Jaxon barely had time to grab Lena's hand before they were sprinting toward the fence, their soaked clothes clinging to them as they ran.
"Carter, you better move those legs faster!"
Lena huffed, trying not to laugh. "I swear, if we get arrested, I'm never speaking to you again!"
Jaxon just smirked, pulling himself up the fence before turning to pull her over.
The second they landed on the other side of the fence, both of them collapsed onto the grass, panting. Lena turned her head toward Jaxon, still breathless. "That... was insane."
Jaxon laughed, running a hand through his wet hair. "Admit it. You loved it."
Lena groaned, rolling onto her back. "I'm not admitting anything."
Jaxon propped himself up on one elbow, watching her with a smirk. "You had fun, Carter. Don't lie to yourself."
She let out an exasperated sigh but couldn't quite hide her smile. The thrill of their reckless escape still buzzed in her veins, leaving her feeling alive.
The night air was cool against her damp skin, but she barely noticed. Everything felt... different. Maybe it was the adrenaline, or maybe it was the way Jaxon was still looking at herâlike he had figured out something she hadn't yet.
After a few moments of comfortable silence, Jaxon flopped onto his back beside her, staring up at the stars. "You ever just stop and look up?"
Lena blinked at the sudden shift in conversation and turned her head toward him. "At the sky?"
He hummed in confirmation. "Yeah. People are always looking downâat their phones, at their feet, at whatever's right in front of them. But they forget to look up."
Lena glanced upward, the endless expanse of dark sky stretched above them, dotted with stars. "Guess I don't do it enough."
Jaxon's voice was softer now. "Me neither."
Something in his tone made her stomach flip. She turned her head slightly, only to realize how close he was. His damp hair was ruffled, his jaw relaxed in a way that made him look... almost vulnerable. Not the cocky, smug Jaxon she was used to, but someone else. Someone real.
She swallowed. "What are you thinking about?"
Jaxon hesitated, then exhaled a quiet laugh. "That we probably should've brought towels."
Lena snorted, shoving his shoulder. "Wow. Deep."
He grinned. "What can I say? I'm a complex guy."
Silence settled between them again, but it wasn't awkward. It wasn't forced. It was just... easy.
Jaxon stretched his arms behind his head, his fingers brushing the grass. "So, Carter. You know what this means, right?"
Lena raised a brow. "What what means?"
Jaxon's smirk returned. "You owe me ice cream."
Lena groaned, closing her eyes. "I was hoping you'd forget."
Jaxon sat up, offering her a hand. "Like I'd ever forget free food."
She rolled her eyes but let him pull her up. As they trudged back to his car, she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "Jaxon?"
"Yeah?"
She hesitated for a second, feeling the words on the tip of her tongue. She wanted to thank himâfor tonight, for making her forget about everything, for somehow knowing exactly what she needed when she didn't even know herself. But saying it out loud felt too big, too real. Instead, she shook her head. "Never mind."
He shot her a curious look but didn't push. Instead, he opened the passenger door for her with an exaggerated bow. "After you, trespassing partner."
Lena huffed a laugh, sliding into the seat. As Jaxon started the car and pulled onto the road, she stared out the window, the warmth of his hoodie still wrapped around her.
Maybeâjust maybeâJaxon Walker wasn't the worst thing to happen to her after all.