Page 17 of Lies You Told
“I leave you alone for half an hour.”
“Kate, I need another submissive viewpoint here,” I say, knowing that Kate will do the right thing.
“What did you guys do?” She asks, her eyes moving between Jacob and Jaxson.
Jax doesn’t move. He still has his head in his hands. He hasn’t moved since he sat back down.
“What’s the most important thing a Dom has to prove to his or any submissive?” I say, as I stop pacing.
“Trust,” Kate says. Her attention leaves me and goes straight to Jax.
“There lies the problem. Jaxson Hill, I wouldn’t trust you with anything, least of all my body.” I say as I walk out of the room, slamming the door behind me.
I walk straight into Kieran, and he takes me in his arms. “I have a private playroom booked downstairs.”
11
JAX
“Why did I see Kieran taking Chloe into one of the private rooms, not Jax?” Mike asks as he closes Jacob’s door.
I look up at him as Kate passes me a glass. I don’t even care what’s in it as long as it burns on the way down. I’m still in shock. A bomb could go off right now, and I wouldn’t realize. Ra–I can’t even finish the word. A million thoughts are going through my brain right now, and every single one makes me feel like an asshole. No wonder Chloe hates me. She should despise me. Every protective bone in my body screams that I need to apologize if she ever decides to give me the time of day.
“She dropped a bomb on Jax,” Jacob says, sitting back in his chair.
“What kind of bomb?” Asks Mike. I can feel his eyes on me.
“The kind that’s Chloe’s to tell and nobody else's,” Kate says, her eyebrows raised. She has Mike wrapped around her little finger. He’d be the first to admit it, though. There is nothing that guy wouldn’t do for her. This part of their relationship might be new, but he wants to give Kate everything and anything she wants.
“I’m gonna go. I need to process this.” I say, gently putting the glass on the table. My mind feels foggy and in a blur. I can’t believe she said that about Blake. Why the hell did he? And fucking Franchesca, if Chloe knew the stuff she’d said on the subject over the years. They’re closer than sisters. At least, that’s what Ryan moans about when he’s complaining about his wife and her best friend.
Somehow, I made it back to my apartment. I couldn’t tell you how I got here. I grab a bottle of bourbon from the bar on the far side of the room, and I sit in the dark, looking out on the city, the lights in various buildings keeping the skyline dotted with lights. My new home. The one person I want to be with right now is Chloe. Taking away her pain–or giving it to her–if that’s what she’d prefer. This need to take away all her pain is consuming me, and I don’t like this feeling. I’m used to dominating and being in control of all of my surroundings and all aspects of my life. But this, I’ve never felt so helpless.
My whole history with Chloe plays out in my mind like a movie. I’d had the hots for her until Blake told us he’d broken up with her because she’d slept with our Professor. That pissed me off. I’d worked my ass to get into Harvard, and Blake was telling me Chloe just spread her legs to get an A in his class. When he got fired in our final year, Chloe and I were bitter rivals. The venom was thick and lethal; everyone knew we were the top, the ones to beat. Coming in third was the best anyone else could manage.
I take another swig of the bottle, my memory playing tricks on me. I see things differently. All my memories are different now that I have this new information. The looks she’d have when she didn’t think anyone was looking. The hurt would flash over her, then she’d correct herself, and a cold-ness would come over her. Usually followed by a jab and a bite in my direction. I see them now for what they were, coping mechanisms. The only way she was probably able to get through each day.
I was the biggest asshole on the planet. I should have asked. But Blake was one of my best friends. He was my bro. Why didn’t he believe her?
Jax: I need to ask you something. You up?
Blake: Bro, it’s nearly midnight.
Blake: Of course, I’m up.
Jax: I saw Chloe Lawson today.
Blake: Poor you! She still busting your balls?
Jax: I need to ask you something.
He doesn’t message me back, but the dots keep appearing and disappearing with every passing minute. He’s either thinking of some bullshit to peddle to me, or he is struggling to find the right words not to make me blow up.
Blake: About what?
Jax: Why didn’t you believe her?
Blake: The truth?
