Page 63 of A Little Jaded
He’s right—again. We don’t. Especially when Reeves set this party up as a trap for Drake.
“I’ll help you,” I offer.
“Me, too,” Raine adds. “What’s she wearing?”
“Green top, jean shorts, hair in a ponytail. Now spread out.”
“I’ll check upstairs,” Raine offers, taking the steps two at a time.
As she disappears around the corner, I continue my interrogation of Jax. “Does Mav know?”
He shakes his head.
“Why not?”
“I don’t want him to ask what happened.”
“And what happened, exactly?” I push.
The guy looks like he might puke as he shifts from one foot to the other, avoiding me like the fucking plague. “She, uh… Look, I doubt she wants me talking to anyone about this, so will you help me find her or not?”
“What’d she do, Jax?”
Looking awkward as fuck, he moves closer and drops his voice low. “She tried to kiss me, okay?”
“What?”
“Yeah.” He scrubs his hand over his face. “Obviously, I turned her down. She’s a fuckin’ kid. I don’t see her like that, but it…it crushed her, Ev.” Jax sighs and shakes his head as if it’ll erase the situation entirely. If only the bastard was so lucky. “You should’ve seen her face.” He pales. “She’ll never forgive me for this.”
I don’t know what I’m supposed to say. Squeaks has always worshipped the ground Jax walks on. I’m not sure he realizes it, but it’s pretty clear to everyone else. We all assumed it was nothing more than a childish crush, though. It’s not like it could ever go anywhere. And even now, it hasn’t. But what the hell was she thinking? Why would she do it? She had to have known Jax wouldn’t reciprocate. She’s in fuckin’ middle school. None of it matters now, though. It’s done, and Jax did the right thing even if it made Rory wish the ground would open up and swallow her whole. Yet here she is, reminding us all how childish she really is by running away. By scaring Jax and me and anyone else who might know about her disappearance.
Unsure what else to say, I offer, “You did the right thing, man.”
“I know I did,” he mumbles. “Still doesn’t erase the hurt in her eyes.”
I slap him on the shoulder, hoping it’ll pull him out of the memory, and promise, “We’ll find her.” Then I continue scanning the crowd, barely searching for ten seconds when Griffin appears with a handful of pretzels, looking confused. “Hey, what’s Rory doing here?”
Jax shoves me aside and stalks closer to Griffin. “Where is she?”
Grimacing, Griffin hooks his thumb over his shoulder. “She’s out back with Ophelia, crying. What happened to her?”
“Fuck,” Jax breathes out. “I should…” He turns to me. “What should I do?”
I have no clue, but it’s the last thing he needs to hear. Weighing his options, I suggest, “Go out there but keep your distance. Ophelia’s probably the best person she can talk to right now.”
He nods, disappearing down the crowded hall and heading out to the backyard.
Popping a pretzel stick into his mouth, Griffin watches him leave and asks me, “What was that about?”
“I’ll tell you later,” I deflect. “I need to find Raine and let her know we found Rory.”
“Speaking of the devil.” Griffin lifts his chin toward the staircase.
Raine’s long legs are the first thing I notice before my eyes trail up her thighs, hips, and stomach, then pause at the way her shirt stretches across her chest until I force myself to look her in the eye.
Shoulders lifting, she grimaces and mouths, “No luck.”
I crook my finger at her, silently ordering her to come closer. Once she reaches me, I bend forward and tell her, “Griffin spotted her. Jax and Ophelia are taking care of it.”