They had been on the road for hours now they were headed to another one of his safe houses. She was still caught up over Abby but she didn't allow that to sour her mood. But she noticed that Jaxs wasn't behaving like himself.

"How long are you planning to behave like this?" she asked, just off chance he decided to grace her ears with his voice.

No reply.

Alright, then. Screw him. Lanoir didn't have time for this. What the hell was his problem.

They had just stopped at a gas station that had a small dinner connected to it. Getting out of the car she slammed the door shut and stormed inside.

Sliding into an empty booth she looked over the menu and order a bacon cheese burger with cheesy fries. She was pretty hungry and annoyed.

"Don't just disappeared like that Lanoir." he said while sliding in on the opposite side of the booth.

" Oh now you want to talk to me, what happen to the silent treatment in the car, huh?"

He didn't say anything and just stared at her. The waitress placed a steaming plate in front of them 

She got up from her seat and slid out, heading towards the back exit, needing to get away from him before she smashed his face with food.

She heard a guy at a passing table wolf whistle at her and ignored him. Just as she passed it though, the guy, in his late thirties by the looks of him, blocked her path.

"Where are you heading off to, sweetie?" he asked in a sickening sweet voice.

Creep.

"Get out of my way," Lanoir warned in her loud voice, her anger brimming inside her.

"Now, don't be like that," the man spoke and before she could reply, she saw him gulp and knew, just knew Jaxs was behind her.

She grit her teeth.

The guy nodded to a spot behind her. "He boyfriend of yours?"

Lanoir tightened her jaw, and looked the man up and down.

"Nope, he isn't," she spit out, leaving through the back exit.

The anger was bubbling inside her as she exited into the back alley, breathing in the cool, crisp night air, trying to calm herself down, knowing he would follow her out if she was correct.

She was. She heard the door open again and heard him come out behind her, his presence evident to every fiber in her body.

"I am not your boyfriend?"

Lanoir pivoted on her heels, glaring at him, giving him a taste of his own medicine, and did not utter a word.

She saw his eyes narrow on hers as he came forward, stepping right into her personal space, his eyes blazing, the shuttered look he had tended the entire day completely gone. He was jealous and it was clear as day.

"Tell me, Lanoir." he said his warm breath fanning agaist her face.

"Are you serious Jaxs? You're worried about that?" she rolled her eyes.

"Do you not want me to be your boyfriend? Do you not see me that way?" she could see the hurt in his eyes.

"I never said that I didn't see you like that."

"Why didn't you say yes, then?" he asked

"We never discussed being in a relationship, so..." she said now embarrassed that she didn't know exactly where their relationship stood or what type they even had.

He was silent she could see that she was serious.

"Will you be my girlfriend Lanoir?" he asked while cupping her face, His grey eyes staring into hers.

Bitting her lower lip she nodded. Lanoir was never good at relationships. In her entire life she had only had two and that was years ago.

Leaning in he kissed her, his hand travelling down to her waist and bringing her closer. Her body was flushed against his. Lanoir could kiss him all day if he allowed her to.

Seeing Jaxs eat a cheeseburger was an experience.

He would pick up the big assortment of bread and cheese and veggies in his  hands, completely ignore the ketchup he didn't want to drown out the natural flavors of the beef and cheese. opening his mouth to take a large bite. Then his eyes would close as the taste of cheese would explode on his tongue and he would make this noise that was a cross between a hum and a sigh, chewing quickly before gulping it down. And then the process would start all over again till he annihilated that first burger.

Lanoir had seen him eat a lot of times in their entire time together, yet she never ceased to be surprised by the pure delight he took in just consuming food. He was a man who appreciated the small enjoyments in life.

...

After they ate and refilled the gas to the car, they drove a hour more and finally made it to the house they would be staying in. It was much larger than the last one.  Getting inside they turned on the lights and assessed the home.

It was beautifully decorated but she doubted that he had decorated it himself.

"Did you decorate by yourself?" she asked

"No, the house came furnished, when i purchased it."

Chapter Sixteen