If there was anything their sex did, it was make things weird between them.
Not immediately, no. The night it happened, there was no room for second thoughts.
But in the silence that came after, everything shifted.
Jaxon had gotten up wordlessly and gone back to his room, closing the door behind him like nothing had happened. And Sage had lain awake in her own bed, staring at the ceiling, her chest tight with something unnameable.
And when she saw him again—that evening—he didn't bring it up. He just gave her a stiff nod, muttered something that sounded like "hey," and went about his business.
She mirrored his distance. She'd microwave her food and leave. He'd do the same. When she was in the room, he looked at his phone. When he was there, she pretended to be immersed in her laptop.
Of course, Sage hoped—hoped like hell—that Jaxon would bring it up. That he'd pull her aside and say, "We should talk about it." That he'd admit he felt something too, that it hadn't just been physical. That it hadn't just been sex.
But as days turned into a week, and that conversation never came, reality settled in.
It was just sex.
That's what it meant to him.
And maybe she'd let herself go too deep, let her heart wander too far. Maybe she'd thought—hoped—it would mean something more.
She buried herself in schoolwork after that. Drowned in assignments and late-night study sessions just to avoid him. Most time she was with Mila.
"You've been weird lately," Mila said one afternoon as they walked to class"Is it Jaxon?"
Sage shook her head too quickly. "No. Why would it be?"
Mila narrowed her eyes. "You guys haven't killed each other in a week. That's suspicious."
Sage gave a dry laugh. "Maybe we're growing up."
Mila looked like she didn't believe her for a second but dropped the subject.
One afternoon.
Sage was walking across campus, when she saw Jaxon with another girl.
He stood by the science building his arm draped casually around the girl's shoulder like it was the most natural thing in the world. Like he did that often.
The girl was laughing, saying something into his ear, and Jaxon was grinning.
She froze, mid-step. Her lungs felt like they'd been punched. Everything around her—the chatter of students, the hum of music from her earphones—faded to a low static.
She felt like a fool.
It wasn't like she had any right to be jealous. They weren't dating. They weren't anything, technically.
She turned before he could spot her and walked the other way, quickening her pace. The wind stung her eyes, but she didn't dare wipe them.
Back in their apartment, she collapsed onto her bed and stared at the ceiling. She blinked up at it for what felt like hours, trying to piece together where she'd gone wrong.
Maybe it had started with her hoping. Maybe the moment she let herself feel something real was the moment she'd lost the game.
Jaxon came in later that night. She heard the front door shut, the rustle of his jacket, the familiar sound of him kicking off his shoes. The fridge door opened, then closed.
She stayed in her room, the walls suddenly too thin.
_____
It had been weeks now, and Sage was getting used to their weirdness. And strangely enough, she was even glad things had remained the way they were. Jaxon still kept his distance and avoided direct confrontation or any mention of what had happened, She was fine with that. Or at least that's what she told herself every day.
Of course, Mila had noticed. She wasn't blind, and she wasn't the type to stay quiet when something felt off. She had pressed Sage the moment she picked up on how the two were behaving. The awkward tension that surfaced when they were in the same room, the way Jaxon would go quiet his eyes flitting over Sage before quickly looking away.
Sage had tried to brush it off, but Mila wasn't having any of it.
"You're lying," she had said "Something happened between you two"
And eventually, Sage gave in. She told her the truth.
"What the hell, Sage? Are you serious?"
Sage nodded silently, biting her lip.
Mila had been furious—angry at Jaxon for doing what he did, angry at the way he acted afterwards and angry at how quiet Sage had been about all of it. She wanted to confront him and demand answers, to shout at him for hurting her friend. But Sage had begged her not to.
"Please don't," she had whispered, her voice barely audible. "It's... complicated."
Mila had reluctantly agreed, but her anger didn't die. Jaxon had come into the living room while they were watching a show, he had casually greeted Mila.
She didn't respond.
He paused a little confused. But Mila had just crossed her arms and looked away.
Jaxon had hesitated for a second longer before shrugging and walking to the kitchen.
Once he was out of earshot, Mila turned to Sage.
"You know what I think?" she said, her voice low.
Sage raised a brow. "What?"
"I think he's into you. And I think he's trying to pretend he's not."
Sage had shaken her head immediately. "No, he's not. He doesn't even talk to me unless he has to."
"Exactly" Mila replied with a smirk. "He's avoiding you. That says something. And when he does look at you, it's like—" She paused, searching for the right word. "Like he wants to say something but can't."
Sage had sighed, unconvinced. "Even if that were true—which I don't think it is—what am I supposed to do about it?"
Mila had leaned in with a mischievous grin. "Date someone."
Sage blinked. "What?"
"Date someone. Someone who's into you. I guarantee if he sees that, he'll react. If he really has feelings, that'll bring them out."
"That's a terrible idea."
Mila just smiled knowingly, her gaze shifting toward the kitchen. Jaxon was at the fridge, taking something out, his tall frame bent slightly as he scanned the shelves.
