver’s side door. “They can barely be away from each other for thirty minutes, let alone an entire evening. Might as well give the people what they want, right?”
My shoulders sag. Because, yeah. She makes a good point. But also, the last thing I need is to be in the same room with Jaxon after how snappy I was after the rehearsal. Hell, the last two times we’ve been around each other, I’ve been an absolute brat. And for what? For my own ego? For my own shame? I don’t even know anymore. All I know is that anytime I’m around him, my emotions are in overdrive. The good. The bad. And the ugly.
And boy, do I feel ugly lately.
