Текст книги "Until Jax "

Автор книги: Aurora Rose Reynolds

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“I understand,” I say quietly, kissing her cheek then letting her go, moving back to the stool I was sitting on. “Should I let her tell me?” I ask quietly, still unsure of what to do with the information.

“Let her tell you, and know that when she does she’s trusting you. I don’t think she has really trusted anyone in a long time.”

“She trusts you,” I point out. Ellie is very picky with who she allows to watch Hope, and so far, that list only consists of me, my mom, and my dad. Even Ashlyn had to pass inspection before Ellie allowed her to take Hope with her to her house.

“I think a lot of people have taken advantage of her,” she says softly, grabbing my hands from across the counter. “I don’t know why she trusts me, but I love her like a daughter. I would jump in front of a bullet for her or Hope, the same way I would do for you or Ashlyn. I want to be someone she trusts, someone she can depend on. I don’t want her to feel like she’s alone, and that girl I met at the hospital was alone,” she confides, crying again, which causes my chest to hurt.

I know a lot of this sadness stems from her and my father’s past. She had my sister on her own for years, thinking my dad had abandoned her to be with my biological mother. She had no idea my dad was suffering just as badly as she was.

“I’m falling in love with her…her and Hope,” I admit, watching her eyes close.

“Then be there for her, and when she tells you her story, understand she’s believing that she’s safe with you, that her heart is safe with you.”

“Thanks, Mom. For everything, not just this.”

“I will always be here anytime you need me, honey.”

Nodding, I let her hand go and lean back. “Do you have time to make me breakfast?” I ask, watching her face go soft.

“Of course.” She straightens her spine, wiping the tears off her cheeks, giving me a smile before moving to the fridge.

Breathing a little easier, I sit back on the stool and watch her move around the kitchen as she makes me breakfast.

“Do you want me to keep Hope for you and Ellie one night?” she asks. Caught off guard by the question, my fork is in the air with a piece of fluffy pancake hanging off the end, syrup still dripping onto the plate below it. “Honey, I’m not dumb, and I remember what it was like when me and your dad got back together and had both you kids at home.”

“Mom,” I groan, and she laughs.

“What? Your dad is a very attractive man.”

“You can stop.” I shake my head, setting my fork down, my appetite suddenly gone.

“Well, just remember that I offered.” She smiles, and I throw my hands up in the air, giving up on finishing my pancakes.

“Thanks for ruining my breakfast,” I tell her, watching her laugh.

“You have to leave anyways. Ellie’s bringing Hope here in,” she looks at the clock over my shoulder, “fifteen minutes.”

“Are you kicking me out?” I ask with amusement.

“Yes, Hope likes you more than me, so when you’re not here, I get her to myself.” She smiles.

“She does like me more then you, doesn’t she?” I ask smugly.

“Don’t rub it in,” she says, kissing my cheek. “Now go, and you know I’m always here if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Mom,” I mumble, slipping my hat back on my head then pulling my keys out of my pocket. “I’ll be here to pick up Hope before dinner, so don’t let her trick you into giving her ice cream.”

“Honey.” She rolls her eyes, putting her hands on my arm, giving me a gentle shove toward the door.

“Love you, Mom.” I smile, kissing her cheek before walking out to my truck, feeling the weight’s gone from my chest.

*

“Thanks for picking up Hope from your mom’s,” Ellie says quietly as she takes a seat next to me on the couch, tucking her legs underneath her.

She came home an hour ago, but as soon as she walked in the door, Hope was on her, so all I got was a quiet greeting before she disappeared with Hope upstairs to put her in the bath then into bed.

“You can thank me with your mouth,” I tell her, wrapping a long piece of her hair around my finger then watching as her cheeks turn a dark shade of pink.

“Jax,” she murmurs, ducking her head, which causes her thick dark hair to fall in front of her face.