"Trust me," she whispered. "Let's test that ego of his."
Sage glanced nervously at Jaxon and then back at Mila.
Still unsure, she sighed. "Fine."
Mila's face lit up, "Really?"
"Just… don't make it a big deal."
"Deal!" Mila jumped up with joy and clapped her hands.
From the kitchen, Jaxon turned his head, eyebrow raised, watching them with confusion.
"What's with the celebration?" he asked.
Mila shot him an innocent smile. "Girl stuff."
Sage avoided his eyes her cheeks already warming.
He narrowed his gaze slightly, sensing something was off, but didn't say anything else. Just grabbed his drink and left, tossing them one last puzzled glance over his shoulder.
Once he was gone, Mila leaned in close.
"There's a party Friday night. We're going. You'll meet a guy there."
Sage groaned. "Seriously?"
"Yes. Seriously. You said you'd try."
"I said fine, not that I was throwing myself into anything."
Mila just gave her a look. "You're going. End of discussion."
Friday came faster than Sage expected.
She stood in front of the mirror in Mila's room, tugging at the hem of the fitted black dress Mila had forced her into. It wasn't too tight, but it clung to her hips in a way that made her self-conscious. Her hair was curled loosely around her face, and Mila had done her makeup—light, but enough to bring out her cheekbones and eyes.
"Damn," Mila said from behind her, arms crossed. "You look hot."
Sage rolled her eyes. "I look like I'm trying too hard."
"You're not. You look perfect. Exactly what we need."
"We?"
Mila ignored her and grabbed her purse. "Let's go."
The party was already in full swing when they arrived. Music blasted from massive speakers, and people filled the backyard and the living room of the house. Colored lights blinked across the lawn, and laughter rang out in waves.
Sage stuck close to Mila at first, letting her lead them through the crowd. They got drinks, danced a little, and Mila introduced her to a few people.
Then a guy approached them.
He was tall, lean, with a confident grin that didn't quite match the softness of his eyes. Mila had clearly planned this.
"This is Caleb," she said, gesturing between them. "Caleb, this is Sage."
Sage gave him a small smile. He was cute and seemed genuine.
"You want to dance?" he asked after a few minutes of chatting.
Sage hesitated, then nodded.
They moved to the makeshift dance area in the living room where the bass thumped through the floor. Caleb placed a hand gently on her waist, keeping a respectful distance, and they moved in sync to the beat.
It felt nice.
For a moment, she even let herself relax.
Until she looked up.
Jaxon was there.
She didn't know when he'd arrived, but suddenly he was across the room, talking to a couple of people near the wall. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes—those stormy gray eyes—were fixed on her.
She faltered for a moment her heart jumping, and Caleb looked down.
"You okay?"
"Yeah," she said quickly, forcing a smile. "Just a little dizzy."
"Want some air?"
She nodded, and he led her outside, his hand gentle at the small of her back.
The cool air hit her, and she leaned against the railing on the porch.
Caleb handed her a bottle of water. "You're tense."
She gave a nervous laugh. "I guess I'm not used to this kind of attention."
"Well," he said, moving beside her, "you should be. You're kind of hard to miss."
She smiled, flattered. "You're sweet."
He looked like he was about to say something else when the door creaked behind them.
Jaxon stepped out, the sound of his boots heavy on the wood.
"I didn't expect to see you here," he said casually his eyes locked on Sage.
Caleb glanced between them. "You two know each other?"
"Roomates," Jaxon answered before Sage could say anything.
Something about his tone made Caleb straighten slightly. "Cool."
Silence fell. Heavy and awkward.
Jaxon moved forward and leaned against the railing.
Sage's throat was dry.
"I didn't know this was your kind of scene," he said, still not looking at Caleb.
Sage lifted her chin. "I'm trying new things."
Caleb cleared his throat. "I was just about to take her for a walk down the street, actually."
"No need," Jaxon said, finally turning to face him. "She's had enough air."
Caleb blinked. "Excuse me?"
Jaxon's eyes narrowed. "I think you heard me."
Sage stepped in quickly her voice sharp. "Stop."
Jaxon didn't look at her. "He's not your type."
"You don't know what my type is."
"I know it's not guys who pretend with compliments."
Caleb bristled. "Alright, man, I think you need to back off."
Jaxon took a slow step forward. "And I think you need to go."
Sage stepped between them. "Enough! Both of you."
Jaxon stared at her then. Just stared. Something flickering in his eyes.
"You're making a scene," she said quietly.
He didn't respond.
Caleb looked at her. "I'll give you a minute."
He walked off, giving Jaxon one last glare before disappearing back inside.
Sage turned back to Jaxon. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"You shouldn't be with someone like that."
"You don't get to decide who I'm with."
He stepped closer. "You know why I'm like this."
She looked up at him her heart pounding. "Do I?"
He didn't answer he just looked at her like he wanted to say something he couldn't bring himself to.
So she turned and walked away.
And this time, he didn't stop her.