Scared. After three years of dating. Yeah, that soundsabout right.
“And now your feelings have changed?”
“It was a wake-up call.” His gaze slides over me, a scrap of modesty in it. He reaches forward to caress my cheek, sliding his thumb over my skin. And for a second, I let him.
Because damn does it feel good to feel his touch again. “I want you back, Sienna. I’ll be better for you, I promise.”
And there it is again. More empty promises.
Promises that I told myself I’ll never fall for again.
“You’re a joke.” Anger wends through my chest again and I pry his hand off of me. “Do you take me for a fool? I know you’re still seeing Beth.”
A muscle leaps in his jaw. “She means nothing to me.”
I try to force my rage down but it won’t go easily. Not when Jax just admitted that he slept with my sister just forthe hell of it.
And the worst thing is, she doesn’t even know.
Oh Beth, what have you gotten yourself into?
“Then why are you still seeing her?” I demand.
“I don’t know.” He shrugs nonchalantly. “She was there when you weren’t. And she’s just . . . easier. Naïve.”
“Wow.” I whistle lowly.
The fact that he uttered those words about Beth that easily is revolting. I wonder what she would think if she heard him speak about her like that. The thought makes my stomach churn with disgust.
“I’ll end it with her,” he tells me, desperation edging his voice. “Just say the word.”
“You do whatever you want.” I wave him off, no longer wanting to continue this conversation. At this point, I’ve been gone way too long and I don’t want Kayden to be worried. “Just don’t do it on my account. I don’t care what happens to yours and Beth’s epic love affair.”
My reaction is not what he was expecting, because as I walk away from him for the third time, he’s hell bent on following me.
“We’re not done here,” he yells. I continue to ignore him, reaching the entrance of the enclosure. Jax raises his voice again. “Princess!”
“Don’t call me that!” I snarl at him, my last bit of patience shattering like glass under the highest frequency. “I am not your princess! You no longer have the privilege of calling me any of your stupid pet names!”
“Princess.” He ignores me, stepping to the side to hinder my path. His stubborn resolve would be endearing if he had tried to fight for this relationship before cheating on me.
“I’m gonna ask again: If you’re not here for me, then why are you here?”
“It’s really none of your business,” I merely say.
“That’s where you’re wrong. You are my business.
Whether you like it or not.” He edges closer. “Tell me. Why come here if you weren’t looking for me? You were never the one to indulge in the underground.”
I don’t know why, but I just laugh. A low, agonizing laugh that rips out of me as if I’ve been keeping it buried for a while now. His self-serving desire to want me to be with him despite still actively sleeping with my sister. Him thinking I’m here because I want him back.
This is Jax. The real him.
Conceited. Egotistical. Sets fire to everything he touches and just leaves it to writhe and burn. There isn’t any other way for him to function otherwise.
I can’t believe it took me this long to see it. I had allowed myself to get swept up in blind devotion all these years, hoping that he could be the man I’d always wanted him to be, that I didn’t stop for a moment to dig deep into the man he really is.
“You know—” I start, clicking my tongue. “I used to love you so much, Jax. I stood by you for three years like a stupid, loyal lapdog. And you did nothing but throw my love back in my face, you ungrateful asshole.” I hold his gaze, chin tilting high and shoulders squared. “You think you can sleep with my sister, fuck me up, and get away with it? Not a chance.” Taut silence hangs between us for a moment, before a slow, cruel grin spreads across my face. “I’m here because I’m going to make sure this year’s tournament is going to be a very memorable one for you.”