Page 42 of Don't Think

Ana and Nora stumble into the kitchen, knocking into each other while their laughs echo across the walls. James slinks in behind them, looking like a fed-up father watching two toddlers—which is pretty fair.

“What arrre you two d-doin’?” Nora slurs, tripping over her own feet. Ana thankfully catches her before she faceplants onto the floor.

I raise my wine glass quickly, sloshing it yet again. “We came to get wine, remember?”

“In the d-darrk?” she asks, her stance wavering. Just watching her makes me feel seasick.

My eyes shoot to Ana, and I raise an accusing brow.

“She and I had a race on who could take more shots,” she says with a nonchalant shrug.

My mouth drops. “That’s not even fair. We both know you have a stomach made of steel.”

“I know.” She giggles. “That’s the fun part.”

I shake my head. Nora’s definitely going to feel sorry in the morning. I learned my lesson about trying to race Ana withalcohol and ended up swearing off drinking for an entire year. I was seeing double while she was completely fine after five shots of tequila.

“We came up for blankets,” James says from behind them. “Before you two forget.”

Ana snickers. “Oh, yeah. See, that’s why we made you come with us. Well, that and the power’s out and we needed a guide. Although you’re not a very good one, since wedefinitelybroke something in the living room.”

My eyes widen, panic bubbling in my throat. “What did you—”

She raises her hand, immediately silencing me. “It didn’t sound like glass,” she defends.

When I look to Nora, her eyes are zeroed in on the wine bottles resting on the counter. Before I can say anything, she suddenly barrels toward us like a bull, but Ana thankfully links her arm with hers, forcing her to stop in her tracks.

“You’ve had enough there, ma’am.”

“Oh, one glass wonn’ do no harrrrm,” she slurs.

“You’re right.” Ana unlinks her arm, causing Nora to stagger. “Go get ’em tiger.”

I turn around and swipe the bottle of merlot from the counter while Jax grabs the Moscato. “Nuh uh, you’re cut off,” I say sternly, cradling the wine to my chest.

“You’re no fuun,” she mumbles, her eyes practically closing while she sways back and forth.

I glance at James, who looks like he’s also had plenty to drink since he’s constantly shifting from leg to leg. I can’t see his eyes, but I’m willing to bet they’re bloodshot.

“I’ll bring the blankets downstairs,” I announce. “Ana, take these two back downstairs, and don’tbreakanything else, please.”

Ana gives me a mock salute with a sly smirk. “You got it, boss.”

She links her arms with theirs and drags them out of the doorway. When it’s just Jax and me again, I look to him, and embarrassment fills me from… whatever that moment was before we were interrupted.

How stupid is it for me to think he’d even be interested in someone like me? I’m a singlemomfor crying out loud. Single moms don’t get happy endings with the dreamy rock stars. Every romance book I’ve ever read, they’ve never focused on single moms. Single dads? Sure. But single moms have always been shunned from having their happily ever after.

But there’s nothing against beingfriends, right?

Between fumbling for blankets in the dark, and me practically falling on Jax in the dark stairwell, it takes way too long just to drop a few things off downstairs. Nora begged me to stay and drink some more with them, but I really don’t feel like drinking anymore tonight. Someone needs to be sober just in case there’s an emergency with the storm, and honestly? I’m not in the mood to babysit drunk adults.

Jax also decided he didn’t feel like drinking anymore, which is understandable since when he tried, his past was thrown in his face. So instead of surrounding ourselves with alcohol, we decided to just stay upstairs and listen to the storm.

Turns out he’s a big storm lover too.

My body sinks into the cushion just as Jax plops down beside me, his knee lightly brushing against mine. We sit in silence, listening for the last rumbles of thunder, but it seems the storm has already mostly passed.

“When I got pulled away earlier, you were about to tell me what you decided to pursue for a career,” he says, breaking the quiet.