Page 58 of Louder Than Words

The anxiety in my gut twists, turning into full-blown nausea.

My eyes zero in on her hand, wishing I had laser vision to scorch the bloody thing. I pluck it off my lap, holding it like it’s a disease before dropping it back into her own.

“I’m all set,” I say, voice flat.

Her face falls, looking as if I just slapped her.

I slowly rise from the couch.

“And for the record?” I add over my shoulder. “Using that rumor to try and crawl into my pants isn’t just desperate—it’s pathetic.”

Then I walk away.

Straight out the door, and right back to Allie.

25

Jax

Two things that have surprised me about New York so far?

First off, the people are pretty fucking rude. I don’t know why that shocked me as much as it did, but it did. I guess when you’re ten, you don’t really notice mannerisms around you. That doesn’t kick in until you’re atleasttwelve.

Second, finding a quiet restaurant wasn’t as hard as I thought it’d be. Surprisingly easy, actually.

The guys wanted to celebrate what they’re calling a “successful interview” by taking everyone out to eat—Don included. But would I call it successful finding out there’s now an even bigger rumor floating around about me bending someone over in a bloody rose bush.

Well... is it technically a rumor if it’s true? I mean, I guess not. But nobody else needs to know that. Not a single person needs to know what I do in my personal time—except the people in mylife who actually matter. But I guess this is what I signed up for, isn’t it?

I glance over and catch Allie’s face lighting up as she watches James shove fifteen dinner rolls into his cheeks like some bloody hamster. I swear, I could sit here for hours just watching how that tiny dimple cuts into her cheek when she smiles. It doesn’t always appear. Only when she’s truly laughing and enjoying herself. And that’s what makes it so special.

Without thinking, I lean over, wrap my fingers around the leg of her chair, and drag her closer to me. The scraping echoes through the restaurant, and every head at the bar turns our way.

But this time I don’t care. She was too far away.

She leans in, presses a kiss to my cheek, and rests her hand on my thigh, then picks up her conversation right where she left off, like she didn’t just knock the air out of my lungs.

And just like that, I’m riding a high that’ll probably last the rest of the night.

I glance around the table, and catch Gareth actually smiling. He’s full-on, genuinely smiling at somethingNora’ssaying beside him as he toys with a peanut shell between his fingers.

Holy shit evenDonis smiling.

I blink, the shock settling in as I realize:everyone’shappy. At thesamebloody time.

Ana suddenly pushes her chair back and springs to her feet.

“Oh, I love this song! Come dance!” she says, grabbing James and Desmond by the hands and dragging them toward the floor.

They stumble over their feet, laughing, but stop short when Ana turns around.

“You coming, Allie?” she calls.

Allie shakes her head, her hand still resting on my thigh while her thumb brushes it gently. “Not right now,” she says. “Maybe in a little bit.”

Once they disappear into the small crowd, I lean in close, brushing her hair aside to whisper in her ear. “How come you didn’t want to dance?” I ask softly.

She chuckles and glances back at me over her shoulder. “I’m not drunk enough for that, yet.”