Chapter 6: Center of Attention

Jaxon’s POV

I knew something was off the second Hazel’s shoulders went rigid.

She’d been standing beside me and was pretty playing alone so well until Tiffany leaned in and whispered something that made her flinch. Her knuckles whitened on the strap of her bag, and that was all I needed to see.

“Excuse us,” I cut in, stepping forward so Tiffany had to rock back on her heels. I didn’t look away from Hazel, didn’t give Tiffany the satisfaction of my attention.

Tiffany’s lashes fluttered like she was about to protest, but I was already sliding an arm around Hazel’s waist steering her away.

Hazel stiffened even more. “What are you doing?” she hissed under her breath.

Yeah, I had her attention now.

“Playing my part,” I said, and maybe pushing my luck, just to see that spark in her eyes again

Her eyes snapped up at me, sparking with fury when I slid my hands down further.

“Seriously? Hands, Carter. People have eyes.”

I smirked. Damn, she was fire when she was pissed.

“Don’t get too comfortable, Carter.” she warned me off again

“Oh, I’m very comfortable,” I said, leaning just enough so my breath brushed her ear, and her hair brushed my jaw. “But if you want to make "us" believable, you’re gonna have to touch me back."

She glared sideways at me, and for a second I thought she’d rather stab me with the nearest fork. Then, she sighed reluctantly and held just a small portion of my back.

“Fine... But if your hand slips again, I’m breaking it.”

Her touch was nothing, just the barest touch but my pulse kicked anyway.

We wound our way through the crowd toward the sliding glass doors that led out to the pool area. The air outside was cooler, carrying the chlorine tang and the faint echo of music from the speakers inside.

The second we stepped out, a chorus of voices hit us.

“Carter! Finally, you brought her out!”

“Damn, is that Hazel the nerd!”

Hazel’s throat bobbed like she was swallowing words she refused to say and I felt her try to take a half-step back, but my hand stayed firm at her waist.

“Relax!” I murmured. “They’re harmless". Which was true even though I knew she didn't believe my words.

“That’s easy for you to say,” she replied without moving her lips. I followed her gaze back to the exit, she was really planning on bailing out on me but ain't no way I am letting that happen.

My teammates swarmed us, Johnson clapped me on the back, O’Malley grinned like an idiot, and someone shoved a beer in my free hand. They all had questions: how long we’d been together and why

"Okay, okay, easy on us. This isn’t an interview," I cut them off with a grin. "We started dating two weeks ago. That’s it."

Then I added, casual but firm: “And she’s shy. So don’t bug my girl.”

Her elbow found my ribs. Not hard enough to hurt, but enough to tell me she didn’t like something I had said.

Good. I liked that fight in her.

Once the guys wandered off to argue over the next round of poolside shots, I led her toward one of the lounge chairs. She didn’t question me until we were halfway there.

“You do know there are empty ones farther away,” she said, eyeing the open space near the far corner.

“Yeah,” I said easily, “but the view is better here plus, you are not about to become a wallflower as usual. Tonight, you and I are the centre of attention”

She followed my gaze straight to the lounger where Trey and Tiffany were sitting.

Trey’s head was already turned toward us as we stepped closer. His jaw locked, his lips pressing into a thin line as his gaze swept from Hazel’s flushed face to where my hand clamped her waist. When his eyes landed on me, his gaze was sharp enough to cut me into pieces.

Perfect.

I should’ve let go, but I didn’t. Her skin was warm under my palm, then she shifted, slightly like she was trying to put some space between us, but the move only dragged her hip closer into mine because my grip flexed before I could stop it. For a moment, all I registered was the heat of her body pressed against me and the strawberry scent of her shampoo hitting my nose. I cursed myself for noticing.

I dropped down onto the lounger and stretched an arm along the backrest, just enough so it hovered behind her shoulders and she sat, stiff as a board with her hands neatly folded in her lap.

Across from us, Tiffany leaned towards Trey, whispering something into his ears. Trey didn’t react, his eyes were still locked on me like he was daring me to blink first.

I didn’t.

"Lean in with a sweet smile" I teased low enough only Hazel could hear.

Then she gave me a fake sweet grin, and whispered, “Are you trying to start a fight?”

“Me?” I said innocently. “Just sitting with my girlfriend. Is that a crime?”

She snorted softly. “You’re impossible.”

“True but I’m also convincing.”

Her head turned slightly toward me, like she was about to argue, but Trey’s voice cut through the music sharp enough to draw a few heads.

“Didn’t know you liked hockey guys, Hazel.”

Hazel’s stiffened and her fist gradually knotted into a ball as she pulled away from me. I thought she’d crumble under the weight of his question and run away, but she chinned up with her gaze even sharper than Trey's.

“Didn’t know you cared, Trey.”

The crowd chuckled but Trey didn’t. His jaw ticked, his grip on Tiffany’s thigh tightening until her fake smile cracked.

Ouch. I bit back a grin.

Tiffany, desperate again to steal the moment, slid her hand over Trey’s arm and leaned in with a syrupy laugh that was too loud and sharp, turning Trey's head towards her, but even then, Trey didn’t look at her, his eyes were still focused on us.

I let my arm drop down, brushing Hazel’s waist and she didn’t flinch this time or lean away.

Small victories.

The music pounded in the background, people splashed in the pool, someone was yelling about winning a round of beer pong but the silence between our lounge chairs was very heavy.

I didn’t need to look at Trey to know he was still watching, I could feel it.

Hazel must have felt it too, because she shifted and leaned closer, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Her voice was low when she said, “You’re enjoying this way too much.”

“Maybe,” I said. “Or maybe I’m just good at reminding people what they missed out on.”

Her head turned sharply. “Excuse me?”

I grinned, slow and unapologetic. “Talking about me,  sweetheart.”

The glare she gave me was supposed kill my joy  but it made me want to push her further.

And judging by the way Trey was still drilling holes into the side of my head, I’d say this was a win for us.