Bradford Brawler (Bradford Bastard 2)

“Ari, please. Come on …”

“No, you come on, Jax. I’m sick of waiting around, hoping that one day you’re going to see me for what I’m worth. Do you have any idea how much it’s killed me these past two weeks with you being incapable of even acknowledging what was said? I love you, Jax. Hear me. I. Am. In. Love. With. You.”

Jax stands, getting on her level before taking her waist, doing what he can to calm her, the hesitation in his eyes making everybody catch their breath. “Ari, you know it’s never been like that between us. We’re friends and we fuck. We have a good time together, but you have to understand that you caught me off guard. I never realized you felt that way, and I’m not about to start leading you on and making empty promises. I care too much about you to do that.”

“What are you saying?” she murmurs, heartbreak thick in her tone. “That it’s okay for me to spread my legs for you every second night and be your comfort, but that I’m not worth anything more to you?”

“Babe,” he says slowly, seeing just how south this is going. “That’s not what I’m saying at all. I just … I don’t want things to change between us. We’re so good together.”

“Exactly, Jax. That’s my point. We’re good together. You and me just work, but things have changed, and I have too much respect for myself. I want more. What we’re doing … this isn’t enough for me anymore.”

“But I …” he swallows hard, his hands falling from her waist and capturing her fingers in a soft, hesitant grasp. “I can’t give you more.”

Bri’s hand slips into mine as she sucks in a soft gasp, feeling Arizona’s pain as though it were her own and I pull her in, pressing my lips to her temple as we watch the shit storm brewing before us.

Arizona’s gaze drops, her heart in shattered pieces on the ground for the world to see. “Then I can’t do this anymore,” she whispers, pulling her hand free from his. “I won’t do it to myself.”

“Ari,” he murmurs, his eyes filled with concern as he tries to reach for her, but she’s already gone, turning on her heel with tears streaming down her face.

Chanel and Bri stand, ready to go after her, but Ilaria puts her hand up. “Don’t,” she tells them. “This time is different. She needs to be alone.”

Chanel lets out a sigh as Addison shoots a nasty glare at Jax. “Seriously? What the hell was that? Why did you say that to her?”

“What?” Jax argues. “Would you have preferred I lied to her?”

“No, but I’d have preferred if you were honest.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? I was honest. I don’t want to lead her on, especially if it’s not going to go where she’s hoping it will.”

Addison scoffs. “You really are an idiot, aren’t you?” she says, putting her drink down and getting to her feet. “Are you seriously that blind? You have feelings for her, real feelings, but you’re just too scared to act on them because it means you’ll have to quit fucking around. So rather than face that, you hurt her instead, and now all you’ve done is push her away. You’re going to lose a good thing before you’ve even had a chance to see just how good it could be.”

Jax scoffs. “Like you would know anything about being in a relationship.”

“Wow, deflecting back on me to avoid dealing with your own messed up emotions. Great move, Jax.”

“Back off, Adds. I’m not here getting at you about your relationship with Hudson,” he says. “Lay off.”

Addison rolls her eyes before passing Jax. “Whatever,” she mutters. “I need to pee.”

Addison heads toward the crowd, making her way back down the hill, and for a moment, I consider going after her, hating the thought of her being alone. Just the smallest things set her off and making her way through a crowd of drunk teenagers probably isn’t going to help. She’s not ready for this, but at the same time, having her brother insist on walking her to the bathroom isn’t going to help her mood right now.

My gaze flicks toward Hudson, seeing the same indecision on his face when Chanel shoots up again. “Wait up,” she calls after her, dashing past Jax. “I totally broke my seal.”

I relax back into my seat when Bri leans into me, her hand pressed against my chest. “Wanna go for a walk?” she murmurs, wanting to escape the bullshit.

Taking her hand, I nod, and she jumps up before pulling me with her. We head in the opposite direction of the track, out toward the thick trees covered in darkness. My arm settles over her shoulder, and she walks close to my side. “You good?” I question, Bri not typically being the type to want an escape like that.