The Next Mistake

I tell myself I refuse to let it happen once more.

I convince myself that the kiss was only a brief failure in judgement, a moment of frailty.

But while your heart is still pounding, lies don't feel real.

I also sense Jaxon everywhere even as I leave him behind.

His fingers. His lips opened. The way his voice encircled my name like a secret I was not meant to know.

I ought to be sprinting backwards.

Rather, I'm looking for the next justification to track him back-off.

And exactly that throws me into trouble.

Before I know anything is off five minutes into the next day.

Ava is not picking up my texts.

She clearly distances herself from me, without avoiding me completely. the forced grins. Her eyes slip past mine like she's stopping herself from saying something she would come to regret.

It drives me to be restless. uncomfortable.

And that's precisely why my initial reaction is not to avoid Jaxon when I learn he is heading to a pub just outside of town.

I am going to go to him.

Even now, even with better knowledge.

Even in cases when this will simply exacerbate problems.

The darkly lit bar is full with laughter and music that does not fit the strain in my chest.

I visit here not very often. But the second I enter I find him.

Jaxon is lounging against the bar, half-empty glass in hand, black eyes flickering up the instant I enter.

He meets me.

And I notice his change in attitude, the trace of a smile he doesn't even try to suppress.

As he knew I had arrived.

As he was waiting for this.

I inhale slowly and move approach him nevertheless.

One major error.

I stop immediately next to him and order a drink I'm not really inclined toward.

Jaxon slants slightly, speaks softly and angrily.

You following me now, city girl?

I roll my eyes, turning away the way my pulse leaps at his voice. You want.

His smile gets stronger. "This is simply a coincidence then?"

I raise my drink and let alcohol ground me. "Obviously."

Jaxon smiles. Correct.

I should get away. I should go before another error results from this.

Instead, nevertheless, I remain.

And I do even worse when someone slides up next me—some guy I hardly know—his interest clear and instantaneous.

I let him share with me.

For some reason, a perverse side of me wants to witness Jaxon's reaction.

I also have little waiting time.

Maybe Noah, the guy leans in and smiles. Haven't seen you around that often. Here, new you?

I force a smile. merely visiting.

lucky me, then.

I laugh, but it's not natural. My eyes fly sideways, toward Jaxon.

His smile vanished suddenly, replaced by something darker, heavier.

And as I get closer to Noah, I can see the precise moment Jaxon determines he has had enough.

He is next to me second.

He then is seizing my wrist.

He pulls me away from the bar, his hold strong but not harsh, and a little gasp leaves me.

My pulse picks up spikes.

"Walk," he adds, his voice low enough to be a warning. "Jaxon."

Furthermore, for some reason I do.

I let him guide me away from everyone else out the rear doors and into the mild night air.

Knowing exactly what is ahead helps me.

And I want it as well.

Though I shouldn't.

Jaxon lets off my wrist; we are outside, pacing once before turning to face one other.

"What the devil was that?" he asks.

I draw my arms across one other. "What was that?"

Jaxon laughs sharply and runs a hand through his hair. "Don't pretend to be dumb, Lena."

My pulse thrashes. "You are overreacting."

His eyes fly to me, fire sparking beneath the annoyance.

"Am I?"

We go into a tense quiet.

I ought to give this up.

I should say something to defuse it before we go across another line.

But rather—

Jaxon advances a step toward us.

Once again.

And then suddenly there is nowhere left.

Just heat.

exactly us.

I stuck in a breath, my pulse roaring in my ears.

"I shouldn't want you," Jaxon murmurs.

The words slam into me, making it hard to breathe.

I lift my chin, refusing to back down. "Then don't."

Jaxon's jaw tightens, his eyes dropping to my lips.

And then—

He's kissing me again.

Harder this time. Fiercer. More desperate.

Like he's been holding back for too long.

Like this was inevitable from the start.

I don't stop him.

I don't want to.

My hands slide into his hair, pulling him closer, deeper.

And when he presses me against the wall, his body flush against mine, I know—

This isn't just another mistake.

This is the point of no return.

We break apart only when we have to.

Jaxon's forehead rests against mine, both of us breathing hard.

I should say something.

I should acknowledge that this just made everything worse.

But all I can focus on is the way his hands are still on me, the way he's looking at me like he's not ready to let go yet.

Then, softly—almost like a confession—he murmurs,

"We're screwed, aren't we?"

I swallow hard.

Because I don't have an answer.

Because we both already know the truth.

And for once, I can't bring myself to say it out loud.

They crossed another line. And this time? There's no pretending it didn't happen.

The tension exploded into something real. But what happens next?

Ava still doesn't know. But what happens when she finds out?