Page 55 of Break Me Not

I could do something nice for her. An olive branch.

At least then she wouldn’t think I’m mad at her for her… lack of restraint. Though mine hadn’t been any better.

Just one meal. I could go to the small store on the ground floor and buy some fresh fruit and vegetables. Maybe I was overstepping, but I wanted to make her something.

It means nothing. And it’s also a nice way to thank her for the window. Right?

“Yes. The window,” I told myself with a sigh and started typing on my computer.

I only stayed on task for three minutes before I was searching social media for a new recipe to cook that night.

“Welcome back! I wanted to make you… What’s wrong?”

I placed the tray on her dining room table and walked toward her with hurried steps as soon as I caught sight of the forlorn expression on her face.

I stopped in front of her, immediately wanting to touch her. To ease whatever it was as she looked down on me with the saddest eyes I’d ever seen.

“Liz, I… I don’t really want to talk about it.”

My stomach twisted with unease.

“No one’s hurt, right?”

Jax shook her head before slowly placing it in the crook between my neck and shoulder. She gave me ample time to pull away, but I couldn’t. Not when she looked like that.

Her hands came to my hips, but it felt less like she was pulling me to her and more like she was using me to steady herself. Like she was having a hard time standing on her own.

It would be a lie to say I didn’t want her. I thought I’d made the right choice by pushing her away. But now… All I wanted to do was pull her into my arms and comfort her.

Hug her.

She was a girl I barely knew. My daughter’s best friend. My mind was conflicted. I didn’t know what to do.

But my body did.

I stood on my tiptoes and wrapped my arms around her shoulders, feeling her warm breath tickling my neck as she let out a sigh that sounded a lot like relief. Contentment.

“Tell me one thing,” she whispered as she finally pulled me closer, the deep rasp of her voice making my body react in ways it shouldn’t.

It took me a bit to answer, “Go ahead.”

Her hands traveled up my sides and to my back, pulling us flush. I could feel her lips against the column of my neck as she spoke.

“Do you still want me?”

“Jax—”

“Just the truth. Just us. Please.”

I paused, not wanting to let the words out. Thinking it was one thing. Even the occasional self-control slip-up was manageable.

But if I were honest and told her I did want her… It might push us into a situation there might be no coming back from. But did I really care right now? Something had obviously happened to make her this upset.

She needs this. Would it really be that bad?

My mind shot back to what Claire said.

I’ll approve. I trust you and your reasons for wanting to be with them.