Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
KINSLEY
“That kiss was a bit much.” I touch my lips. “I bet they’re all swollen now.” Jax kissed the hell out of me. I felt it all the way down to my toes. I’d forgotten for a second I was standing outside of his car in front of the school.
He tends to have that effect on me. I may act as though it’s annoying, but I’m loving every single second of his attention. That’s new to me. I never wanted attention before, but maybe I’m not used to it, and Jax’s is different; he’s different.
“Don’t girls pay to make their lips swollen?”
“Are you saying I need to get my lips done?” I stop walking to stare up at him. People move around us, not wanting to run into Jax. You’d probably bounce off him and fall backwards onto your ass.
“No, I’m offering to be at your beck and call to keep them extra puffy.” I never would have pegged him for being so clever with his words.
“All right, you smooth-talked your way out of that one. I’ll allow it.” I keep walking. Jax throws his arm over my shoulder, tucking me into his side. I do have to admit it's nice that people hurry out of his path.
The day goes smoothly, and no one says anything to me about Jax, but he is also constantly at my side. He only left once, and it was so I could pee. Pretty sure he held himself back from going in with me.
I'm not sure if this is his norm with me now or if he's worried about whoever killed the girl. The thing is, I'm starting to wonder if I saw it. It almost feels like a dream when I think back to the moment, but I know it's real because Jax saw it too.
He has no choice but to go to practice after school, and I do my normal routine and go to the media room to work on homecoming news. Homecoming is always a big deal at Golden Prep.
Of course, Jax's name is on the list. I bet he would have been on it every year if not for the rule that it’s seniors only. My eyes scan over the girls names, and Alice and Celia are both there. I still need to figure out what the deal is.
What would happen if I left Jax’s name off? It’s such a stupid thought, but I have it. Jealousy over a man is so new to me. If I’m feeling it this quickly, there is a likelihood of my heart being broken.
“Are you going to homecoming?” Blair asks, rolling her chair over next to mine, fiddling with the heart on the choker around her neck.
“I’ll be at the game for sure.” That’s when the homecoming king and queen will be announced. The dance is always the next day.
“But not the dance?” She props her elbow up on the table, clearly bored. I want to ask what’s up with her, but for all I know, she’s avoiding going home. I can understand, and I wouldn’t want people asking me about it either.
“I’m not really a school dance kind of girl.
” I have never thought about going to one of the dances.
I’ll have one of the other media classmates cover it.
I can’t and don’t want to go to everything.
Especially events that require that much socializing.
I’m sure it’s great if you’re into that sort of thing.
“So you’ll let your man go by himself. I mean, he’s going to be king.”
“I suppose I haven’t gotten that far.”
“You’re the head of the media department. Don’t you think you should go to the homecoming dance?” Mr. McIntyre asks from behind his desk. The man hasn’t said much.
“I can’t go to every event,” I point out.
“Don’t think it’s hard to go to a dance, but all right.” He gives an annoyed shrug of his shoulder.
“Have you gotten a chance to look over the pieces I have picked for other classmates to cover?” I ask my own question. I get free rein, or I did, but I got an email from Mr. McIntyre asking what was going to be covered next week.
This week was all fluff and welcoming everyone back to school. Along with a few pieces on the football team. That’s nothing new; articles are always on the football team. People are obsessed with it.
“Yes, I have a few issues, and I’ll respond to them when I get the chance,” Mr. McIntyre informs me.
“Yeah, you seem real busy,” Blair mutters. In fairness, I haven’t seen him do anything, but it’s only been a few days. He might be getting his footing. I also wasn’t upset about it because our last teacher kind of let me lead things. It was part of my responsibilities.
“Excuse me, Miss Blair.”
“Miss? What year is it?” This time, Blair rolls her eyes.
She’s not wrong. Also, Mr. McIntyre here isn’t that old himself.
I’d guess him to be in his late twenties.
I need to dig into him still. Far too much has been going on, and Jax is rather distracting.
I freaking shared a bed with him last night!
This isn’t an easy school to land a teaching position. You either have to have years under your belt or be connected to someone. This school costs more than most colleges out there.
“Smart mouths don’t get you class credit,” Mr. McIntyre tells her.
“Is that a threat?” Blair asks with a smirk. I think she wants it to be a threat.
“Is what a fucking threat?” Jax asks, entering the classroom.
I glance up at the clock over the door. Practice must have wrapped earlier than usual.
Actually, scratch that. I can’t see Coach Kaufman cutting any practice early.
Jax's eyes glance around the room like he's casing the place. I can tell he’s on edge, not knowing what he’s walked into.
“My smart mouth.” Blair taps her lips with her finger. “This mouth has gotten me far in life.” I snort a laugh before I can stop myself.
