Austin, Texas is filled with American fans who are decked out in Bandini gear, cowboy hats, and boots straight out of a country western movie. They play honky-tonk music from the radio and fans tailgate in their pickup trucks. I soak it up, enjoying the Southern food and action of the race week.
Jax and I choose to eat dinner at a restaurant located close to the track. We decide on a table outside, enjoying the tourists walking past us.
I eye him curiously, taking in his rigid posture. “You can take off your sunglasses, you know. The sun is setting.”
“I’m trying to blend in.” He lowers his Ray-Bans before adjusting them again.
Shockingly, he’s right. No one has come up to him so far during our dinner, which I call a win. “Is that how you plan on living the rest of your life? Hiding in plain sight?”
He tilts his head at me. “No. If I had it my way, I’d live close to my parents while still remaining secluded. When I retire, I plan on buying a big property and making it so cool, I rarely have to leave.”
“Like what?”
“A bowling alley, a small movie theater, a pool with a water slide. Maybe even a lazy river.”
I clap my hands together. “Don’t forget about a mini-golf course.”
“And a mini-golf course.” He smiles.
“And a treehouse!”
Jax lets out a deep laugh. “Anything else?”
“You forgot about a fire pit with hanging string lights. You know, the circular ones they have in movies and on Pinterest?”
“This project is turning out to be rather costly if you have it your way.”
I roll my eyes. “Hey, you said you wanted a property that you’ll never want to leave. I’m helping make the dream come true. You should be thanking me.”
“I’ll have to leave eventually. But rarely is preferable.”
“Like for groceries?” I grin.
“Precisely. Fuck the paparazzi always bothering me. I wouldn’t want that for me or my—” His voice trails off.
I fill in the blank based on the way Jax’s hands clench in front of him. The weight of his slipup, along with the way he shuts down, shows how much his unspoken words rattled him. It’s been a month since we first got together, and he still struggles with the idea of a future. I try to not take offense, but my chest tightens at his apprehension. I’m not asking for forever, but a little faith would be nice.
I attempt to lighten the conversation again. “When do you plan on executing this grand plan of yours?”
“I’m not sure. I only got myself a girlfriend a month ago. She needs to give me time and whatnot, but who knows what will happen one day.”
Girlfriend.
Girlfriend?!
Internally I’m screaming at myself while I’m playing it cool as a freaking igloo on the outside.
“So, your girlfriend, huh? Who is she?” I lean across the small cafe table and poke his chest.
“Someone I think about all the fucking time.”
“Oh, tell me more.” I bat my lashes.
“She’s got a wicked mouth that’s good for multiple things.”
I snort. “Nothing like being multi-talented.”
“You’re telling me. Plus, no one can compare to this girl. She’s hands down the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.” Jax laughs, hitting me with the best version of himself—carefree and all sorts of handsome.
“Hmm. You better be careful because looks only go so far.”
“I wasn’t talking about her exterior.”
My heart melts as Jax’s intense words leave me speechless.
“Did I mention she also makes my morning tea the way I like it? Or that I love how she somehow moved into my bedroom without asking. And how she sucks like—”
“Okay! She gets the point!”
A few other restaurant patrons look at us, frowning before I wave them off.
“You forgot one important part.” I keep my face neutral, not wanting to smile.
“What?” He goes from smirking to scowling.
“You never asked this girl to be your girlfriend in the first place, Kingston. I can imagine it’s a foreign concept, seeing as you rarely ask for anything.” I sip my water as I stare off in the distance, pretending I’m not dying to hear what he says next.
“Weird. I thought us spending all this time together made that pretty clear.” Jax closes the distance between us, leaning across the table. The noise around us lessens. His lips linger close to mine, hovering near the place I crave him the most.
“There’s a difference between asking and assuming.”
Jax’s lips press against mine, and I let out a sigh. “Elena Gonzalez—” kiss “—will you do me the honor—” his tongue traces the seam of my lips, making me shiver despite the summer heat “—of being my girlfriend? Officially.” His teeth scrape my bottom lip before his tongue darts out apologetically, soothing the sore area.
“Yes,” I offer breathlessly.
He smacks one last peck before grinning down at me. “See? I knew you’d say yes. I don’t like asking stupid questions that I already know the answer to.”
And like that, Jax wins another part of my heart, with a few kisses and a smile.
