Free Beautifully Shattered (The Beautifully Series Book 1) by Courtney Kristel

always tell when he’s
lying. This time, I can’t. If I wasn’t there, then I would
believe him. Have I always been oblivious when it comes to him? Has
he always been able to lie so effortlessly and I just now noticed?
What else is he hiding?
    I sit down on the
leather sofa and attempt to ignore Jax. I can feel him watching my
every move, making it impossible to ignore him. He shifts his feet as
if he’s trying to decide if he should leave or say something to me.
My money is on him leaving. That’s what he does best. Leave.
Whenever we get close to each other, Jax disappears. Always.
    Jax startles me when he
answers whatever question my brother just asked and sits next to me.
I’m the only one that notices when his finger grazes my pinky.
Sadly I notice everything that Jax does.
    Jax rearranges himself
in his seat so that he’s facing me. I focus on a black and white
picture across from us as if it’s the most interesting photograph
in the world. After a few more agonizing minutes of Jax silently
studying me, I finally give up.
    After glancing at my
brother and Connor to make sure they are still engrossed in
conversation, I focus on Jax. “Are you going to just stare at me or
do you actually have something to say?”
    Jax gives me a rare
smile. “Hi.”
    I huff out a breath.
Hi, really that’s all he has to say to me after three weeks of
silence. “I’m out of here,” I tell my brother as I stand.
    “Want to meet at my
gym later this week?” Logan asks as he engulfs me into a hug.
    “Sure.”
    “Where you off to in
such a rush?” Connor asks.
    I meet Jax’s green
eyes for a second before turning to Connor. “I have a coffee date,”
I lie.
    “With who?” Logan
asks.
    Crap, I didn’t think
this far ahead. This is why I’m horrible at lying. I toss out the
first name I think of. “Kohen . . . the doctor who lives in my
building.”
    At everyone’s stunned
expressions, I flee. I know they’re about to shoot a million
questions at me, questions I don’t have the answers to. Because I
can’t help myself, I look over my shoulder before closing the door.
Logan and Connor have returned to their conversation again. I have to
force myself to keep moving when I see Jax. He’s smiling. He never smiles. And he’s choosing now to do it. He was supposed to be
furious that I was going out with someone. Of
course he isn’t mad. He doesn’t care. I rush to the
elevators.
    As the doors start to
slide close, someone reaches a hand out to stop them from shutting
all the way. So much for my hasty exit. Hopefully it isn’t anyone I
recognize, but I know it’s highly unlikely since my brother owns
the company. I keep my head down and let my hair cascade down the
side of my face in an attempt from letting whoever it is recognize
me.
    Any attempts of being
left alone fail. That someone who stopped the elevator doors from
closing is Jax. Of course it is. It’s always him. I’m so lost, I
don’t want him to see me like this. Not again.
    He continues to press
the open button as he talks. “I got this for you, and before you
say you won’t accept it, understand that I’m not taking no for an
answer.” He hands me a present with a purple ribbon. “Oh, and
you’re welcome.”
    It shakes in my
trembling hands. I hate presents. I don’t celebrate my birthday
anymore. “I haven’t even opened it yet. How do you know I’m
going to even like it?”
    He shrugs. “I know
you.” Then he steps away.
    “You don’t —”
The words die on my lips as the doors slide shut.
    When I get home, I
stare down at the present, wondering if I can get away with throwing
it out. Not likely, Jax will ask about it. I sigh, hating that he’s
does this to me every year. He’s the only one that continues to get
me birthday presents. Of course he says they’re just gifts since he
doesn’t give them to me on my actual birthday, but we both know
what it really is, and why he never gives them to me on May 21.
    With shaky legs, I