“C’mere,” I say, pulling her hand until she’s pressed up against me, with her hands against my chest and her big eyes looking up at me. “You okay?” I ask, running my thumb over her bottom lip.

“Yeah,” she breathes quietly as her eyes roam over my features. “I like when you don’t wear a hat.”

“Why’s that?’ I ask just as quietly, feeling the intimacy of the moment wrapping around us.

She studies my face for a long time before saying with a shrug, “I don’t know. I can see your eyes, I guess.” She ducks her head again, making me wonder what she’s really thinking.

“Liar,” I whisper, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. Her head lifts, her eyes meet mine again, and she licks across her bottom lip, causing my eyes to follow the sultry movement.

“Okay, I lied, but the reason just sounds so stupid now that I think about it.”

“Tell me,” I say on a squeeze, tilting my head lower until our eyes lock again.

“I like thinking I’m one of the few people who sees you like this.”

Pulling her toward me with my hand wrapped around the back of her neck until we’re sharing the same breath, I tell her softly, “I like that reason,” before covering her mouth with mine, licking across her bottom lip, pulling it between my lips and tasting her on my tongue. When her tongue touches mine timidly, I lift her, hearing her squeak as I adjust her on my lap to straddle me.

“Jax,” she exhales heavily, leaning back to look at me.

Seeing the trepidation in her eyes, I run my hand over her hair, settling on the underside of her jaw then back up to wrap into her hair. “Slow, Ellie. I promise we’ll take it slow.”

“Slow,” she repeats against my mouth as I pull her forward. Sweeping my tongue between her lips, I groan when her hands slide from my chest to my hair and her fingers move through the stands.

Dragging her tighter against me with one hand on her ass and the other in her hair, I pray I don’t come in my pants like a sixteen-year-old kid that’s never had a chick on his lap before.

Slipping my hands up the back of her shirt, my fingers roam over her smooth skin. Her tongue moves lightly against mine as her hips circle. I don’t even know if she understands what she’s doing to me, and to herself, as her core bumps against my erection.

Moving my hands, I still her hips while pulling my mouth away from hers, groaning, “We have to stop.”

Seeing the heat in her eyes makes it harder to stay firm, when all I want to do is strip her down so I can explore her body. Shaking my head, I tuck hers under my chin while my heart beats rapidly in my chest.

“Are you okay?” she asks quietly, and I feel her hands on my shirt, running her fingers over the material.

“Yeah, baby.” Kissing her head, I tilt her chin up. “You feel like watching TV with me for a bit?”

“Sure,” she agrees, and her eyes drop to my mouth, making me smile.

“Just TV, my gluttonous girl,” I chide her playfully.

Turning red, she ducks her head again, mumbling, “Sorry.”

“Slow, remember?” I ask, running my finger over her lips, gaining her attention once more.

“Slow,” she agrees, moving to sit on the other side of the couch. Wrapping an arm around her waist, I yank her back, settling her against my side before picking up the remote and turning on the TV.

Opening my eyes, I see the cable box has powered off, leaving on the blue screen that has cast a glow around the room. I feel Ellie’s weight against my side, her arm over my waist and her warm breath against my shirt. Smiling, I lean my head back then hear a little voice whisper, “Ax.”

Turning my head to look over my shoulder, I see Hope standing in the doorway to the living room, wearing her sleep shirt and pants with the snowman on the front of them. Her long brown hair is down in a mass of wild waves, and her face is soft and sleepy.

“Hey, sweetheart,” I whisper as she walks toward the couch. “Are you okay?”

“I had to potty,” she whispers loudly, making me smile, then looks at her mom, who’s asleep on my side. “Mommy’s sleeping,” she points out, climbing up on my lap.

“She’s tired,” I say, watching while she studies me.

“Me too,” she says in a whisper, pulling my hand from the arm of the couch and wrapping it around her waist. She then tucks herself into a ball against my chest while her tiny fingers play with mine for a moment until they still. Tipping my chin downward, I find her asleep as well.