“Is there something I can help you with, Jax?” Mr. McIntyre asks him.
“No,” Jax says dismissively, making his way toward me. “Is there a problem?” he asks me.
“Practice out early?”
“I missed you.” Jax leans down, putting one of his hands on each of my wrists. “And I wanted a kiss.”
“Jax.” I can feel my face start to heat. “The teacher.” I whisper the second part. I don’t know. It’s weird to kiss in front of teachers and parents. I don’t think Jax gives a shit or has even thought about it.
“What?” I turn back to face the teacher. “Is there a problem?” Jax asks.
“I’m going to be leaving for the day, so everyone needs to head out.” Mr. McIntyre completely jumps around Jax’s question. I don’t blame him. McIntyre here might have ten years on Jax, but that’s all he’s got. I’m sure he has already been made aware of who's who in this school.
He is very much the stereotype of a geeky media guy. “If she’s not ready, then we’re not going anywhere,” Jax tosses right back.
“Jax.” I touch his arm, wanting to pull his attention back to me before things get out of hand.
Before yesterday, I don’t think I would have called Jax laid-back, but if you left him alone, he left you alone. He doesn’t go out of his way to push people around. It's why a lot of people give him a wide berth. They know he’s not the type to throw his family's power around.
It doesn’t go unnoticed that now he’s snipping at people. I’m not one of those people, but I do wonder if I’m the cause of it. He’s more short-tempered when it comes to me, and I’m not sure how to handle that or what to think of it.
“He doesn’t get to be a dick because he’s the teacher, and you're worried he’d fuck with your grade. Isn’t that right, Jim McIntyre? You wouldn’t do that, would you?” Jax may pose it as a question, but I can hear the underlined threat in it.
Blair's perfect eyebrows are almost up to her hairline as she enjoys this back and forth. Mr. McIntyre here is now shifting around in his seat and seeming to pack up his crap for the day, or he’s trying to appear busy. Likely the latter.
At this point, I don’t know if I should laugh or feel bad for him, but he’s the one who was being a smart-mouth dick first. It’s easy to be a dick when you don’t have to worry about pushback.
Especially when you’re in a role of authority and you’re being that way to a bunch of women.
That is, until there is someone who will push you right back.
Push isn’t the right word. Jax will yeet the man out of the whole city.
“It’s been a long day, and I’m supposed to lock up the room.” Mr. McIntyre’s tone totally changes.
“Right.” I have never heard one singular, simple word sound like a threat before, but Jax just did it. The whole energy in the room shifts. Blair even rolls her chair back a few inches. Jax turns to face me. “Are you hungry?”
“She’s busy trying to find out about homecoming,” Blair tells him.
“Homecoming?” Jax’s expression gets complex.
“You know. The whole crowning at the football game on homecoming.”
“That’s not this week.”
“No, it’s not this week,” I confirm. “Do you really not know you’re up for homecoming king?”
“I didn’t enter into that shit.”
“You don’t enter, dork.” I laugh, making Jax smile.
“I still haven’t gotten that kiss.” He leans down, pressing his mouth to mine before I can respond. “If I’m the king, then you’re the queen.”
“Still not how that works.” I let go of the front of his shirt that I hadn’t realized I’d grabbed on to. It must have happened when he kissed me.
“You ready, Bunny?”
“That’s cute, that you call her Bunny.” Blair starts shoving things into her bag.
“Yeah, I’m ready.” I pack up the rest of my stuff. As we pass by Mr. McIntyre, Jax pauses and knocks on the end of his desk.
“You have a good night, Jim.” Jax’s hand goes to the small of my back, leading me out of the classroom.
“Jim?” I ask. “You looked into him.”
“I pulled his name to have him looked into. Need to know who he is if he’s going to be around you.”
“Anything else you’ve been up to?”
“I guess I’m becoming king or some shit.” His expression is one of annoyance, making me laugh.
“You know about homecoming king and queen?”
“I know of it. I thought you entered or something. You want to go to the dance?”
“I’ve never thought about it.”
“Then think about it. If you want to go, we’ll go. If you don’t, we can have a slumber party together.”
“A slumber party?” Where does he come up with this shit?
“Food, movies, and a bed.”
“That does sound better than a dance,” I admit. “But slumber parties aren’t about making out and such. No matter what porn you’ve watched before.”
“I don’t know about any slumber parties, but you’re sure as fuck never calling a plumber.”
“Ahh!” I elbow him in his side. Jax throws his arm over my shoulder, tucking me into him. It's his go-to move today. I can't say that I hate it.
In fact, I don't think there is anything I could ever hate about Jax Marino. The man who seems to think I now belong to him. The craziest part of all of this is that I think he might be right.