Page 14 of Echoes of Desire
My heart skips a beat, a mix of panic and relief flooding through me. I type out a quick response.
Me:You don’t have to—
Before I can finish, my phone buzzes again.
Jasper:Don’t argue. Stay put.
I stare at the screen, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. Part of me wants to tell them to leave me alone and that I can handle this on my own. But another part of me, the part that’s tired, frustrated, and feeling more alone than I’d like to admit, wants to let them take the reins.
With a shaky breath, I type out a single word.
Me:Okay.
My stomach growls, and I make a quick decision.
Me:But I’m walking across the street to the grocery store. I’ll meet you back at the bar in ten minutes.
I make my way across the street, my chest still tight with a mixture of frustration and relief. The frustration is easy to pin down. Getting fired from a job I’ve poured six years of my life into is enough to make anyone’s blood boil. The relief? That’s harder to explain. Maybe it’s the idea of Jaxon and Jasper showing up.
As ridiculous as it sounds, part of me feels like they’ll make everything better just by being there.
The grocery store is quiet, and the early hour keeps the crowds at bay. I grab a basket and head toward the frozen section, my mind spinning. Ice cream first, then orange juice. Priorities.
I’m staring at a wall of ice cream tubs, debating between mint chocolate chip and cookie dough, when I feel someone step up beside me. I glance at him out of the corner of my eye. He’s tall, broad-shouldered, with hair that’s slightly messy in a way that looks too deliberate to be accidental.
For a moment, I freeze, my breath catching in my throat. He looks familiar, I think.
“Need help deciding?” he asks, his voice low and smooth.
I blink, my brain scrambling to place him. The voice tugs at something in my memory, but it’s not quite clicking.
“I, uh...” I glance back at the ice cream, my fingers tightening around the basket handle. “I’m torn between two. Mint chocolate chip or cookie dough.”
I see his smirk in the glass door’s reflection, and there’s something about the way his lips curve that sets off an alarm in my head. “Cookie dough. Always a solid choice.”
I turn to face him fully, my heart racing. “Do I know you?” Sometimes, it’s just best to be blunt.
His smirk widens. “You tell me.”
The pieces start to fall into place, but it’s like trying to put together a puzzle with half the pieces missing. His voice, his stance, the way he tilts his head slightly when he looks at me, it’s new but familiar. Then, he removes a lighter from his pocket and flicks the flame to life.
“Jaxon,” I say hesitantly, though I’m not entirely sure.
His grin softens, and he steps a little closer. “Took you long enough, sweetheart.”
My cheeks heat, embarrassment creeping in as I realize what just happened. Of course, it’s one of them. How did I not figure that out right away?
“You’re testing me,” I accuse, narrowing my eyes at him.
Jaxon chuckles, the sound low and warm. “You can’t blame us for being curious. Besides, you passed... eventually.”
I huff, crossing my arms over my chest. “Barely. I didn’t even recognize you until you brought out that lighter. You were messing with it when I first saw you yesterday. Do you smoke?”
He shrugs, unbothered. “It’s not about how long it took. It’s about the fact that you got there. And no, I do not.”
“Did Jasper put you up to this?” I ask as I look around to see if I can spot him.
Jaxon leans casually against the freezer door, his grin widening. “Let’s just say we’re both invested in getting to know you better.”