Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 124451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
Tanner shakes his head and stands up before pulling me out of the car. “We better find a doctor for this asshole,” he tells me, glancing over my head at the people coming to see what the fuck is going on out here. “I’d suggest we run, but I think we’ve already had enough trouble with the cops lately.”
“Shit,” I gasp, my gaze snapping up to his. “What if they think I did it on purpose?”
Tanner shakes his head, tucking me back into his chest. “They won’t,” he tells me. “The fucker chose the worst possible place to do this. I can count at least ten cameras, and that’s only in this section of the parking structure. You’re good.”
Relief blasts through my chest as I crumble against him. “Thank fuck,” I say before remembering the reason I was out here in the first place. “Oh, umm, by the way, Jax woke up, and if and when it comes up later with your mom, I only now just realized I told Riley about your little exhibition kink of watching me through your window while jerking off, and she definitely wasn’t asleep.”
Tanner gives me a tight smile, “Well, shit,” he breathes. “Thanks for that.”
I beam up at him as the crowd finally reaches us. “Anything for you, Tanner Morgan.”
Chapter 28
TANNER
Jax is a fucking idiot. There’s no other way to put it.
He was released from the hospital less than an hour ago and instead of lying in bed, recovering from surgery, he’s hosting a fucking party, and judging by the scowl on Logan’s face, this party definitely didn’t get cleared with him first. Though, we shouldn’t be surprised. This is nothing but typical Jax behavior.
I sit with the boys around the fire pit, watching as more and more guests arrive, each of them beelining straight for Jax to check he’s still alive. After all, when Bradford’s poster boy for a good time goes down in front of the whole school, his recovery is guaranteed to generate a bit of interest.
“JAXON MORGAN,” I hear Brielle from across the party as she storms toward us, her glare locked on Jax and unintentionally sending a wave of relief pounding through my veins. She’s been with the cops all afternoon, discussing her little accident in the hospital parking lot with Roxten. If it didn’t go well, I’d be able to see it all over her face, but she looks fine. In fact, she looks fucking perfect. “What the hell is this? You’re supposed to be in recovery, locked in your room watching porn for the next few weeks.”
Jax groans, glancing over all the girls as they trail in behind Bri. “Shit, you really are a killjoy, aren’t you?” he says, a cocky smirk pulling at his lips, one I have no doubt Bri could knock right off his face in two seconds flat. “If I wanted to chill with the fun police, I would have asked my parents to stick around.”
“Ha-ha,” Bri says, stepping between my knees and dropping down on my lap as the rest of them make themselves comfortable around the fire pit. “I’m just looking out for you. It wasn’t that long ago Addie and I were going through the same thing with you. I remember the pain as though it happened yesterday, so quit trying to fool everybody. I know you’re hurting, and if it weren’t for the painkillers you’re strung out on, you’d be in a ball, crying on the ground.”
Jax rolls his eyes before staring across the fire pit at Arizona. “Yeah, well I’d rather be messed up over this, than anything else.”
His words are loaded with accusation, and Arizona couldn’t miss it even if she tried. Her head snaps up, and she shoots a venomous glare at Jax. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” she demands, her hands balling into fists as she flies back to her feet. “You’re not the one who’s been messed up, you’re not the one who’s not enough, and you’re not the one who’s had to watch the person you’re crazy about fuck around with every bitch with a pulse. So sure, go ahead and boast about how you’d rather get stabbed than have to deal with me and my bullshit feelings.”
Ari goes to storm away when Jax clenches his jaw, knowing damn well he said the wrong thing. “Fuck, Ari.” He pulls himself up and everyone’s eyes widen with fear.
“Holy fuck, Jax, don’t,” Ilaria rushes out, but Jax isn’t having any of it. He’s too determined to say what he needs to say.
He curses with the pain but doesn’t stop going after her. “Ari, stop,” he says, each step taken with an agonizing cringe, but his pleas fall on deaf ears. “For fuck’s sake, you stubborn bitch. That’s not what I meant and you know it. Now, turn the fuck around so we can talk this shit through.”