At a loss, I kiss the top of her head, letting my lips rest against her hair as I pull in a breath then let it out slowly as I feel my chest crack open, as if they just ripped my heart out and split it amongst themselves. Listening to them breathe, I close my eyes, holding each of them a little tighter, understanding exactly what my mom meant. I would protect these girls with my life. I would die for them. And I will never let anyone take them from me.

Sliding out from under Ellie, I carefully adjust her until she’s lying down as I hold Hope against my chest.

“Ax?”

“Shhhh, sweetheart, I’m going to tuck you back into bed,” I tell her gently, carrying her up the stairs. Opening her door, I lay her on the bed, tuck the covers up around her, and then kiss her hair again before moving to the door and closing it halfway.

Going back downstairs, I pick up a still sleeping Ellie from the couch and carry her up to her room.

“Jax?” she whispers, clinging to me.

“I’m putting you in bed, baby,” I tell her, kissing her forehead as I use my shoulder to open her door. Carrying her across the dark room, I lay her down on the bed, wanting so badly to follow and climb in behind her. Instead, I whisper, “Slow,” against her ear when her arms tighten around my neck letting me know she wants the same thing.

Kissing her once more, I pull her arms from me and move to the door before I can’t force myself to leave.

“’Night, Jax.”

Looking over my shoulder at my beautiful woman, I whisper back, “’Night, baby,” closing the door halfway behind me.

It’s going to be a test of my willpower having Ellie down the hall from me, especially having seen the way she goes wild once I touch her. Going to my room, I leave the door open, that way I can hear if I’m needed, and then strip down to my boxers and get into bed.

Walking into the kitchen the next morning, I’m glad to see Ellie alone, and am surprised my sister didn’t stay when she came to pick up Hope.

Grinding my teeth. I know men have to hit on Ellie all the time. Fuck, if she was on the opposite side of the street from me, I’d walk to the other side and see if I could get her number. Today, her hair is down in big waves. Her long-sleeved black shirt is tight, with a scoop-neck, making her breasts look even fuller. The jeans she has on are ripped and baggy, with the bottom cuffed, showing off a pair of black boots with high chunky heels that make her ass look phenomenal and her legs look long.

“Morning, baby,” I greet her, placing a kiss on her neck as I lift my arm over her head to reach for a coffee cup.

“Morning.” She smiles then her head ducks away, but I still catch the blush that has risen on her cheeks.

“We need to talk about something,” I tell her, watching her face pale.

“What?”

“Here, up you go,” I say, placing her on the counter then pushing her legs open so I can stand between them.

“Jax, what is it?”

“Your mom was arrested yesterday,” I explain, watching as her bottom lip goes between her teeth. “My uncle will be calling you today, explaining to you what is going on and when or if you will need to be in court.”

“I have to see her?” she whispers worriedly.

“Most likely.” I nod, rubbing her thighs.

“My mom is—”

“Your mom has nothing to do with your life now,” I say, placing a soft kiss on her lips. “And I’m here with you. You’re not alone.”

“I’m not, am I?” she asks softly, studying me as her fingers move along my jaw then over my bottom lip.

“Never again, Ellie,” I tell her, and her forehead comes to rest against my chin. She and Hope have not only me, but also all of my family. They will never be alone again.

Chapter 6

Ellie

Walking down the hall to Jax’s office, I stop at the threshold, nibbling my bottom lip while leaning against the doorjamb so I don’t fall over.

Jax is sitting at his desk shirtless. His hair is messy, and he has a pair of black-framed glasses on I have never seen him wear before. As I watch him, he lifts his hand and runs his fingers through his hair, causing the muscles of his arms to flex, along with his pecs and abs.

“Hey,” I mumble, feeling my cheeks get hot when his eyes come to me and do a head-to-toe sweep.

“Hey, baby.” He smiles, motioning for me to come to him.

