Page 14 of Close to Heaven

This was the first time since she’d been here that she wasn’t smiling, and he formed an instant disdain of her boyfriend.

“I was just about to leave when I heard you talking, and I didn’t want to interrupt.”

She sighed. “Sorry you had to hear that.”

He shook his head. “No worries.”

“Can I ask you a question?” she said, pinning him with her gaze.

Uh-oh. Why did he have a bad feeling about this? “Sure. Go ahead.”

“If you had a girlfriend who moved away to help out her ailing parent, would you be mad at her?”

This felt like a test, but he went with the first thing that came to mind. “I’d probably be sad because I’d miss her, but I’d try to be understanding too.”

She pointed at him and nodded. “Exactly! That’s the missing piece.”

He raised his brows in confusion.

“Trevor isn’t even trying to be understanding. He’s just angry.”

Jax was no relationship expert, and he felt way out of his element here. However, she seemed so upset that he hated to walk away.

“Anyway, this isn’t your problem. It’s mine, but thanks for listening.”

“Anytime,” he said.

Then, before he could think of anything else to offer, the door opened, and in sauntered Cody.

“There you are,” Cody said, looking past Jax to Avery. “I stopped at your cabin, but you weren’t home.”

Jax glared at him, but Cody kept talking. “Are you coming out with us tonight?”

“Oh. I kind of forgot about that,” she said, glancing at Jax.

It almost seemed like she was seeking his permission, but it wasn’t his to give. How she spent her free time was her choice, even if it was with his brother.

“Sorry, Cody, but I’m not feeling up to the bar tonight. I’ll take a raincheck, though.”

Someone honked a horn outside, and Cody said, “Yeah, sure. Have a good night.”

“You too,” she said.

Jax almost told his brother to be careful, but for fear of sounding like a father, he kept his mouth shut.

After Cody left, Avery said, “Are you going to the bar too?”

“Me? No. I’m going hiking instead.”

“Oh. Would you mind if I joined you?”

He couldn’t believe his ears. Was she really choosing hiking over going to the bar? I thought I was the only one who did that.

“Unless you’d rather be alone,” she quickly added.

Alone was his usual M.O., but tonight having company sounded just fine. “Smoky is coming too, but you’re welcome to join us.”

She smiled. “If you don’t think Smoky will mind, I’m in.”