in the environment, but you and Avery didn’t.”
“Yeah, well, we’re kind of unique cases. Avery escaped this life, but not without a lot of bumps in the road first and me… And me, well, I was sick of having complications in my life, so I fucking ran and never looked back. I just wanted to live for once, you know.”
“Yeah, I know,” I say hoarsely, thinking about how I used to have the same attitude. ‘Live life in the moment’ was my motto. I had plans to travel after I graduated. Plans to do something amazing with my life. So many plans and none of them happened.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, noting the croak in my voice.
“Nothing.” I clear my throat. “And you’re not just a unique case. You’re a special case, Jax. You’ve completely turned your life around.”
He places a hand on the car just to the side of my head and angles his body toward me until only a few inches are between us. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d guess you just gave me a compliment.”
“It’s a good thing you know better,” I retort, but my voice is unsteady as his body heat seeps into my skin.
“I guess so.” He eyes me over for an unbearable amount of time before he pushes back. “It looks like we’re hitting up the Dirty Tiger after the diner.”
I pull a repulsed face as I slide my butt into the seat. “The name sounds so gross, like an advertisement for STD’s. Come on in to the Dirty Tiger, where you walk in with a smile on your face and leave with herpes between your legs.”
Laughter bursts from his lips. “You know, as funny as that is, it’s actually pretty close to the truth.”
“So disgusting.” I stick out my tongue and gag.
“Relax. Just don’t use the toilets or let any dicks into your pussy, and you’ll be fine.”
My lips part in shock, and I reach out to swat him. “You’re so vile.”
He skitters out of my reach, laughing his ass off. “You’re the one who brought up herpes.”
Okay, he has me there. “Fine, I’ll hold my bladder and try my best to stay away from all penises.”
“Good idea. Although, I’m not sure if the penises will be able to stay away from you.” When I glare at him, he adds, “I’m kidding… but not really.” His finger traces below my eye, causing my eyelashes to flutter. “You’re too beautiful and are going to stand out like a sore thumb in a place like the Dirty Tiger.” His mouth tugs to a lopsided grin, and then he heads around the car to get inside.
I shut the door, release a weighted breath, and briefly close my eyes. My heart is pounding from his touch, and my skin tingles everywhere.
Flirting. Smiles. Laughs. Hand holding. What the hell have I gotten myself into?
On our way home, I’ll set boundaries again, I tell myself, ignoring the fact that I keep bending the rules the more time I spend with Jax.
At the rate things are going, this will end in a disaster like it did with Mack. Jax will run the other way when he discovers the truth about my life. Like he said himself, he doesn’t want complications in his life. And my life is one big, messy, stressful complication.
Chapter Nine
Jax
After we get some hamburgers at the retro diner, we make the short drive to the outskirts of town. A very, very cheap strip/dance club located on the side of the freeway, the Dirty Tiger has a fitting name.
Clara shudders as she assesses the metal building lit up by neon signs promising a good time. The windows are grimy, blocking the view to the inside¸ but that’s probably for the better.
“Wow, it’s worse than I imagined,” she mumbles as she stares at the corner of the building where a man is leaning back, and a woman is down on her knees. Despite being partially hidden in the shadows, it’s pretty clear what they’re doing.
“Maybe I should take you back to the motel then come back by myself,” I suggest, unbuckling my
“Yeah, well, we’re kind of unique cases. Avery escaped this life, but not without a lot of bumps in the road first and me… And me, well, I was sick of having complications in my life, so I fucking ran and never looked back. I just wanted to live for once, you know.”
“Yeah, I know,” I say hoarsely, thinking about how I used to have the same attitude. ‘Live life in the moment’ was my motto. I had plans to travel after I graduated. Plans to do something amazing with my life. So many plans and none of them happened.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, noting the croak in my voice.
“Nothing.” I clear my throat. “And you’re not just a unique case. You’re a special case, Jax. You’ve completely turned your life around.”
He places a hand on the car just to the side of my head and angles his body toward me until only a few inches are between us. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d guess you just gave me a compliment.”
“It’s a good thing you know better,” I retort, but my voice is unsteady as his body heat seeps into my skin.
“I guess so.” He eyes me over for an unbearable amount of time before he pushes back. “It looks like we’re hitting up the Dirty Tiger after the diner.”
I pull a repulsed face as I slide my butt into the seat. “The name sounds so gross, like an advertisement for STD’s. Come on in to the Dirty Tiger, where you walk in with a smile on your face and leave with herpes between your legs.”
Laughter bursts from his lips. “You know, as funny as that is, it’s actually pretty close to the truth.”
“So disgusting.” I stick out my tongue and gag.
“Relax. Just don’t use the toilets or let any dicks into your pussy, and you’ll be fine.”
My lips part in shock, and I reach out to swat him. “You’re so vile.”
He skitters out of my reach, laughing his ass off. “You’re the one who brought up herpes.”
Okay, he has me there. “Fine, I’ll hold my bladder and try my best to stay away from all penises.”
“Good idea. Although, I’m not sure if the penises will be able to stay away from you.” When I glare at him, he adds, “I’m kidding… but not really.” His finger traces below my eye, causing my eyelashes to flutter. “You’re too beautiful and are going to stand out like a sore thumb in a place like the Dirty Tiger.” His mouth tugs to a lopsided grin, and then he heads around the car to get inside.
I shut the door, release a weighted breath, and briefly close my eyes. My heart is pounding from his touch, and my skin tingles everywhere.
Flirting. Smiles. Laughs. Hand holding. What the hell have I gotten myself into?
On our way home, I’ll set boundaries again, I tell myself, ignoring the fact that I keep bending the rules the more time I spend with Jax.
At the rate things are going, this will end in a disaster like it did with Mack. Jax will run the other way when he discovers the truth about my life. Like he said himself, he doesn’t want complications in his life. And my life is one big, messy, stressful complication.
Chapter Nine
Jax
After we get some hamburgers at the retro diner, we make the short drive to the outskirts of town. A very, very cheap strip/dance club located on the side of the freeway, the Dirty Tiger has a fitting name.
Clara shudders as she assesses the metal building lit up by neon signs promising a good time. The windows are grimy, blocking the view to the inside¸ but that’s probably for the better.
“Wow, it’s worse than I imagined,” she mumbles as she stares at the corner of the building where a man is leaning back, and a woman is down on her knees. Despite being partially hidden in the shadows, it’s pretty clear what they’re doing.
“Maybe I should take you back to the motel then come back by myself,” I suggest, unbuckling my
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