Chapter 9 9
Jaxon’s POV
Worst night ever!
The club still reeked of sweat, smoke, and spilled drinks.
Her absence from the crowd had left a void in the rhythm of the night, one I couldn’t ignore.
I shouldn’t have followed, shouldn’t have let instinct override reason. And yet… I had.
Aria’s sweet perfume hit me first as I stepped back into the shaking lights and deafening bass.
She was waiting, leaning against the bar.
Her friends hovered nearby saying something to her while one of them rubbed her shoulders.
I already knew what to expect.
Immediately I got close, her friends all left.
“You went after her,” Aria said in a voice that was soft but still loud enough to slice through the bass.
Her eyes were beginning to glisten and her lips were curling up. Definitely resentment.
I exhaled.
Not now.
I kept my gaze forward, because if I looked at her, I’d see the questions, the unending questions.
“We should leave,” I said, trying to make it sound like casual concern instead of the truth: I’d followed someone I shouldn’t.
Her eyebrows lifted. “We should leave? That’s it? You don’t… explain?”
Her smile was slow and patronizing.
I shifted in my seat, uncomfortable under the weight of her attention.
“Yes. Let’s go,” I repeated in a colder tone even though I didn't mean for it to come out that way.
We stood up and headed for the car.
Her lips pressed together, and she studied me, unblinking.
“You’ve been… different,” she said finally.
Her voice had that dust of accusation I hated.
“I don’t like it, Jaxon. Running after that girl…like I’m… invisible. Or something you want to run away from….
I rubbed my temples.
…”You can’t act like I’m nothing and expect me to not react.”
I focused on the door, pretending the question wasn’t hitting harder than it should.
I wasn’t thinking about Aria’s interest, at least not consciously.
“I’m sorry,” I muttered. “I just… want to go home.”
Her eyebrows dropped. I could see her from the reflection on the glass window.
“Home? That’s all you’re gonna give me?”
I said nothing.
I opened the passenger seat, turned around and got into the driver's seat.
She stood, still looking at me.
I looked away.
She still didn't move.
Then, I turned the ignition on.
She got into the car and closed the door, eyes turned away from me.
Good.
I didn't care if she saw me as wicked at this point.
All I wanted to do was go home and drink till I forgot Lyra, if that was even something possible to do.
Ugh!
I exhaled, hands tightening on the steering wheel as if holding the car together could also hold me together.
“I’ll try to make it up to you some other night”
Her hands tightened on her lap.
“Some other night? Don’t think that you can dismiss me just like that, Jaxon.”
“Ugh! I said I’ll make it up to you,” I said, the words escaped cold like my heart.
She looked away and said nothing.
I ignored her theatrics.
Her scent was there and her tears were visible to me, yes, but it didn’t make me falter.
I was aware of the pull, the expectation, but not of any actual desire.
Aria wanted me, of course she did.
And I… didn’t.
That was the problem.
I pulled up to her dorm, the car was silent except for the faint hum of the engine.
No more words.
I opened the door and she stepped out, avoiding eye contact with me.
“I'll call you”
Click. The door shut behind her, leaving me alone with the streetlights and the night.
I drove the short distance back to my apartment, but the silence of my living room didn’t calm me.
I wasn’t home, not really.
Something felt… off.
My thoughts were scattered.
Lyra, the club, the pull I couldn’t explain. And then…
Someone was on my couch. Blond hair, casual posture as if they owned the place.
My chest tightened.
My pulse hastened its pace and words left me.
“…My… goodness.”
My voice was more disbelief than surprise, but the surprise was real.
“Alberto? What are you doing here?”
He looked up lazily with a smirk spreading fast on his face.
“Well, well… looks like I found you finally.”
I rubbed my jaw, trying to gather some control.
“Why the sudden visit, Alberto?”
He stretched one arm across the couch with his head tilted.
“Why not? You’re always so busy. Figured I’d drop by.
“You couldn’t have called?”
He laughed, the kind that hinted at being unapologetic.
“And ruin the surprise?”
I gave up.
By the way, I needed someone to help me clear my mind.
Someone to talk to. Someone who wasn't Lyra or Aria
I dropped on the couch like a sack of over-boiled potatoes.
“You look like..I came at the right time” he smirked.
I scoffed.
“Sure thing”
He held a glass mug of beer to my face.
“Drink?”