The hostess seats us at a secluded table where a bottle of cooled white wine waits for us.
“What do you think?” Jax says, pouring wine into our glasses.
“You could have taken me to Olive Garden, you know. I love the breadsticks.”
“I’ll keep it in mind next time,” he says. “Models are not big on breadsticks.”
“Your job sucks,” I tease.
“Totally,” he says and then raises his glass. “To a happy evening.”
“Amen,” I say, taking a sip of the wine. “Mmm, that’s good.”
“I thought you’d like it.”
“Really? And why is that?”
“You like understated things.”
“I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or an insult.”
“It’s a statement,” he says. “I could be wrong.”
“You’re not understated.”
“Well then, I hope I’m wrong about what you like.”
“You know what I think, Jax?” I say, drinking more delicious wine. “I think a day will come when your wings get clipped and that will be good for you.”
“How about the day I asked you out and you refused?”
“And yet here we are, out together. Jax always wins.”
“I understand what you’re saying, but my life is not all that.”
“I don’t mean to be judgmental,” I explain. “I just hope you know nobody can stay on top forever. Life has its own gravity.”
He smiles. “And you’re worried about me,” he says. “Is that what you do? Worry about everyone and forget yourself completely? That way you never have to risk anything. Smart.”
A little hostility stirs in my belly. I stare at him for a while, saying nothing. I replay what we just said to each other. We’ve both managed to condescend and insult each other, but I decide I like that about us.
“Jaxson Cole,” I say and then just smile for him. “I didn’t tell you, I kind of enjoy saying your whole name too.”
“Is that right, Ella Wade?”
I don’t answer. I live in this electric moment between us. The future and past seem so unnecessary. To linger in his eyes in the here and now. This is all I want, this tender magic.
“Shall we order?” Jax finally says. I watch him whisper the words off his lips like so many escaped kisses.
I’m a total hot mess. I need to get my feelings back under control. “Is Brad a model like you?”
His eyes resume a more playful state. “You can say that. He does a lot of nudes. I mean, dude loves it. He’s the drummer in a rock band or two. He has no use for fame or money or things like that. Brad is the one living on a high. Adrenaline is his game. That guy doesn’t know what a loss would look like.”
Okay, I have not the slightest clue how to react to this information. I don’t even know why I asked in the first place.
“Madison’s father is in town,” I say, changing subject. “He will…”
Jax takes my hand, interrupting me. “Ella, let’s make tonight about us. It’s not about Brad or Madison or anyone else on this planet. Ask me anything you want about me.”
Us. He said us. I tuck the shock in the back of my head, gulping down some more wine. Where’s the waiter anyway? “Where are you from?”
“Arcadia, Nebraska,” he says proudly. “Population 406 last time I checked. Although everyone’s old there. So that number is always precarious.”
The most delicious guy in the world, the utterly sophisticated Jaxson Cole was born in a tiny Nebraska dirt town?
“Why the teasing face?” Jax says.
“It sounds, you know, quaint.”
“You mean boring,” he says as his eyes sparkle in the candlelight. “Why do you think I left? Actually, everyone leaves for a time. Some come back.”
Jax leans over to rub his thumb lightly on my cheek. “What do you like, Ella Wade?”
“That’s rather vague,” I say, fighting the swelling inside my chest and the tingling on my skin. My whole body is warming to him.
“Just say whatever comes to mind.” His smile is encouraging and infuriating at the same time.
“I like strawberries and the rain at the beach and books that make me disappear into other worlds.”
Jax shakes his head. “No, what do you really like?”
What on Earth does that mean? “Let’s see,” I say, trying to humor him. “I like people who are honest but lie to spare others’ feelings. I like generosity. I like determination. Better?”
“Worse. Do you even know anything real about yourself? Are there any interesting things you like to do? Anything you’d like to explore?”