Shaking my head, I take a step back. I don’t trust myself. I know if I get close to him, I’m going to want to kiss him, and then I’m going to want to make out with him. I don’t have time to do that and go for a run before I have to get ready for work. And I really need to go for a run since the whole diet thing went down in a burning ball of fire.

“I’m going for a run,” I explain hastily, when he gets up from his chair and I notice he has on his nylon shorts that outline a very large erection.

“So come kiss me goodbye.”

“I can’t.” I shake my head frantically, watching him smile.

“You can,” he assures me, pressing his knuckles into the desk, making his arms and abs flex.

“I can’t. I know I can’t,” I tell him, taking another step backward into the hall. Then, without thinking, I run for the front door, hearing him run behind me as I swing the door open, and bolt down the steps to the sidewalk.

“Ellie,” Jax growls as I jog across the front yard.

“I’ll be back,” I yell over my shoulder, running faster. Getting to the end of the block, I turn right and spot the park at the end of the street, where I take Hope to play. As soon as I reach the large grassy field, I fall down on my back, panting heavy.

“I’m dying,” I wheeze, trying to catch my breath. I have no energy to run again. Really, I have no idea what I was thinking when I said I wanted to start running to begin with. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I press dial when I reach July’s number in my call log.

“Hey, what are you doing? Are you okay? You sound out of breath,” she answers.

“I’m pretty sure I just died,” I tell her through deep breaths.

“Did you decide to finally start running?” she asks on a snort.

“Yes, and I made it two blocks before I had to rest. Now, I’m lying in the grass at the park, talking to you on the phone, killing time before I have to head back to the house and face Jax,” I say through pants while listening to her laugh.

“I don’t think Jax will care that you don’t run,” she mutters.

“I know, but have you seen your cousin? He is—”

“Stop. I don’t want to know.”

“That’s not fair. I don’t have any friends who aren’t related to Jax. Who am I supposed to talk to about him?”

“You can tell me anything about him except if it has to do with sex, his body, and specifically, his penis.”

“That’s all the good stuff,” I point out, making her laugh.

“Well then, you’re going to have to make a new friend.”

“Fine,” I mutter then say quietly, “I told Hope that me and Jax are dating.”

“How did that go?” she asks curiously. She knows how worried I’ve been about this. I told her the last time we spoke that I was concerned about Hope and explained she had never been around anyone besides family before, and Jax wasn’t exactly making it easy for me to keep us a secret from her. When I told her my concerns, she told me I should just be honest with her about us.

I’m still not sure what to think, so even though it’s awkward as hell, I talked to Lilly about it, and she said Hope talks about Jax and me all the time. In Hope’s eyes, we have become a family of sorts, and even though things are new and she’s young, she should know what’s happening, because in the long run, it’s something that will affect her. After Lilly said that, I told her more about how Hope came to be in my care. Hope knows about her mom and dad, but she has no memories of them. To her, they are just pictures and stories. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I didn’t expect Lilly to have the reaction she did. Instead of making me feel like less of a mom, she made me feel like I was the best mom in the world for Hope.

“Earth to Ellie,” July breaks into my thoughts.

“Sorry.”

“It’s okay. So what did she say?”

“She asked if she can have a sister, so I think it went okay.” I smile at the memory and hear July laugh in my ear. “I told her no, and then she asked if she could get a dog instead.”

“Well, you’ve obviously raised a smart girl if she’s already negotiating.” She laughs again.

“She’s too smart. Are you at work?” I ask, hearing a dog bark.

“Yeah. Oh, now that I’m on the phone with you, I can ask you myself if you’re coming to the compound tonight. We’re having a get-together. I know Ashlyn was going to try and convince you to come hang out.”

“Probably not. I have Hope—”

“You know my mom or any of my aunts would love to watch her.”

“I don’t know. I hate asking people to watch her. I mean, every time I bring up paying anyone, they ignore me, which makes me feel guilty.”

