Chapter 4
He was sporting a plain black tee. When we walked in, he turned, his eyes dark and intense like he’d stepped and of sonte moody indie fils
I couldn’t tell if he was checking me out
Rosalia had basically body blocked his view with her strategic positioning
Jax’s eyes crinkled as he flashed that signature troublemaker stelek that screamed “I’m hot and I know it
Aunt Jessica swatted his arm. “Say hi to Diane and the girls, Jax.”
After mumbling his hellos, Jax shot his mom a look. “Moos, Tm literally in college. Can you not parent in public?”
Aunt Jessica just shotted and moved on, booking arm with my mom. “Check out the menu, D. What looks good?”
While the moms chatted away, Rosalia pounced on the seat next to Jax, eyes practically Disney princess sparkling Text Do you still remember me? she chirped, vice hitting that flirty high note.
Jax lazily propped his chin up, eyes lit with amusement. “How could I forget? You’re Intle Rosie
Rose was her childhood nickname.
Obviously meant as a compliment–everyone in our Minnetonka neighborhood used it back then.
Rosalia grinned like she’d won the TikTak lottery, “OMG, way!”
She whipped out her iPhone. “Can I add you on Snapchat?”
Jas shrugged. “Yeah, whatever.”
He unlocked his phone, and from my position behind Rosalia, I had the perfect view of his screen
His League of Legends: Wild Rift stats page was open. I’d never played it, but mentally added “become gaming goddess” to my summer bucket list
After they exchanged indo, Rosalia was about to launch into something else when Jax suddenly looked up at “Lia, you gonna stand there all right?” Rosalia glanced back, clearly annoyed at the interruption “Yeah, Liana, just sit somewhere already.”
I nodded silently.
There were eight seats around the table.
Aunt Jessica wasn’t sitting with Jax–she was next to my mom Mom had Rosalia on her other side, and Rosalia was practically ghed to Jas
After a quick calculation, I dropped into the chair on fax’s other side.
He raised an eyebrow. The AC vent’s right above you. You’ll be a popsicle in ten minutes”
1 faked chill vibes. “Til deal”
Rosalia threw me some shade before turning back to Jax with her honey–sweet voice. “Sojax, tell me about UCLA sitas amazing everyone says?”
Her cheeks were doing that cote-blush thing as she effortlessly pulled his attention back.
He leaned back, shifting toward her. From my angle, I could only see his profile–that ridiculous jawline that belanged on a Marvel superhero
After dropping a few UCLA fact he suddenly rned to me. “Lia, can you hear me okay over there?”
I was legit stunned he even remembered existed, but before I could answer: Risalia jumped it doesn’t even matter. Lana’s grades won’t get her anywhere near UCLA
My poker Lace stayed intact–I’d beard this chorus before.
I just luled up and accidentally locked eyes with him
Chapter 4
Jax’s eyes weren’t huge, but damn, those lashes–longer than most giche with mascara, casting actual chadees on his ch
My whole right side went electrically mumb
Heart thumping like a broken bass speaker.
Jax casually reached across, sliding a bottle of peach Snapple toward me.
His tone was offhand but hit different: “Cream always rises to the top.”
I stared at the Snapple bottle like it was some alien artifact.
This was totally his fault–making me fall for him,
No exit strategy
No backup plan.
