Chapter 11
“That’s literally impossible
Rosalia hurled those words at me and themed out like she’d been personally betray
I accepted a water bottle from my teacher with a quiet thanks and followed, my heart pounding despite my calm emerion.
Rosalia was just ahead, frantically calling Mom, her voice cracking.
“Mom, Liana is totally lying to everyone! She’s making up this whole thing about her score
I couldn’t catch Mem’s response. The July sun was blazing overhead, and as we passed through a patch of maple shade, I popped dead in my tracks when I sane who was lounging by the entrance.
Jax was leaning against the security booth, looking effortlessly cool while chatting with the security guard.
His black button down was surprisingly formal for him but in perfectly, highlighting those shoulders that seemed impossibly bread for a high school
Hearing the drama unfold, he turned and flashed that crooked half smile that always made my stomach drop
Rosalia spotted him too, and her sobbing cut off like someone had hit mute.
The next second, she sprinted toward him and crashed straight into his chest like some romantic movie heroine
“Jan” It’s so unfair.” she wailed, her voice muffled against his shirt.
Jax looked visibly uncomfortable. His arm stayed awkwardly at his sides instead of embracing her
His dark eyes locked onto mine over Rosalia’s head. “What’s going on?”
I shook my head, something butter rising in my throat. “No idea.”
What else could it possibly be about?
Rosalia had always been competitive, constantly putting me down to make herself shine brighter
Finding out I’d scored higher than her probably: disappointing sister forever.
like I’d violated some unspoken rule of our relationship–that I was supposed to be the
“Hey, stop crying.” Jax said, his tone gentler than I’d expected.
Hlocked away, a painful lump forming in my throat. Even in my moment of triumph, I was still just a spectator to their draina.
When Mom and Aunt Jessica arrived, I was sitting in the back seat of fax’s car, trying to make myself as small as possible.
Rosalia was in t
in the passenger seat, still producing Oscar–worthy subs
Jax had one hand on the steering wheel and glanced in the rearview mirror. “Rosie, your mom’s here.”
Mom rushed from her car, and even through the window, her panic was obvious. My chest tightened. Seventeen years, and I still hadn’t figured out how to matter that much to her
Would she ever look that worried if I were the one crying?
The realization hit me bard–I couldn’t remember the last time I’d cried in front of em I’d learned early that my bears didn’t get the same response.
The squeaky wheel gets the grease, alter
The moment Rosalia opened the door, the launched herself into Mom’s waiting arms like a guided messile
Mum surched beg hair while giving me a questioning look. “What happened?”
I repeated flatly. “No idea,” though the truth was screaming inside me,
Rosalia snapped, “Mom, can we just go? I can’t even look at Liana right now. She’s such a fake.”
I stayed quiet, swallowing the defense that wanted to burst out.
Mom gave me that familiar apologetic look–the one that always meant Rosalia’s needs trumped mine. “Liana, I need to take your sister bowe. Cond you maybe… find something to do for a while?”
I silently nodded, that familiar hollow feeling expanding in my chest.
As they walked away, 1 caught Jax watching me in the rearview mirror.
I pressed my lips together, reaching for the door handle. “I should go.”
“Go where?” he asked lazily, resting his chin on his hand. “Come up front.”
What. I
I’m supposed to jump just because he said so?
After a moment of stubborn silence, I reluctantly moved to the passenger seat, trying to ignore how my heart skipped when I caught his scent–something clean and expensive.
As Jax drove, his elbow rested casually on the steering wheel, eyes on the road.
I didn’t ask where we were going. A tiny, reckless part of me didn’t care.
“You play pool?”
After a stretch of silence, he suddenly spoke.
Thlinked, then shook my head, feeling oddly embarrassed.
It had been forever since I’d done anything remotely fun. For three years straight. I’d been studying, reviewing, and doing practice tests until my eyes burned
Even though it was brutal, every step that brought me closer to Jax’s academic level fell worth it. Like maybe someday he’d see me as an equal not just Balia’s shadow.
Want to learn?”
Jax asked, his voice casual like we hung out all the time,
“Yes,” I answered without hesitation, surprising myself with how much I meant it..
He paused, then added, “A couple of my friends will be there too. That cool?”
“That’s e,” I said, though inside I was suddenly terrified at the thought of meeting his friends.
