The Art of Kissing by Jessica Sorensen
Raven
Doyou ever get that feeling when people walk into the room, and you know they’ve been talking about you? I have a lot, mainly since I’ve been bullied most of my life. Usually, they were saying mean shit about me and would go the extra mile of telling me every word that was said.
When Jax and Hunter enter the room again, I’m fairly convinced they were talking about me. Part of me wants to believe what they were saying wasn’t bad, but my insecurities creep up on me.
“Is everything okay?” I ask as they approach where I am sitting on the sofa.
Hunter nods as he stops in front of me while Jax lingers just a ways back from him.
“Absolutely.” Hunter extends his hand toward me and offers me a smile.
Jax, however, seems a bit twitchy. I wonder why.
I place my hand in Hunter’s. “So, Benton’s good with getting us alcohol?”
“Yep.” Hunter continues to smile as he lifts me to my feet.
I don’t know how he can do that—smile so much. But, I guess, if I had as pretty of a smile as his, I’d smile that much, too.
“We’re going to meet him at this place called Crossing,” Hunter explains once I’m standing up. He doesn’t let go of my hand right away, threading his fingers through mine instead.
Jax more than notes this, his gaze straying to our interlocked fingers, and the corners of his lips tug downward. I almost feel like I should pull my hand away, but that seems like a rude thing to do to Hunter.
Le sigh. I wish I wasn’t so clueless when it comes to guys.
To add to the confusion, when Jax notices me noticing him staring at mine and Hunter’s interlocked fingers, he forces a smile onto his face.
Um … what in the heck is going on?
I could ask, but there’s no way I’m going to, so I instead ask Hunter, “Crossing? Where’s that?”
“It’s this old bar located at the edge of town, near the railroad tracks where no one ever really goes,” Hunter explains as he tows me past Jax and toward the front door. “A lot of people go there to buy and sell drugs and alcohol because the cops never go there. Jax’s dad actually owns the land the bar’s on.” He collects a set of keys from an end table that’s near the door. Then he lets go of my hand, but only to put on his boots.
I grab my own boots then twist around to glance at Jax. “Just how much of this town do your fathers own?”
“A lot, which is part of the reason why they’re so dangerous,” he explains as he digs his phone out of his pocket.
“Well, that and the fact that they have most of the cops in their pockets.” Hunter finishes slipping on his boots then stands up. “Speaking of which, has anyone checked in on your uncle to see what he’s up to? And what about Raven’s house? Have we checked on the security footage?”
“I don’t think anyone has.” Jax swipes his finger across the screen. “But I will now. Hold on.” He taps the screen a few times then pauses. “Um …”
“What’s up?” I ask as I bend down to put my boots on. When he says nothing, I stand up straight, leaving the laces of my boots undone. “Dude, what’s going on?”
“Um … Well, unless your uncle dyed his hair bright red, I think your aunt may be having an affair,” Jax explains then shows me his phone screen.
A video is playing on it. On it, my aunt is making out with some guy in the hallway of the house.
A guy who’s not my uncle.
