Scared of Beautiful (Scared #1)(24)
“Now, now, that’s not nice Maia. Besides, she won’t bother you. I’ll be here to keep her occupied,” he sneers, still ignoring Jackson. Oh my f-ucking word. What could I possibly have done to deserve this? “Only a few business subjects, to pass the time until I’m on the board of the company. Oh, and Art History and Comparative Literature. But sshh, don’t tell Morgan about those. I have ulterior motives in both of those classes,” he continues, winking.
Jackson’s body noticeably tenses next to me. Bryce has trouble reading Dr. Seuss, and his idea of art is the cover of Hustler. I’m not going to bite.
“Whatever,” I reply flippantly. “We have to go, Jackson and I have places to go, people to do. Oh I’m sorry. See, people to see. Bye Bryce.”
Bryce’s face flashes a mixture of surprise and annoyance. The old Maia would have run away to hide. The new Maia doesn’t really give a damn.
“So, that was badass. I like the way you handled that,” Jackson laughs as we get to the Mustang. “Just so you know, my resolve not to break his nose was wearing thin.”
“Hey!” I answer loudly. “That’s my ex-boyfriend you’re talking about.” Jackson’s face is a mixture of confusion and shock. “If anyone has first dibs on breaking his nose, it’s me!” I shove a thumb into my chest and grin before wrapping my arms around Jackson’s neck and stopping the conversation by otherwise occupying his lips.
“Wow, do you know how sexy you are when you’re mad?” Jackson says pulling back, as his hands glide lower on my waist.
“I can tell you think so,” I whisper, sliding my hands under the back of shirt and slowly pulling his hips towards me, until the space between us in impenetrable and I can feel the growing bulge in his jeans pressed against me. My thoughts are a mess; my brain is completely fuzzy. If we weren’t in the parking lot at the campus, there is not a thing that would keep me off of Jackson. And judging by his lust-filled gaze, I think he feels the same. “Let’s pick this up later,” I say very reluctantly.
We sit through some B grade slapstick comedy at the Cineplex, in an almost deserted cinema, where to our credit, Jackson and I abstain from any kind of sexual behavior. We have just managed to find seats at the packed Mexican grill nearby when I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. It’s a text from Jade. Finally!
Hey! Sorry about not texting. I had someone to see in Atlanta, so I had to get down there.. Will call you soon. Xx.
How bizarre. “Jade is in Atlanta,” I say to Jackson still not completely having absorbed the fact. “Something about having to see someone.”
Jackson immediately looks uncomfortable and yet, very intrigued by my news. “Did she say who?” he asks. Something tells me a bomb is about to drop nearby.
Chapter 12
Jackson
My insides knot as I process what Maia just said. Jade is in Atlanta, and there’s only one reason why she would go immediately back there. Shana. It has to be. Maia and I just got past yesterday’s bullshit, and now I have to add more to that today. She’s still looking at me curiously from across the booth.
“Let’s order?” she says flagging over a waiter in a ridiculously colorful shirt and oversized sombrero. We order nachos and enchiladas and I order two tequila shots. f-uck it. I need the edge off for this conversation.
“So, I think I should tell you why I think Jade is in Atlanta. It has to do with me and my ex, Shana,” I say. Maia’s body stiffens slightly but she manages to keep her face neutral, so I continue. “I think Shana came back home recently. Jade and I hadn’t seen her for over four years, since she took off. We hadn’t been able to find her for all that time. I finally hired someone who found her late last year.” Relief flooded Maia’s face. “When Shana left,” I continue breathing slowly, “it was after a clinic appointment. She was pregnant. She went in to have it taken care of. That was the last time I saw her, when I dropped her off. She refused to let me come in.” Maia doesn’t flinch, and there is no judgment in her eyes at all. “The thing is, Shana, didn’t go to the appointment like she said she would, she left. And I think she had the baby. I think I have a daughter, Maia. And I think Jade has gone to see them.” I exhale a huge sigh of relief. Whatever Maia says after this, I’ll deal with. No secrets or lies. I hate secrets and lies.
Dinner and the tequilas arrive, and Maia and I both slam back the drinks immediately. After that revelation, we both need to take the edge off. Before we eat, she looks up at me and says. “Let’s eat so I can process, and we’ll talk after, okay?” She offers me a reassuring smile.
I guess I should be f-ucking grateful that she didn’t bound out the door, before sombrero man even had a chance to deliver the meal. My leg shakes nervously under the table, and I realize that what terrifies me most is not that Maia will judge me, but that she will walk out the door. Maia does something to me that I can’t explain. Her presence is so overwhelming and intoxicating to me. I sound like a f-ucking stalker thinking like this about a girl I met not so long ago, but it’s the truth. Dinner is painfully quiet. We order two more tequilas, but we both push the food around our plates, neither of us having much of an appetite anymore.
“So…” Maia’s voice startles me. “For four years you had no idea where she was, or that you had a daughter.” I nod my head. “Wow, that must have been rough on you. I’m guessing you loved her very much.” Maia feigns nonchalance, but she averts her eyes when she says that.