“We’re family, girl,” she says softly.

“I’ll see about it, but I can’t make any promises,” I tell her after a long moment of watching the clouds go blurry through my tears. It’s weird knowing I have this whole group of people to count on, and even stranger that I actually trust them.

“Let me know,” she replies just as quietly.

“I will; talk to you later,” I say before hanging up and tucking my phone back in my pocket.

Pulling in a deep breath, I let it out then stand up, dust my bottom off, and start walking back to the house. When I reach the corner before the house, I start to jog again so it looks like I was jogging the entire time then head up the driveway, up the front walk, and then push the door open.

“What are you doing?” I squeak as a shirtless Jax pulls me fully into the house, slams the door, and pushes me up against the wall. He drops to his knees, covering my sex with his mouth through the material of my workout pants, pulling so hard my head falls back and my clit pulses against his tongue.

“Jax,” I whimper, feeling his hands slide around my hips, pulling my core closer to his mouth. “Wh…what are you doing?” I ask, forcing my eyes to open. Seeing him on his knees, his mouth open over me, causes something deep inside me to start to unravel.

Letting out a loud moan, my hands fist in his hair and my head falls back against the wall with a loud thud.

“Ellie,” he groans, pulling me down to straddle his lap. One of his hands wraps around my ponytail. The other trails under my shirt then down over the skin of my belly and under the material of my pants, where one finger slides through my folds, causing my hips to jerk forward.

Placing my hands on his shoulders, our eyes connect, and my heartbeat picks up as the reality of what we’re doing hits me. “You’re safe with me, baby,” he says, reading the look on my face as I feel two fingers circle my clit over and over. Biting my lower lip, I swallow then start rocking my hips forward in sync with his fingers.

“Give me your mouth, Ellie,” he growls, nipping at my chin. Tipping my face forward, I kiss him timidly then bite his lip as I feel one finger enter me then two, which causes my breath to catch. “You’re tight, baby, so fucking tight and wet,” he groans, pulling his mouth from mine while his fingers move ruthlessly inside me. My nails dig into his shoulders and my head drops back again as I cry out, feeling the muscles of my lower body getting tighter and tighter. Then his mouth is on my breast through my shirt and his teeth clamp down on my nipple. My hips buck as the tension building in my core detonates, sending me over the edge, blinding me with white light.

Absently, I hear him whisper, “Shhh, I got you,” against my ear as he adjusts me in his lap on the floor. Burying my face in his neck, my body is shaking uncontrollably and tears have filled my eyes. I have never experienced anything like that before. It was like I came out of my skin for a few seconds. Clinging tighter to him, he rocks me against his chest while kissing my hair. Lifting my eyes to his, I swallow, trying to think of what to say.

I mean, do you say thank you for something like that?

“How are you feeling?” he asks softly, tucking some of my hair behind my ear.

“Um…”

“I didn’t hurt you, did I?” He searches my face and eyes.

“No, no…it was good.”

“Good?” he asks with a smile that looks a little too cocky. “You were convulsing and screaming. Baby, if that was good, I wonder what great is like for you.”

“It was good.” I roll my eyes. I mean, for all I know, it was mediocre, seeing how it was my first orgasm. There could be better, though I doubt that’s true. I know the ladies at the salon I worked at were constantly bitching about their husbands and lack of orgasms they received, and it seems to me Jax knows exactly what to do.

“We’re going to have to work on that then,” he says, nuzzling my neck.

“I have to get ready for work,” I breathe, tilting my head back then rolling it so he can kiss up the under side of my jaw.

“Me too,” he groans, sounding disappointed.

“I didn’t know you wear glasses,” I say, opening my eyes and lifting my hand, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

“I need them for the computer.” He smiles. “Do you like them?”

“They’re okay.” I shrug.

“Just okay?” he asks as his hands move up my sides like he’s going to tickle me.

“How can you fit in your car or through doors with your giant head?”

