Lizzy snickers into her drink. “Oh, man. This is going to be so much fun watching him try to get in your pants again. I’ve never seen him act like this. He’s downbad.”
“Can we please just talk about something else?” I plead. Leaning toward desperate, my eyes land on Claire. “Like, what’s the deal with you and Drew?” Drew is the sexy, bearded owner of The Brew. “Every time I see you two together, you look pretty cozy with each other.”
Claire’s cheeks flush. “It’s nothing serious,” she says, suddenly very interested in stirring her drink. “We’ve been… hanging out for a few months, that’s all.”
“Just hanging out, huh?” Noia teases with a smirk.
“Yes. Just hanging out. We’re keeping things casual.”
“He’s hot,” Lizzy adds helpfully. “And that beard? Chef’s kiss if you ask me.”
“It’s whatever,” Claire insists as her blush deepens. “Anyway, has anyone told Sasha about the fundraiser festival yet?”
“Fundraiser festival? Sounds fun. When is it?”
“In a couple of weeks,” Lizzy explains. “The whole town gets involved. Games, rides, food trucks—the works. There’s even a gigantic bouncy house and batting cages.”
“Ryder and Jax started it a few years ago,” Noia adds, a note of pride in her voice. “They wanted to give back to organizations that help with addiction. And the festival is how they’re able to raise the money to do that.”
“Wow. Impressive.” Great, something else to add to the growing list of ‘Everything You Need To Know That’s Sexy About Jax’.
“Yeah, they raise a ton of money every year,” Claire nods. “Jax is really passionate about it.” She pauses, then adds, “He also volunteers at a horse farm that helps people with trauma and addiction.”
I blink in surprise.
“He doesn’t talk about it much, but he spends at least one weekend a month there.”
“Wow. I… I had no idea,” I say, feeling a strange tug in the middle of my chest.
“All I can tell you is he’s been through a lot,” she says softly.
There’s something in her tone that makes me pause. Clearly, there’s more to Jax than meets the eye. More than just the hot tattooed fuckboy who rocked my world a few months ago.
Then, out of the corner of my eye, I see the door to Skin & Ink open. I glance out the window just as Jax steps outside.
My breath catches in my throat. His hair is different. Shaved close on the sides, the top is styled into what I canonly describe as the sexiest floppy mohawk I’ve ever seen. The front piece curls over his forehead as the sun catches the dark strands, highlighting subtle reddish tones I’ve never noticed before.
He’s wearing jeans and a black tank top that shows off his biceps. Even from here, I can see the definition of muscle as he reaches into his back pocket for his phone.
Noia elbows me in my ribs.
Face burning, I tear my gaze away from the window and glare into my iced tea.
“Mmm hmm,” Noia hums knowingly. “Looks like someone’s distracted by a certain hottie who just showed up across the street.”
“Shut up,” I mutter-laugh, reciprocating by shoving an elbow into her side as I steal another quick glance out the window.
Jax is leaning against the brick wall now, scrolling through his phone, and I have to force myself to look away when our food arrives.
As we dig in, the conversation shifts to the upcoming festival and the possibility of me volunteering as well. Even as we talk, I can’t help but steal random glances across the street, feeling a twinge of disappointment a few minutes later when Jax goes back inside.
There’s something about him I just can’t shake. Knowing he volunteers with trauma and addiction survivors only adds another piece to the puzzle. It makes me want to know everything about his past and what drives the man who owns that dangerous smile and talented hands.
But I don’t do complicated or messy. Not anymore.
So why the hell can’t I stop thinking about him?
eight