When I was moving furniture, I found a twenty-dollar bill under the couch and put it on Jax’s nightstand before staring at his shirtless chest for three minutes. I decided three minutes was acceptable, while five would make me more like a sick stalker.
Austin pulled up a bit later and strolled in. “So, he’s passed out?”
“Yep. He’s been asleep for a while, so hopefully, he’ll wake up as good as new. Or as good as Jax gets, I guess.”
“I’ll stay here tonight in case he wakes and tries to load up any cattle. I can drive you back to Daisy’s real quick.”
“That’s okay; it’s just over the hill. I’ll be fine to walk.”
I walked back to my dad’s with my mind running over the events of the evening, and I knew it would be a long while before I would be calm enough to sleep. I sat on the big porch in an old wooden rocking chair, overlooking the land and barn I’d become familiar with in just one day. I never imagined how much could happen in a twenty-four-hour span.
CHAPTER10
JAX
Irolled over and felt like I’d been hit by a truck. It was still dark, and, son of a bitch, my head was throbbing. Did I drink last night? No, I was helping Austin with the fences. Wait, how had I gotten home? I threw my legs over the edge of the bed and couldn’t remember a damn thing beyond being in the pasture with Austin and Madison. Did I have amnesia? A stroke? WTF?
The Tylenol and coffee in the kitchen were screaming my name while I wondered what was wrong with my brain.
I made my way to the dark living room, running into and falling over the back of the couch, landing on top of Austin, who let out a yell. I hopped up as he turned on the lamp next to the couch.
“Shit, Austin! Why are you here?”
“Why are you naked?” He threw a blanket at me. I looked down, and sure enough, I was naked.
“Why did you move all my furniture?”
“Why do you have a black eye?”
“I have a black eye?” I went to the mirror on the wall, only to find it missing. “Where did my mirror go? What in the hell is going on?”
Austin pointed. “The mirror’s over the fireplace.”
“Why did you put it there?”
“I didn’t.”
“Why don’t I remember anything?” I walked to the mirror, examined my eye, and sure as shit, I had a shiner. “Damn, did I get in a fight? What is going on?”
Austin pointed, laughing. “You are hilarious!”
“Stop laughing! Tell me what the fuck is going on.” Anger was growing in my gut, and I wanted to strangle him. “Don’t make me kick your ass before I’ve had my coffee!”
He put his hands up. “Calm down. Everything’s fine.”
“Nothing is fine!”
He pointed to my blanket. “Please wrap that up. Really the last thing I need to see at five in the morning.”
I tightened the blanket around my waist.
“The candy in my glove box that you ate was actually edibles Paul left in my truck.”
“Crap, I think I ate three or four. Did I eat three or four of them?”
He laughed again. “Yeah, you ate three or four. But don’t worry. You weren’t too unhinged. Just talking stupid shit.”
My mind went to Madison. “So, I was okay? Madison didn’t see me crazy or anything, right?”
