He’s never done anything to earn it.
That is something I—and my brothers—need to work on.
“Thanks, man,” I say, holding out a hand. He reluctantly accepts. “I’ll figure this out.”
He shakes his head. “Not alone.”
I don’t answer him, mostly because I don’t want to break into this story with City standing right there. I know I am going to have to give her a version of the truth, at the very least, but I am not sure how much I am going to admit.
Moving to the car, I open Felicity’s door before rounding the back and sinking into the passenger side seat.
This whole night took a one-eighty, and I have a feeling it isn’t quite over.
23
felicity
All the wayto Jax’s apartment, which sits on the Three Rivers property, I have thoughts running through my head. The number one thought is, what the hell happened back there?
After Mitch watched me go into my house, I couldn’t sit around and wait for Jax to call or come and see me, so I immediately ran back out to my car and followed Mitch’s direction, staying a good distance behind him. Then I questioned my sanity for a solid twenty minutes as I followed behind him up a long, steep dirt road that clearly led to a cabin.
I’d had my heart jammed in my chest, not fully beating until I saw Jax poke his head out the door and his shoulders drop in what I hoped was relief. I didn’t know what they were discussing, but my brain wouldn’t rest until I knew Jax was okay. The way he angled his body toward mine when I got near enough told me he didn’t want to stay with Mitch.
Mitch is…different than he used to be. Mitch used to be one of my best friends in high school and helped me out a ton whenever I struggled with lyrics or melodies and would play his guitar and help me figure it out.
Now, he looks like he can’t stand the sight of me.
Finally, parking in front of the large barn where Jax’s apartment is, he turns to face me and tries to smile. But his busted lip makes that almost impossible.
“Thanks for driving me.” There’s a defeated way about his tone, and I feel my heart ache once more for the boy I left behind.
“No problem,” I say, turning off my engine and then exiting the car.
Jax gets out and frowns at me in confusion, but I just turn, bag slung over my shoulder, and march into the barn and up the stairs that clearly lead to his place.
“City,” he calls from behind me, limping up the stairs slowly, his breathing labored.
I wait for him to reach the small landing and then smirk when he just reaches past me and opens the door, no key needed. “You have terrible security.”
Jax scoffs, and I walk into his place. It is nice for a bachelor pad. There are some boxes stacked to the side and clothes over every surface. The bed is unmade, and there is a pizza box sitting on top of the trash can by the little kitchenette.
“I would have picked up if I knew you were coming over,” he grumbles, and I turn to see him leaning back against the closed door, his cheeks an adorable shade of pink, but his already bruising eyes distract me.
“I didn’t give you much choice,” I say, then move toward him, grabbing his hand, and pulling him toward the bed. “Come on. You look like you’re about to faint, and I don’t want to be put into that position again.”
He doesn’t object and follows me to the bed, letting me sit him down and take off his boots, his shirt, and his socks. He stands, gingerly taking off his pants, and I watch in horror as Isee the red marks and bruising forming around different body parts.
“Who were those guys, Jax?” I ask, my voice whisper soft as my eyes water.
Jax looks at me, anger on his face, but directed at the memory, not toward me. “Some assholes.”
His vague answer only makes me madder, and I say, “Jax. People don’t just beat other people up for no reason. They didn’t rob you or me, so what the hell?”
Jax sinks back down to the mattress and lies back. Then he looks at me as much as he can and opens his arm in invitation.
I should resist. I should wait until I have my answers. But the fear from the night, the uncertainty as I watched him unconscious on the sidewalk, the fear of him being driven away in his brother’s car hits me, and I move quickly.
I remove my shoes and slide into his bed, letting him pull the blanket over us, and, for the first time in years, snuggle into the side of the man who held my heart for over a decade.
