Bound by Desire | Completed

the joke

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My heels clicked across the floor as I walked through the door of the venue where Ava and Matt were hosting a New Year's eve party.

I smoothed a hand across my dress, making sure the high split was showing only what it was supposed to. I was hesitant to wear it since it showed quite a bit of leg, but decided on it anyway, in love with the gown.

There were a thousand other places I'd rather be, but Ava begged me to come, saying that she would barely know anyone here and didn't want to be alone with strangers.

The distraction would be welcomed.

Jaxon and I hadn't spoken in two days, though he sent me a message telling me that he respected that I wanted my space and to call him when I was ready to talk.

Of course I realized that I was wrong in going through his things but I also felt he was wrong for bringing up our arrangement at the the drop of a hat just because he was angry.

I thought we had moved beyond that, that we were actual friends who spent time together because we enjoyed each other's company.

Not because he was paying me to fuck him.

It confused me how he could tell me what I did didn't make me less of a person, only to turn around and treat me as if it did.

Pushing those thoughts away, I scoured the room for Ava, spotting her tucked into Matt's side by the bar.

I was hoping to talk to him as little as possible tonight but it appeared that I'd be speaking with him sooner than expected.

Sighing, I crossed the room to them preparing to hide my dislike for Matt.

"It's really a gorgeous place." Ava said to the couple in front of them, "You have to see it."

"I've always wanted to visit Greece." The woman replied as she looked at her husband.

They went to Greece around the same time Jaxon and I took our trip, only theirs had been planned for months. We thought that was where he was going to propose, but he surprised her by doing it last month.

She still hadn't told him her secret but there was no surprise there.

"Hi Ava." I greeted while hugging her.

"Thank fucking God." She whispered in my ear, "I want to blow my head off."

Laughing I stepped back and smiled as she introduced me to the people she was talking to before I arrived.

Matt looked at me with disdain for the entire duration of the conversation and I wanted so badly to tell him to fuck off. The only thing that kept me from doing that was the fact that I didn't want to cause a scene.

As the night wore on, I found myself wishing that I'd brought Nasir along so that I'd have a consistent person to talk to. Ava was too busy playing hostess to stand in one spot for long, occasionally popping back up to talk shit about her guests before leaving again.

Someone touched my shoulder, and I turned to see it was Heidi from the other night.

"How are you Kyser?" She asked while taking a glass from the waiter who making was his rounds.

"I'm great. How are you?"

I hated seeing people who'd seen me in, 'compromising' positions in my everyday life. It's funny to think that I'm more comfortable naked than clothed.

"Perfect." She motioned to a man I hadn't even paid attention to, "I'd like you to meet my husband, Ryan."

I thought she was a lesbian.

Putting on a poker face, I put my hand is his, allowing him to shake it.

Once introductions were over, he excused himself to go mingle while I continued my conversation with Heidi.

"So who do you know here?" I asked, wondering who had invited her.

"My brother in-law is engaged and apparently he wants to parade her around like the trophy wife I'm sure she'll be, so he threw this and invited everyone he knew."

I know damn well.

"Matt's your brother in-law?"

She nodded, "Lucky me. Do you know him?"

"Not really. My friend is his fiancé."

Heidi's face changed as she realized she had just insulted my friend. I couldn't help but to laugh, "It's okay."

Ava and I had joked many times about her being a trophy wife. We knew she wouldn't have to do anything but look pretty and smile at the right times. Easy.

"I never could say the right things." She smiled, "I'm not used to it."

I nodded and took a sip from my glass, having run out of things to talk about.

"If you don't mind my asking, how did you meet Jaxon?"

Taking a moment to think of what story to tell her, I stuck with the truth, "He was my English professor."

That seemed to confuse her, "How old are you?"

"20." I replied, watching the expression on her face go from shocked to angry within seconds.

Putting on a fake smile, Heidi looked behind me at someone, "It was nice talking to you Kyser, I'll see you later." She said as she attempted to walk off.

"Wait." I lightly touched her wrist, "What did you mean by what you said at the house the other night?"

Now seemed a good a time as any to ask, especially since she had asked me a personal question.

A plethora of emotions went through her eyes before they settled on a blank stare, "It's a joke between Jaxon and I. You should ask him to explain it."

"I already have."

"And?"

"And nothing." I said getting irritated. If there was something to say, just say it and stop with the fucking games.

"Then the joke means nothing." She softly kissed my cheek, "Enjoy."

I watched her walk away, once again wondering what she knew that I didn't.

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