Invisible (A Night Fire Novel Book 5) by TM Watkins Page B

garage. When we reached the door he stopped.
    “ Close your eyes.”
    I obliged him and heard the door open with a dull creak and the fluorescent light blink as it came to life. With a gentle tug of my hand he led me into the garage.
    “ Okay, open.”
    The light was a little harsh at first, when I stopped blinking I saw a blue sports car in front of us. Holy crap he bought me a car. Not just any car. It's a god damn Lotus.
    “ You're crazy.” I whispered.
    “ That's probably true.”
    Before I knew it I had my arms wrapped around his neck, hugging him hard. Do I dare try and refuse it? It always starts playfully but ends up with Jaxon cracking it and ordering me to keep the gift. I pulled back from the hug slightly, looking into his eyes.
    “ Thanks.”
    His grip around my back loosened, with a pained smile he pulled away from me.
    “ Anytime Kaylee.”
    It was then that I noticed the gap between us. No longer hugging, no longer in each other's arms. It could have been the perfect moment, the most romantic time of my life and I got a smile that looked like he didn't want to be here. Just fucking perfect. He knows that I love him and this is what I get.
    Jaxon rummaged through his pocket and produced the key to the car, offering it to me. I smiled brightly at him as I took the key and pretended that my heart wasn't on the garage floor in a million pieces. We walked back into the house in silence and I assessed everything about my life in Vegas.
    He knows yet there is no change to the way that we are. Sure, it's great that it hasn't affected our friendship but it's also crap that he doesn't love me. I've wasted four years of my life for him and I now realize how stupid that is.
    I could hear the laughter and the chatter of the guests, something that I couldn't face. Not now. When I stopped Jaxon turned back and looked at me.
    “ Everything okay?”
    “ Yeah.” I smiled at him, barely able to restrain the hurt. “I just need to freshen up. I'll be in soon.”
    “ Okay.”
    Turing to the stairs, I wondered why he didn't ask about the powder room. It was closer, it was more convenient.
    “ Hey Kaylee.”
    I turned back to look at him, the same unsure face looked at me. His hands were in the pockets of his pants as he shifted uncomfortably on his feet.
    “ You look nice tonight.”
    Nice? Fuck nice. You look hot Kaylee. That's what you need to say to me.
    “ Thanks.” I whispered and turned back to the stairs.
    I changed into a pair of jeans, figuring that time wasn't on my side. I couldn't get out of the top quickly so I had to keep it on. Moving fast I packed my bag, the one that I had when I was the sixteen year old runaway and took all that mattered to me. My Hobbit book and my wallet, a few clothes and toiletries. I needed a holiday. A few weeks of sun in California and I could come back refreshed and a better, happier person.
    The garage door started to lift slowly, I started the car and wondered if anyone would hear it. Slowly it crept forward into the darkness of the night, along the driveway and through the gate. When I made it to the main road I kept the speed at the limit, trying to avoid being pulled over. It might be my birthday present but it didn't mean that the car was in my name. I didn't need to spend my birthday in jail while waiting for Jaxon to confirm it wasn't stolen.
    I had become lost a few times but somehow managed to find my way back to where I wanted to go. Considering that I didn't drive much I'd say that I had done well. Somehow I had managed to get onto the interstate. Don't ask me how, I couldn't tell you. My mind was distracted.
    Tears snaked their way down my cheeks as I stared at the road ahead. It was long and boring, nothing but darkness for miles. I wiped the tears that flooded freely. I was an idiot. For all these years I had watched him quietly, hoping that one day when I was old enough he would want me. But he didn't. He'd rather have the vacuous moron that was probably