“You haven’t even seen how big my head is, baby.” He smiles, raising his hips, which causes the large head of his cock to brush against my side, sending goose bumps over my skin.

“You’re so cocky,” I mutter then press my lips together when I realize how it sounded. “I didn’t mean like that.” I shake my head when he begins to laugh.

“If we didn’t have to work, I’d show you how cocky I am.”

“You’re cheesy too,” I say, fighting back a smile.

“And you’re beautiful when you come,” he says, getting onto his knees and pushing me back until I’m lying on the hardwood floor with him over me, his hands holding mine above me against the wood.

“Jax,” I whisper as his knees slide between mine.

“I love when you say my name like that, out of breath, like you’re begging me to kiss and touch you,” he says before his mouth lowers over mine, kissing me thoroughly then moving down my cheek to my ear, where he growls, “I’m taking you out tonight, and you need to wear a dress.”

“July asked me to go to the shop tonight,” I say breathlessly as his mouth moves down my jaw then neck, where he nips me hard enough to sting.

“We’ll go there after we have dinner.”

“Hope,” I whimper as his hands move up my side, under my shirt.

“Mom and Dad’ll watch her,” he says as his mouth nips my earlobe.

“I hate leaving her,” I tell him truthfully.

His face moves to hover over me and his eyes search mine. I see something there that gives me pause and makes me feel warm all over. “You can have a night, baby. We’ll pick her up early tomorrow morning.”

“Over night?” I whisper, feeling my heart begin to pound against my ribs.

“Over night, but remember we’re taking this slow. It’s a date then hanging out with friends, and maybe some snuggling if you’re nice to me,” he says with a peck.

Pressing my lips together to keep from smiling, I mutter, “If they don’t mind watching her, then okay.” I wrap my legs around his waist while moving my hands over the skin of his back. “But the snuggling is negotiable.”

Smiling, he rocks against me, causing his length to rub against me through the material of my pants and a moan to climb up my throat.

Smirking, he murmurs, “I’ll convince you to cuddle.”

“Maybe,” I whisper, finally giving in to my smile.

His face goes soft and his hands frame my face while his eyes move over my hair, eyes, and then mouth. “I like seeing you like this,” he says as he kisses my lips then moves his mouth down my chin to my neck. His hands move, cupping my breasts, making my knees weak and my core tighten.

“I have to get ready for work,” I moan in both frustration and relief. I don’t know if I’m ready to open myself up to him, especially when he doesn’t know everything. I don’t think there is any way for me to hide the fact I’m a virgin, and once he knows that, he’s going to know about Hope. I need to tell him, but I’m so scared.

Knifing off me, he pulls me up to stand, asking, “What time do you get off tonight?” as his hands smooth down my hair and his eyes search my face.

“We close the shop at seven. Is that too late to have dinner?”

“No, and just let me know when you can get lunch, and I’ll bring Hope by so we can spend some time with her, since we won’t see her until tomorrow.”

“I would love that,” I say quietly through the tears lodged in my throat.

“Go get ready, and I’ll drop you off at work then just pick you up at seven.”

“Please…?” I prompt, narrowing my eyes.

“I don’t mind staying here and using your body as entertainment for the rest of the day,” he says with a shrug, while his eyes sweep over me once more, causing my nipples to harden and the place his fingers just were to contract.

“I…I’m gonna go get…get ready,” I stutter out then take off up the stairs, listening to his laughter follow me as I shut the door for the bathroom behind me and lean back against it, breathing heavily. I’m so far over my head it’s not even funny.

*

“That was Jax Mayson,” Kim whispers to me as I set my bag down on my station. “He just kissed you.” She blinks at me then looks at the door Jax just left out of. Biting my lip, I nod, because I can’t exactly lie. Jax insisted on walking me into the salon, and when I tried to give him a casual goodbye, he grabbed onto the back of my jeans and hauled me against him so he could kiss me in a way that let everyone know we were more than friends. “I thought he’s with Mellissa.”

