wider to let him in, then lock it again.
“I saw your bridesmaids ripping into Steve,” Jax says. “I can’t believe what just happened.”
I sigh and move to the counter where the champagne bottles are. The open ones are all empty. I pick up a full one and peel off the foil. Then I turn to Jax. “Can you open this?”
He takes the bottle, grabs a small towel and easily removes the cork with a pop. He looks for a glass, but I seize the bottle and take a swig.
He scratches the back of his neck. “You look beautiful. If that helps at all.”
“It doesn’t really, but thanks.”
“Yeah.” He sits in one of the chairs, resting his elbows on his knees. “How did you find out?”
“Someone sent me screen shots of the texts last night.”
“This Claire girl?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know who else would know or be able to do that. Unless someone got Steve’s phone. It doesn’t matter.”
“That was…gutsy.”
I nod slowly. “Probably stupid. I wanted everyone to know what an asswipe he is, but now everyone knows what a loser I am.” One corner of my mouth dips.
“What? Loser? You’re not a loser. He cheated on you.”
“Because I don’t give blow jobs as good as Claire.”
“Christ.” He rubs his face.
“Also, my boobs aren’t as big. In fairness, though, he may love making her come, but he wasn’t that good at it with me.”
Jax chokes.
I drink more champagne. Feeling a little woozy. That’s good though.
I sit again, my skirt spread all around me. “Did you know?” I ask quietly.
Jax’s mouth pinches up. “No,” he says shortly.
“I just don’t understand.”
“Me either. Hand over that bottle.”
I comply with a wry smile, watching as he lifts the bottle to his lips. His throat works as he takes several swallows.
“I need to get out of here.” I stand and look around the elegantly appointed dressing room.
Jax stands too, looking faintly alarmed. “Where are you going?”
“I don’t know. I can’t go home. My apartment’s empty.” My lip wobbles again. “I just moved in with Steve last weekend. And I can’t go there. I don’t want to see him again.”
“I think you’re going to have to see him at some point.”
“No.” I firm my lips and cross my arms. “Well, maybe. But not now.”
“Want me to go find your bridesmaids?”
“No. I just want to disappear.” Then I sigh. “I don’t even have a car here.”
“Uh…”
“Can you give me a ride?” I meet his eyes pleadingly.
“I don’t have a car either.”
“Shit.”
“We can get a taxi.”
“I guess.”
“But where? Your parents’ place?”
“I don’t want to face them either. Oh God.” I close my eyes briefly. “Can we go to your place?”
His eyes bug out. “What?”
“That’s perfect. Nobody will find me there.” I grab onto his arm, distantly noting the size and firmness of his biceps. “Please, Jax.”
3
Molly
Jax’s eyes shift around, but then he nods. “Okay. Sure. Let’s go.”
I want to escape so badly I don’t even take the time to change back into the clothes I arrived in. All my other things are already at the hotel where we were supposed to spend our wedding night. Shit.
Oh well.
Jax opens the door and peers out. We can hear faint voices but nobody’s in the corridor. He leads me out toward the elevators. I don’t know what’s going on, if guests have left, or stayed, and I don’t care, but I just don’t want to run into anyone.
But Jax takes me on a convoluted tour that ends up in the kitchen where my wedding dinner is being prepared. We meet stunned faces. “Is there a freight elevator?” he asks.
A woman points.
“Thanks.” Jax smiles and nods, takes my hand and rushes me through the kitchen.
In the empty elevator, I lean against the wall. “Wow. Great idea. Thanks.”
The elevator makes a rapid descent to the main floor.
“Hopefully we can find our way out from wherever we end up,” Jax says.
We emerge into a deserted loading area. We both scan the space and spot an exit door. We find ourselves in the loading dock area on Lower Wacker Drive.
It’s dark and desolate down here. “Great.” I look around at all the concrete. “Lovely.”
“We need to get a taxi,” Jax says. He leads the way to a narrow sidewalk.
Cars roar past us, the sound echoing in the enclosed space as we walk a dark incline leading up to street level.
Near the top of the incline, a man sits against the wall with a big bag beside him, no doubt containing all his worldly possessions. He