Chapter 12
Chapter
Twelve
Preston
I ran my hand through my hair as I searched the crowded room for any signs of brown hair and a royal blue dress. I absentmindedly raised my hand to my lips again, reliving the best kiss of my life. Damn that elevator. But also, where did she go ?
I pulled out my phone and dialed Jax’s number when I heard my name called from behind me. Laurel and Caitlin made their way toward me as Jax’s voicemail clicked on. “Leave a message at the beep. Or you know, text me. It’s not the ’90s.”
I suppressed a growl as the couple reached me.
“Where did you guys go?” Laurel asked. “I thought maybe you left.”
“We went through the reading room, and then... Have you guys seen Jax?”
Laurel looked at me like I was an easily spooked cat. “No, like I just said, we weren’t sure where you went or if you were still here.”
I nodded. “Right. I lost track of Jax a minute ago. She told me she’d see me back at home, but I feel weird leaving her here.”
Laurel shrugged. “I get the vibes Jax has been taking care of herself for a long time. If she tells you to leave, I think you can leave. And you know, with your arrangement, I don’t actually think it’s a trap.”
Caitlin laughed. “Women,” I muttered, lifting my phone to call her again. Voicemail. Damn it.
“Are you okay?” Laurel asked, that look of concern in her eyes again.
“Yeah, I’m fine. We were just... and then she was... and now I can’t...” I couldn’t seem to complete a thought. Jax’s mouth and then sudden absence of her entire being scrambled my brain.
“We’ll keep an eye out for her until we leave and let you know if we see her. Maybe you should go home and see if she somehow beat you there?” Caitlin suggested, her look mirroring Laurel’s. I must be giving off a real wild energy.
I nodded. “Okay, yeah, that’s a good plan.” This place was too big and had too many stairwells to the exit. I could stay here and wait for her, and still miss her leaving.
I walked down to the coat check, still swiveling my head, keeping an eye out for Jax. I handed over my number, trying to see if I could recognize Jax’s coat next to where the clerk grabbed mine. This was late-winter in DC though. The coatroom was full of a hundred black pea coats and nothing stood out.
I called Jax again as I left the building, with no answer. At the edge of the steps leading down to First Street, the Capitol lit up across from me, I stopped to decide whether I wanted to take a car home or burn off some energy with a walk. My phone vibrated in my hand, interrupting my pondering, and I saw a text from Jax. I jabbed at the phone to open it.
Jax
Oh my god, Brandt, I’m fine. Just needed a bathroom ASAP and am not sure how long I’ll be here. I’ll see you at your place.
I stared at the phone, wondering why she hadn’t said so earlier. Considering how we met, and that we lived together, it wasn’t like I didn’t know about her digestive trouble.
Preston
I’m just outside, I can wait.
Jax
Someone waiting on me makes it worse. You’ve been away for almost a week. Just go, I’ll be fine.
I let out a frustrated huff. This woman. One minute I was kissing her under a staircase in a library, the next she shut me out.
Preston
Can I get you anything?
I waited for a few minutes to no response. I guess that meant no. I started to walk home, sending one more message.
Preston
Promise me you’ll call a car at least?
Jax
Okay.
I jammed my phone in my jacket pocket, my hands following against the cold bite in the air, my breath visible in front of me. Crossing the street, I hurried my steps toward my apartment. I turned on Pennsylvania and saw a convenience store ahead. With my mind made up, I entered the store. I had no idea what I would grab, but I would not return to my apartment empty handed.
J ax somehow managed to beat me home, between my stop for supplies and relying on my feet to get me there. I took that to mean she listened to me and took a car home.
“How are you?” I called through the closed bathroom door, heading to the kitchen to unload my supplies.
A groan answered me. “Can you turn the TV on or something? Please?”
As an only child, Jax didn’t understand growing up with four brothers made you immune to sound effects, but it was a reasonable request, so I didn’t argue.
I asked Alexa to play my Daylist on Spotify. Cottage rock acoustic rainy nighttime music, or something with an equally ridiculous theme, started to play. My suitcase sat tucked next to the dresser, where I dropped it earlier before meeting Jax and Laurel at the office. I picked it up, intending to set it on the bed, like I usually did to unpack after a trip. I paused with the suitcase in the air, realizing the bed belonged to Jax now. Should I use it as a resting spot for my dirty luggage?
“Even if you were living here alone, you’re asking to bring bed bugs home with that habit,” Jax said, correctly reading my intentions from across the room. She walked to the couch and threw herself down. Clearly, she had no trouble making herself comfortable in the space while I was gone.
I set the suitcase back on the floor. She had a point.
“I, uh, got you some stuff,” I said, abandoning the idea of unpacking in favor of grabbing a Gatorade and sleeve of Saltines from the kitchen area. Jax looked at me speculatively as I walked over, offering them to her.
“I don’t have the flu, you know.”
I set the bottle and crackers down on the table harder than necessary before bringing my hands to my hips.
“Well, I didn’t know what to do. One second you were kissing the crap out of me, and the next you were just gone. I couldn’t just do nothing . I don’t do helpless well.”
Jax crossed her arms, leaning back into the couch cushions, her face set in defiance.
“Well, I don’t do damsel in distress well.”
“Seriously? The day this”—I gestured between us—“all started, you were very much in dist?—”
“Okay, okay. That’s fair. I suppose I should say I don’t do vulnerable well. You’ve already helped me in this type of situation once. I knew we were coming back to the same place, and as you said, I was kissing the crap out of you. Nice choice of words, by the way.” She raised her eyebrow as my phrasing hit me.
Jax’s eyes crinkled at the corners and she started to laugh. I joined her, in part at my unintentional joke and another to let out the joy that bubbled in my gut at seeing her laugh.
I plopped myself onto the other edge of the sofa. “So, you’re okay?”
Jax leaned forward and took the Gatorade off the table, twisting off the cap to take a few large swallows.
“I’m okay. And sorry I bit your head off about the supplies. It’s sweet and hydrating isn’t a bad idea.” She started to mess with the wrapper on the bottle, avoiding my eyes.
“You’re welcome.”
We sat in silence for a few moments.
“So, about that kiss,” I said.
“I think that security guard might win this week’s story telling competition,” she said. “But I don’t think it should happen again.”
I absorbed her words, my emotions warring. On one hand, I knew she had a point. We were fake engaged, and our quarters were just too tight 24/7 to add anything physical. But, on the other hand, the one I used solely in the shower since Jax moved in, I wanted to kiss those lips again. And then the rest of her.
“It’s just that we’re on top of each other—figuratively, that is—all the time, and I think it’s playing with fire to let anything get physical when it’s just us. I know we’ll still need to touch in public,” she continued when I didn’t say anything.
I nodded slowly. “I see your point. But it was some kiss, am I right?”
Jax didn’t answer me, pushing herself into a standing position. “I’m going to take a shower and then turn in early.”
“Do you want anything for dinner? I can see what we have. If not, I might go to the gym.”
Jax shook her head. “I think Saltines and Gatorade for dinner will be perfect.”
She gathered what she needed for her shower while I stared straight ahead, trying to make myself get up and go to the gym. I was vaguely aware of the bathroom door opening and closing and the water turning on when I heard the door open again.
“Preston?” Jax stuck her head out of the door. “It was a hell of a kiss.”
At that, she shut the door again and presumably carried on with her shower. I got ready for the gym with what I knew was a huge grin on my face. My boppiest playlist playing in my ears, I pounded away on the treadmill. Maybe I shouldn’t, but I couldn’t help looking forward to falling asleep in the same room as my fake fiancée later.