Page 46 of Kissing Chaos
“So,” I hedge, unsure if it is completely out of line but feeling like I need to say something. “I may have heard a little before I came in. Everything okay?”
He sighs, eyes slipping closed as if it will block out some of his discomfort. “She wants me to go to dinner tonight. Apparently, it was part of her plan when she came in last night—guilt me into visiting our mom while my brother is in town, too.”
“And you’re worried.”
“Hell yeah, I’m worried. Nothing ever goes well with all of us under one roof.”
One of his hands toys with the band of my sweatpants absentmindedly. I can almost feel the discomfort rolling off of him in waves.
“Do you really believe that, or are you just feeling guilty?”
“Both? I don’t know.” He sighs, raking fingers through his hair. “When Jace initially mentioned something about it earlier this month, because being Jace, he knew I’d avoid going anywhere near Steele Valley, he suggested tagging along because of the tension between me and Trace. Doesn’t matter what Oakley thinks or what T supposedly says. The guy hates me and always says something to me—usually truthful—that ends with Mom in tears and me ready to pommel the guy.”
Squeezing him to me, I run my fingers up and down his spine like he usually does to me when I’m overwhelmed. Although, it’s probably as much for my own nerves as I steel myself for this next offering. “Would you want that? Company, I mean.”
He freezes, and I’m not convinced he’s still breathing until he finally speaks again. “You’d willingly go into the lion’s den with me?”
I nod, but feel my shoulders draw up, tension already settling between them.
“Gonna need more than a nod with something like this, Jett. Verbal consent. Would you really be willing to go to my mom’s house to have dinner with her and my siblings?”
I hesitate for only a second as I search his eyes for any warning that he doesn’t want me to tag along, but all I see is hope. And boy, is it gorgeous. His entire face comes to life with that glimmer in his eyes.
“Would it help?”
It’s his turn to shrug, but the tilt of his lips says it all. “Know how you say I settle your mind, chaos?”
I nod.
“Kissing you has that same effect on me.”
“Show me.”
A throat clearing has me jumping back, but Noah’s grip on my waist keeps me from going far. Oakley’s standing in the doorway, a knowing grin on her face.
“Aren’t you supposed to leave for work like”—she looks at her watch—“ten minutes ago?”
“Worry about yourself, Oaks.”
“Just sayin’. What if an elevator quits working, and you aren’t there to save some damsel in distress?”
He looks at me, flabbergasted. “She just never quits.
Giggling, I step into his arms for another squeeze before backing out of his grip. “I’ll go if it’ll make things easier for you.”
“Yeah?” Suddenly, he looks years younger, vulnerable.
“Yeah.”
“Wait. Did you just get him to agree to dinner?” She looks to her brother. “You’re gonna go? For real?”
“I’ll be home around four. Ready to leave by four thirty. That should be okay, right? It’s fifty minutes to get there.”
“That’ll work, big brother. The three of us will be ready,” she says as she scratches Sadie’s ears. Noah groans as he walksout, grumbling about being trapped in the car with a rotten sister.
“So…coffee?”
“Give me five minutes to run next door and change.” This girl better love me for going into public before the sun comes up.
