Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
JAX
“Don’t try and soften me to whatever you’re about to say with that dimple of yours. You can put it away.”
“My dimple does it for you?” I reach up and touch my cheek.
“Like you don’t know. Always flashing it around.”
Fucking hell, I adore her. I didn’t know that, but now I’ll be using it all the time on her. I’ll do whatever I need to keep her close.
“I’ll make sure I’m not flashing it at other girls.”
“Whatever.” Kinsley rolls her eyes, but I know she enjoyed my response. I didn’t know she’d be jealous over me. There really isn’t anything to be.
My family might not play by everyone else's rules, but we have our own we live by. My mom would be disappointed if she found out I was fucking random girls. That disappointment would hit harder than any anger. But it doesn’t matter; I haven’t been interested in anyone until Kinsley came along.
Once I saw her, that’s when I knew exactly what my father had been talking about when it came to his feelings for my mom.
‘When you know, you know’ was always the best way my dad could explain it to us.
I don’t see it the way Damon does. He thinks it’s a curse. I don’t. I see how loyal my parents are to each other. That bond is unbreakable and fucking rare.
"You'll see for yourself. You’ll be lucky if I let you out of my sight," I tell her, taking another step back to give her room so I don't pounce on her again.
Not when I need to clear a few things up; the next might be a fight.
But as I said, I choose my battles, and this one I'm not fucking around about.
“What are you talking about? You can’t have eyes on me all the time, Jax.” That’s cute that she thinks that. I’ll keep it that way for now.
“I want you to stay here tonight.”
“Like stay the night?” Her expression is hard to read for once. I think she’s going through a range of thoughts and isn’t sure how she should feel about it.
“Yes.” There's no reason to beat around the bush at this point. It’s getting late already.
“I can’t stay the night. What are you talking about?”
“Why can’t you spend the night?” I hate it, but I know her parents won’t notice. Plus, she’s eighteen now. She can do as she pleases.
“Because that’s not—”
“Proper?” Is that the word she’s searching for?
“I suppose.” Her lips turn down. Fuck, she’s likely piecing together that her parents wouldn’t notice. “I don’t know.” Kinsley’s eyes stay downcast. I can’t stay away from her now. I move toward her, lifting her chin with my finger.
“I don’t know if whoever was there tonight in the warehouse saw you. The uniform stands out, and it’s safest here.” It’s part of the reason I want her here, but the other part is darker, pulling me under.
I’m understanding why it was a good thing to have kept my distance from her before, because now that I’m close, I’ll never back away, no matter what I have to do to keep my hold on her. It’s fucked up, but I don’t care.
“I don’t have any clothes to sleep in or any of my stuff.” It’s a good sign that she didn’t say no. It means she’s considering it.
“I can give you something to wear, or I’m sure my mom, sister, or cousin has something for you if you prefer something other than my stuff.”
“You have an answer for everything.”
I flash her my dimple to soften her some more. “When it comes to keeping you safe, I am going to have an answer for everything.”
“You really think this person might come after me? Us?”
“They probably couldn’t place me because they only got a glimpse, but you, they’ll know,” I tell her. I’d changed after practice into jeans and a shirt. I could be anyone off the street.
“Stupid uniform,” she mutters, but it’s not only the uniform. Does she really not know how much she stands out? It’s not only her height but also her hair.
“Stay here tonight. I’ll throw your uniform into the washer so it’s clean for tomorrow.”
“Okay.” I puff out a small breath. “But I do need to check in with Mary.” Fuck yes. That was easier than I thought it would be, but maybe she is freaked out by what happened. I myself keep playing it over in my head, trying to search for more information, but I know for now it’s a waiting game.
“Let me grab you clothes.” I step back, heading into my closet. I grab one of my football shirts that has my name across the back and a pair of boxers. She might have to roll them at the top a few times, but it will do for now.
When I step back out of the closet, Kinsley is digging through her bag. Her head lifts when she hears me.
“Can I?” She nods toward the bathroom.
“You don’t need to ask.” I hand her the clothes. “You have free rein here.” I want to see her moving around my space, making it hers too. Showcasing that she is mine. I hope she starts to leave stuff all around.
