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“Already been broken. Can’t get worse than that.”
Her lips deepen into a sympathetic smile. “That may be true, but I don’t want to see him break it some more.”
I release a long sigh. “He won’t. I know what not to expect. He told me I’m free to break things off at any time and find someone who wants what I do, and I’ll find that eventually.” I don’t know who I’m trying to convince, probably both of us. But the problem is, telling myself that whatever we have is nothing but casual, won’t change what I feel deep down. It’s like this ball of fire in the pit of my stomach that keeps growing and growing until it finally takes over. And when that happens, I don’t know what I’ll become. Maybe I’ll break and maybe I won’t, but I know I won’t be the one who ends things, not when I know that he needs me to see him through his nightmares, to bring him home. I don’t know how I’ll do that yet, but I’ll figure it out somehow.
“Well, I’ll be here either way. Even if it’s only to help you kick his ass.”
“I know.” I wipe the loose tear that managed to slip out. I don’t even know why it’s there. “Anyways,” I continue, “back to you! Did you guys finally choose the wedding date and location?”
She grins brightly. “Yeah, we agreed last night. It’ll be on February eighth in Hawaii with our family and close friends.”
“Damn girl, that sounds amazing. I can’t wait!”
“I just want to be his wife. I don’t care about the other stuff.” The look of genuine happiness in her eyes tugs me with a twinge of jealousy, but I quickly tuck it away, hiding it for no one to find. How could I feel anything but happy for her? My own failures are my own. Someday, I’ll find what they have, it’s just not my time yet.
My cell buzzes on the table with an incoming text from an unrecognizable number. I pick it up, typing in my pass code and scowl at the message. My belly tightens with a mix of anger and shock.Why the hell won’t he leave my life completely?He’s like a damn pest I can’t get rid of.
Anonymous: Hey, it’s Aiden. I’m sorry for texting. I know I’m probably the last person you want to hear from but seeing you the other day brought back so many memories, ones I’ve never forgotten. I still think about you and I selfishly hope that there’s a small part of you that still thinks about me.
How dare he? I haven’t thought about him for a while, not since Jax and I got close. When I did think about Aiden, all I ever thought about was how much pain he caused me and how much deceit he brought into our lives. I don’t love him anymore and I never will. He makes me sick.
“Are you okay?” Lilah asks, her brows wrinkling from above concerned eyes.
“Aiden just texted me.”
“What!” She chokes. “Why?” I hand her my phone so she could read it herself, then I fill her in on what else happened at the baseball game, and her mouth drops open. “Holy shit! Are you going to respond?”
“Nope. I have no reason to. He means nothing.”
* * *
JAX
I park my ass on the couch in Damian’s office, welcoming his sullen expression, along with Gabe’s. You know how they say looks can kill? Well they’re both chopping me to pieces right about now. They look so pissed, they’d probably bury each body part in a different location and leave my head for the birds.
“What the hell were you thinking, man?” Damian asks. “Lexi? Really? Of all women you could possibly find to fuck, you have to sleep with Lilah’s best friend?”
I stare at the ceiling, hoping like hell this riot act ends soon.
“I warned him, but you know our Jax never listens for shit,” Gabe adds.
“You guys need to chill.” I lean back against the black leather couch and cross my arms. “She and I decided this together. Lexi knows I’m not looking to get married or anything. She’s fine with it. She just wants to mess around like I do.”
Damian releases a heavy breath. “It doesn’t always work that way. There’s a reason this kind of bullshit never goes as planned.”
“You fuckers are worried for no reason. We’re having fun. That’s all.” I get up, needing to leave so I could breathe my own air before theirs suffocates me more than it already has.
“If this ends badly, you two better figure your shit out and make it work,” Damian warns, meaning every word.
“Don’t worry, D. We’re all good.”
He places his forearms on the wooden desk and fixes me with a dangerous stare. “When you say things like that, that’s when I worry.”
I wave him off and begin heading out of the office. “Wait, before you guys go, Lilah wanted me to give you each this.” I flip back around as Damian opens his desk drawer and retrieves two black boxes, placing them down for us to pick up.
“What is this?” I retrieve mine and begin to open it.
“You two fuckers want to be my best men? I didn’t want to be a dick and only pick Gabe, so I’m stuck with both of you.”
