Page 87 of You and Me, For Real
I pop back up to face Jaxon. “She’s adorable. I love her bandana. Very true. Looks like you found a good one here.”
“She’s a menace, but I happen to love her.” He shrugs, looking at his pup, smiling. His attention shifts to my plate and down to my ankle brace. “Looks like you could use some help. Here, let me.”
Before I can respond, he snags the plate from my hand. “Thank you, but that’s not ne?—”
“Where you headed?”
I point to where Wren sits with all the dogs. She made it to the table after all. “My friend is over there.”
His smile widens. “You’re friends with Wren Reynolds? Man, I love her music.”
I laugh. “You’re a pop music fan, huh?” Wouldn’t have pegged him as the type.
He leans down, closer to my height. “Yeah, but don’t tell my niece. I pretend to loathe her, even though I’ve taken her to see Wren in concert twice.” His lips quirk.
“Can’t blame you. She is pretty fantastic. She’s taken pity on me tonight, helping me navigate all these people.” The words are out before I can stop them.
He tilts his head. “I doubt you needed much help. From my point of view, you had people quite captivated. Me included.”
My cheeks bloom with heat. “Thank you.” I look away.
Jaxon opens his mouth to say something when his gaze travels from my face to behind me. His smile falls.
A warm hand lighting touches my waist, before disappearing.
“There you are. I’ve been looking all over for you,” Griffin says next to me.
“You have?” I try to contain the bitterness from my voice. He seemed pretty content to stay latched to Scarlet’s side.
“Of course, it’s just been so crazy. So many people wanting my attention and all.” His tone is too arrogant, his expression too haughty.
“I see.” I don’t like this version of Griffin. His cockiness grates on my nerves, reminding me too much of Tanner.
Jaxon clears his throat. “Hey Griffin, good to see ya.” He sticks out his hand.
The two perform the slap, shake, shoulder tap thing guys do. “Good to see you, Jaxon.”
Griffin says his name like seeing him is the very opposite of good.
“What have you two been talking about?”
Jaxon lifts my plate. “I was just about to take this plate to the table for my new friend, Ashton. I guess you two know each other?”
“Of course.I’mthe one that brought her here,” Griffin says in a low, growly tone.
What is with him? He’s acting like a completely different person.
Jaxon’s eyebrows lift. “Oh, really? I had no idea. Haven’t seen you two talking.”
“Keeping tabs on me?”
What is happening right now? It feels like I’m stuck in the middle of some kind of gorilla, chest-thumping match. The air feels stifling.
Jaxon chuckles, either oblivious to or ignoring, the tension steaming off Griffin. “Actually, I’ve had my eye on Ashton the whole night.” His eyes move toward mine, his smile lopsided and easy.
His undivided attention makes my back sweat.
“Let’s get you to your table, huh?”
