Page 73 of Cadence

As we laugh and aim my phone camera at our heads, pose and take pictures, unease edges in. A small voice in my head wonders if this is going to work.

Have I overestimated what I’m capable of?

23

TEGAN

Since I arrived on tour with Blue Phoenix and Ruby Riot, my life shifted gear. The world around blurs with the speed things move; my old reality left in the wake. Each day brings a new intensity as normality retreats.

As if life couldn’t turn crazier, now I’m dating a rock star.

Jax told the room — and the world — that we're a couple. The thought repeats in my head, the tingling in my chest and stomach a mix of excitement and apprehension. I never believed he would, despite his words this morning, and I didn’t expect him to choose to do this here. His words to Bryn shell-shocked me at first until I caught up with what this meant. Jax knocked a hole through my defences and with those words took hold of my heart. I can’t deny I’ve fallen for him anymore.

Keen to ensure he's serious, and to show myself I am too, I suggested we shared a picture across social media. Somebody else in the room will by the end of tonight if we don’t. I want a picture with Jax. I want the world to see I'm his and he's mine, and they should keep away.

The desire for Jax pushes through my body; a body that's now aching for his attention and touch. All my words about keeping a physical distance evaporate; each kiss we share harder to pull away from.

How can just a few words spoken by him to somebody else, not me, have such a huge impact?

Following Bryn's interruption, we shifted to a quieter corner near the edge of the bar and now stand with our drinks resting on the high wooden table. Jax has an arm around my waist, stroking my skin with his thumb beneath my t-shirt, and even this chaste touch is leading to distinctly unchaste reactions elsewhere. I have one hand in the back pocket of his jeans. The awareness of the rest of the room retreats with each look or touch and I don’t want to let him go.

I bury my face into his shirt and place my lips on the exposed skin at the top of his chest. Closing my eyes, I breathe his scent, the one that evokes memories of our kisses and the promise of more held back each time.

“Are we staying or leaving?” he whispers in my ear.

I place one more kiss and step back. “Leaving to go where?”

“Wherever you want. A different place?” Jax pauses and tugs his bottom lip into his mouth. “Or the hotel?”

I fight a smile. “Oh, tired already?”

“No way. It's just more private there.” I open my mouth to respond and he interrupts. “I mean less people around if we wanted to go to the bar — or something.”

“Or something?”

Jax brushes his mouth against mine. “Or something.”

I wrap myself around Jax, hand still in his back pocket, and crash my mouth on his. I haven't had much to drink, but the situation is intoxicating. I want him. For a few minutes, I forget that we're in public, hands on skin and deep kisses as we tangle our tongues and bodies.

“Whoa, man, how many times have I told you to get a room when you're all over a chick?” asks a voice from behind me.

Will's voice interrupts my moment with an unpleasant reminder and I pull away. When I turn my head to face him, Will's unfocused eyes widen.

“Shit. Sorry. Didn't realise it was you,” he says.

“Hello, Will,” I say icily.

He continues to stare at us before wiping his jacket sleeve across his face. “I thought she was a secret? Guess it's not anymore!” Will's voice is louder than usual and he steadies himself with a hand on the table next to us.

“No,” I reply.

“What does the big man think?” Will angles his head in Bryn's direction.

Jax breaks his silence. “Didn't think you were coming here tonight.”

Will pulls a face. “Yeah, my bloody brother decided he wanted to. Like, practically dragged me away from the bar. Remember that chick who was there? The one with...” He glances at me. “Yeah. I was in for some fun with her, and Nate fucking leaves and I had to go after him.”

“Poor you,” I say.

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