Now #3
Though I didn’t mean it in a hurtful manner, he seems to read it as my way of reminding him we’re separated. His hands release me to fall to his sides.
“Then it can just be a friendly trip in Europe, Evie. It doesn’t have to be anything more than that.”
“I know. Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.” He waits for me to say something. To give him an answer. “I can’t go to Europe, Jax.”
“Why?”
“Because I have a life here.”
“It’s one trip, Evie. I’m not asking you to move in with me. I’m only offering you to come and have some quality time with me. On my dime, of course.”
“I’m not letting you pay for everything,” I protest. When I see the flicker of hope in his gaze, I quickly correct myself with, “I’m not coming to Europe with you, but if I were, I would pay for my share of things.”
“You can’t afford half of my lifestyle, princess. And I’m not even paying for most of it. Altron is.”
“Good for you, Hot Wheels. But regardless of who’s paying what, I can’t follow you halfway around the world.”
“It’s not even one-third of the way around,” he corrects me. “And why?”
“I have a job.”
“You just said it would be quiet this summer. And you can take your laptop along. I promise I’ll let you work.”
“I can’t drop everything for two weeks.”
His demeanor completely changes, and he starts looking around the tiled floor intently, bending over to check every nook and corner. “What are you doing?” I ask, confused.
“Looking for a dog or a cat that needs daily feedings.”
My face falls flat, unamused. “I don’t have one.”
“I don’t see any plants that need watering either.”
“You know I’m bad with plants.”
“So, what’s the holdup? Why can’t you leave for a couple of weeks?”
“Because I just can’t,” I argue, irritated that he won’t let it go.
“One good argument, Evangeline. Give me one good argument why you can’t come with me, and I’ll let it go.”
I try so hard to think of something, but nothing comes. He’s right. I could walk out right now, lock my door, and leave for two entire months without it being an issue at any level. I’m about to give up when I suddenly remember.
“Cynthia. My best friend. Her birthday is right after mine, late June, and we’ve been planning a surprise for her for months. It’ll actually be kind of a joint birthday for us both. I can’t miss that.”
“You’ll be back in time for it. I might even come back with you, unless it clashes with Spielberg, in which case you’ll fly alone, and I’ll go to Austria.”
Crap, that didn’t work at all.
“Come on, princess. Everyone deserves a break now and then. And the French Riviera has to be the best place for it,” he cleverly argues.
That is indeed very tempting …
When I can’t think of anything else to say, I realize I have to tell him the truth about why I can’t follow him to Europe. It’ll hurt us both, but I can’t lose focus on what’s important.
“I’m not coming with you to Europe, Jax, because I’m afraid you’ll read it as something it’s not.”
“Meaning?”
“I meant the divorce. I wanted it, genuinely, and I still do. Tonight, having sex, it—”
“Great sex.”
“Right. It was great. But it wasn’t anything more than that. Great sex that doesn’t mean we’re getting back together.”
As I suspected, my insistence hurts him.
He’s good at hiding it, but not good enough.
“What if I promise not to make a big deal out of it? We’ll travel around together, do the touristy shit, fuck whenever we’re in the mood …
And when the time comes, I promise not to say anything or hold you back.
I’ll drive you to the airport, even, and let you return to your job and your life here without a complaint. ”
I wish I could believe him. I really do, but if there’s one thing I know about this man, it’s that when he wants something, nothing can stop him from getting it.
“Can I think about it?” I ask. My mind is made up, but it’ll buy me some time.
“Of course. The race is in nine days, so try to decide before that. But even later, if you’re bored out of your mind—which, I mean, this is Colorado—then you can join me.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Thank you.”
My cooperation apparently warrants a reward, and it comes in the form of a long, bone-melting kiss. As I let myself be wrapped in his incredible aura, I’m reminded of why we used to spend so much of our time in bed. This man is a sex machine, and I’m nothing if not his most willing victim.
Just as things are starting to heat up, the air fryer dings. When it hasn’t stopped after a few seconds, Jax lets me go with a groan.
“Alright,” he mumbles. “Some food, then round four.”
“Good idea.”
“But be warned, princess. Round four is where I shine. Especially after three incredible rounds of qualifying.”
I chuckle at his very on-theme innuendo, then let myself slide down the counter he propped me up on.
This is nothing more than two adults enjoying some naked time together. It doesn’t mean anything more than that. And it definitely doesn’t mean that I should take him up on his offer to follow him to Europe.
I’ve been there, I’ve done that, and I really didn’t like it.