Chapter 025

~Jaxon~

My shift ended earlier than expected, so I drove home. On the way, I saw Michelle walking along the sidewalk. If I remembered correctly, she wasn’t supposed to return until tomorrow night. Slowing down, I tried to get her attention, but she didn’t respond.

It took me a moment to realize she was lost in thought, walking aimlessly. Then it happened—she stepped into the road. I parked roughly and jumped out of my car.

I was too late. The car would’ve hit her if the driver hadn’t stopped just in time. My heart pounded wildly as I tried to steady my breathing.

On the drive home, I glanced at her. She kept her face turned toward the window, the wind teasing the red strands of her hair, which faded into a soft brown at the roots.

When we pulled into the driveway, I parked in the garage and turned off the ignition. For a moment, we sat in silence, staring at nothing. Then she turned to me, her beautiful eyes clouded with confusion.

“We’re here,” she said softly. I nodded, deciding it was best not to probe her about what had happened. She was clearly still processing it.

“You want to go inside?” I asked. She hesitated, then shook her head.

“I… I don’t want to be alone. Going to my apartment doesn’t feel right,” she admitted, raking her fingers through her hair. “I’m sorry if I’m bothering you. I could just call Bar—”

“You’re not bothering me,” I interrupted. “You were almost in an accident. It’s okay to feel shaken.”

She took a deep breath, her voice dropping to a whisper. “What if the driver hadn’t stopped in time?” Her glassy eyes met mine, her vulnerability catching me off guard. Michelle had always been fiery and in control, so seeing her like this was… different.

I placed my hand on her knee, and an unexpected jolt of electricity shot through me. My first instinct was to pull back, but I stayed still. Her eyes widened slightly, and I wondered if she felt it too.

“You’re okay. That’s all that matters,” I said, fighting the urge to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

Our eyes held for a moment, but the spell broke when a siren blared in the distance. I withdrew my hand, gripping the steering wheel instead to keep it occupied.

“If you don’t want to be alone, you can hang out with me,” I offered. Her brows rose slightly in surprise. “In my apartment,” I added. She slumped back in her seat before nodding.

“That’s better than staying alone,” she muttered.

I got out of the car, but she opened her door before I could. We walked to the elevator, silence settling between us. My mind raced with thoughts of how to comfort her, while she remained unreadable.

When we reached my apartment, her eyes flicked to her door briefly before she turned to me. Unlocking my door, I pushed it open and stepped aside for her to enter. She brushed past me, leaving behind a fruity scent that made me inhale deeply.

Shutting the door, I turned to see her standing in the middle of the room with her back to me.

“Welcome to my humble abode,” I said lightly. She glanced over her shoulder, her eyes glistening.

Turning fully, she crossed her arms over her chest. “It’s beautiful,” she admitted, her gaze sweeping the room. Clearing her throat, she added, “I have to admit, I’m surprised you have such good taste in décor.”

Feigning hurt, I placed a hand on my chest. “Ouch. That stings.” Her small chuckle felt like a victory.

I walked past her to the bar. She settled on the couch, still looking around with quiet admiration.

“What would you like to drink?” I asked, pouring myself a glass of bourbon and downing it quickly.

She turned to face me. “What do you have?”

“Wine, scotch, bourbon, vodka…” I started listing.

She laughed, shaking her head. “Wine’s fine, I think.”

Her softened expression made her green eyes glow, their elegance striking. I poured a glass of wine and brought it to her, sinking onto the couch beside her despite my exhaustion from work.

“Thank you,” she murmured, taking the glass with her slender fingers.

After a pause, I asked, “Why are you back earlier than expected? Weren’t you supposed to return tomorrow?”

She coughed, nearly choking on her wine. Wrong timing. I shouldn’t have asked.

Grabbing a towel, I handed it to her. She flushed, muttering apologies as she dabbed at her mouth.

“Sorry… that was…” she trailed off, setting her glass down. Her expression dimmed, and I regretted my question immediately. Whatever had brought her back early had clearly shaken her deeply.

Standing abruptly, I softened my tone. “It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it.” She nodded, staring at her hands.

An idea struck me, and a spark of excitement lit up inside. “I have an idea. Up for something fun?” I asked.

She gave me a skeptical look. “Depends on what you mean by fun.” Her tone was innocent, but my thoughts weren’t. Shaking them off, I raised a brow.

“Why don’t you find out?” I teased.

She studied me for a second before standing. “I really hope this

is worth it,” she muttered.

“Oh, it will be,” I said with a grin.