“I’m going to change so you can toss these in the washer.” She pauses, a small smirk forming. “Do you know how to wash clothes?”
“Bunny, I know how to cook and clean. I’ll iron them if you want.
” Yeah, there was no way my mom was going to let us get away with not knowing how to cook, even if we do have a chef who comes a few times a week and does meal prep.
Mom’s talents aren’t in the kitchen, but she made sure we learned at least the basics.
“I think the dryer will suffice.” I watch her head into the bathroom. I expect her to open the door and be wearing my clothes, but she’s not.
My mouth goes dry when she reveals herself in nothing but a towel wrapped around her. I swear I’ve fantasized about this moment a million times in my head.
“I want to shower before I get dressed if that’s okay.” I nod, swallowing hard as I take the pile of clothes from her.
“I’ll be right back. Stay put.” My words come out hoarse, and I have to clear my throat.
“I’m not going to go roaming the hallways without you.” I raise my brows at her. “Not while everyone is awake at least.” I let out a chuckle.
“That’s my girl.”
“Jax.” Kinsley’s tongue comes out, wetting her bottom lip. “That’s fast for you to be calling me your girl.”
“Not really. I’ve been doing it in my head for three years.
” A smile pulls at her lips; she’s fighting it but not winning.
“Now shut the bathroom door before I kiss you again and that towel doesn’t make it.
” Kinsley’s cheeks pinken. She steps back, closing the door, but I catch it right before it completely shuts. “Don’t lock it.”
“It wouldn't matter if I did.” I can’t argue with that. “But I won’t, okay.”
“Bathrooms are dangerous.” Anything is possible. “Over eighty percent of accidents at home happen in the bathroom.”
“Been using them for eighteen years with no issues,” she says with a laugh.
“Then you are due to have one. Maybe you should just leave the door open.” That might kill me, but I’ll do what I must. Even if that is watching her naked in the shower with bubbles all over her. Fucking bubbles. They get to coat every inch of her. In time, I remind myself. I’ll get there.
“Oh my God, you’re ridiculous.” Kinsley laughs harder. “I don’t know if you’re joking or not.” I don’t say shit because I don’t think it will help. “Go wash my clothes.” She makes a shooing motion with her hand.
I give her one last look before I turn, heading out of my bedroom. I fire off a few texts and then head back down the stairs to the laundry room before making my way to the kitchen. When I enter, my dad is closing the oven. The smell of lasagna fills the room.
“We need to talk.”
Well, shit, that’s never good.
“Kinsley is off the table,” I tell him, making it clear what she means to me. If I’m willing to push back over a girl, it's not a small thing.
“It’s not about the girl. You think I don’t know about her?” Figured he had an idea. There are things I’ve done over the years that he might have caught wind of.
“Then what do you want to talk about?”
“You want to tell me why my security went offline at our warehouse over on Vine?” I knew this would be coming. My dad doesn’t miss a damn thing. Especially when it comes to security.
“I was using it and then other shit came up.”
“Shit you’re going to handle?”
“That’s the plan.”
“I’m trusting you.”
“I know.” Aka: Don’t fuck whatever this is up or you’ll lose some of that trust.
“Good.” He walks around the kitchen island, pulling me in for a hug. “But you know if you need me.”
“I know.”
“The trays are in that cabinet off the kitchen island,” he points out.
“Thanks.” The man is always a few steps ahead.
I grab a tray and start to load it up. Dad pulls out the lasagna, and I dish out a couple of servings, along with making a sandwich. I go ahead and make a couple of extras so they’re ready in the morning for Kinsley’s lunch.
“Oh noes, you’re eating in your room.” Mom’s face falls in disappointment.
“You gotta let them spend time together, sweetness.” Dad drops a kiss on the top of her head. “Nix coming down?” he asks, pulling her into a different conversation and stealing her focus. He’s the only one who can distract her.
I grab the tray, heading upstairs. My plan might not have been as terrible as I thought. Kinsley is in my shower and staying here for the night.
Now I just have to figure out how to get her here permanently. Hopefully that doesn’t involve more dead bodies, but if it does… so be it.