Page 42 of First in Line

Can’t a guy spend his birthday in peace?!

CHAPTER

EIGHT

Evangeline

Ayear. A whole entire year. I can’t believe that much time has passed since I first met Jackson. And yet, it feels like I’ve known him for a lot longer than that.

To celebrate, he took me out to see a movie at the good theater, then we went to the diner to have another one of our dessert extravaganzas. And now, we’re in the back of his car, parked in a small patch of trees on the outskirts of town. He’s put some music on, like he always does, but it’s low enough to allow the sounds of the night to seep in. We figured it’s better if we can hear a car approaching or something. It’s never happened before, though, as this path is barely ever used. This is where we usually come to hang out in Winifred and get a little handsy.

And that’s exactly what we’re doing—kissing, caressing, tugging… We’ve been enjoying third base a lot, and both of us have gotten much better at pleasuring each other. The first time I saw Jackson’s… thingy, I was intimidated and genuinely scared that I wouldn’t figure out how to make him feel as good as he’s made me feel. But with his encouragement and some practice, I’d say I’ve gotten great at it.

A few times now, we’ve also used our mouths, and while it still feels a little odd, I think I really like it.

“Jax,” I moan into our kiss.

“I know, I’ll take care of you. But first…”

He rips himself away from me, leaving me alone on the seat in my sundress, my body tingling for more. I watch as he grabs his leather jacket and looks for something in the pockets. Once he finds it, he pulls out a small red velvet box.

I straighten up on the backseat, attention fixed on it. “Happy first year of many, Evie,” he says, extending it toward me.

My hand shakes a little as I take the gift, and I focus on containing my hectic breathing as I open it. Planted in a beige satin cushion, there are two stud earrings. Tiny, sparkly gems surrounded by yellow gold.

“It’s real gold. Plated,” Jax explains. “And real diamonds. The guy said they’ll last forever.”

I can’t rip my eyes away from them. Actual diamonds? Really? He bought that for me?

When our gazes meet, mine is blurry with contained tears. “You bought me diamonds?”

“You deserve nothing less, princess. One day, I’ll buy you a whole necklace of them. A diamond fountain, or whatever it’s called.”

“It’s Riviera, not fountain,” I giggle.

Careful not to drop it, I take out one earring and work on putting it on. I’m not used to wearing those because the ones I own are old and I don’t like them anymore. So, I struggle a little to find the hole. Jackson notices and comes forward to help me. I stare at him so close as he carefully puts it on, then we do the second one.

“So?” I ask, tucking my loose hair behind my ears so he can see them.

“You look beautiful, Evie.”

“You think so?”

I was being playful, but he looks very serious when he says, “Yes. You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen, Evangeline. I feel so lucky, every single day, to have met you that night at the liquor store.”

Just like that, I’m emotional again, my eyes filling up with tears of happiness. “I’m lucky, too, Jax. The luckiest girl in the world.”

We move together to kiss again, and soon enough, we’re making out just as we were before, half lying on the backseat, while our hands explore each other. When he lets go of my lips to kiss a path down my neck, I stare at the roof above us, panting.

I brought a gift, too. The idea has been in the back of my mind for months, and I impulsively decided earlier today that tonight would be the night. Now that it’s time, though, I’m not as sure…

“Jax?” I softly call.

“Yes, princess?”

He doesn’t look up, busy laying pecks all over my chest—what the modest cleavage reveals, at least.

“I also have a gift for you,” I say with a trembling voice, then swallow hard.