Taking a deep breath, I let it out slowly as annoyance washes over me. I don’t even think I’m jealous about the whole Mellissa thing really. I’m annoyed she thinks she has some claim over him, when he has made it clear she doesn’t. “He’s not. I don’t know what she’s thinking, but I know what Jax has told me, and I believe him.”

“Hey, I didn’t mean anything by it,” she says, wrapping her hand around my arm. “I don’t know him; I just know of him, because I’ve seen him around and she tells everyone they’re together.”

“It’s fine, and I know. It’s just crazy. Why would you push yourself on someone who’s not interested in you?” I ask, watching as her face loses some of its color. “What’s wrong?”

“Do you know Jax’s cousin Sage?” she asks quietly, moving to stand in front of the mirror between our stations, pulling her hair up into a high ponytail, and I notice her hands are shaking.

“A little, but really, things have been so busy that every time I’ve seen him, it’s just been hi and bye. Why?” I ask, wondering what she could possibly have against Sage. He’s always nice to me, and he’s so good with Hope, who loves him.

“I have a sister,” she whispers.

“I didn’t know you have a sister,” I mutter, watching her bite the inside of her cheek.

“We’re identical twins, and she’s not exactly a good person. Don’t get me wrong; I love her, because we’re blood, but she’s…” She pauses and her eyes meet mine in the mirror once more. “She has some problems.”

“Oh.” I know exactly what she’s saying. I have a whole family full of people with problems.

“My sister had a run-in with Sage before she left town,” she says then drops her eyes, along with her voice. “She tried to roofie him when they were at the same bar.”

“What?” I breathe, covering my mouth.

“Yeah,” she whispers with tears in her eyes. “She was going to get him alone and get his wallet…I don’t know exactly, but he caught her when she was trying to mess with his drink. And now he thinks I’m her.”

“Maybe you could tell him it wasn’t you.”

“She left town.” She shakes her head.

“If you talk to him—” I try again, but she cuts me off.

“I believe his words were ‘Stay the fuck away from me, you psycho bitch’ when I tried.”

“That’s not good,” I say as she turns around to face me.

“You wanna know the worst part?” she asks softly, moving to sit in my stylist chair.

“What?” I ask, thinking this couldn’t possibly get any worse. She has an evil twin—that’s storybook bad.

“I met him the day before it happened.” She takes a breath, letting it out slowly. “My car got a flat on Old Fork Road, and he stopped to help me change it. After he got the new one on, he asked me if I wanted to have coffee with him and I said yes. I never say yes,” she whispers as tears fill her eyes. “I know you’re going to think I’m a slut, but I swear I have never done anything like that.”

“Had coffee with a guy?” I ask, confused, seeing pain in her eyes.

“No, after we had coffee, we went back to my place, and one thing led to another,” she says, waving her hand around, and I understand what she’s saying.

“Oh,” I breathe, and she nods.

“Then later the next night, he met my sister, and now…” she trails off.

“Now he thinks you’re her,” I finish her thought.

“Yep.” She nods again as her mouth forms a sad smile.

“There has to be a way to prove to him it wasn’t you.”

“I tried to talk to him, but he refused to listen to me, and honestly, I don’t think I care anymore. At first, I was upset, because I really liked him—or what I knew of him—but since then, I have seen him around town numerous times, and he’s always with a different girl. Really, he left my place, and the next night he went out to a bar, so that says it all, I think.”

“I’m sorry,” I murmur, not knowing what else to say right now. I mean, maybe Sage is actually an asshole, ’cause this doesn’t seem like something a nice guy would do. A nice guy would at least listen to you.

“It’s okay, really. I don’t know why I just laid all of that out for you.”

“I would like to think we’re becoming friends,” I tell her softly, giving her a hug. “He’s not worth the tears,” I whisper as I hear her sob quietly into my shoulder.