Chapter 30
JAX
THREE AND HALF WEEKS LATER
Currently playing: I Believe in a Thing Called Love by The Darkness
“Darling, get that beautiful ass of yours here.”
Christmas is in two days, and I have a bare tree in the corner of my living room.
Soph has been looking for inspiration online for days, and I'm ready to get it over with.
Decorating one medium-sized tree shouldn't be this difficult.
But knowing her, she won't do this half-assed. There are Pinterest boards, saved social media posts, and Haisley’s opinions that matter.
“Just a moment.” Her voice carries from the bedroom. Not knowing how long it'll take her to finish scrolling down whatever app she’s currently occupying herself with, I take my phone out of my jeans pocket to entertain myself.
Ten minutes and two history videos later, Soph finally comes to the living room. Her eyes are puffy, like she’s been crying. I get up instantly, wrapping my arms around her. “What's wrong?”
“It's nothing.”
I know her nothing means it's something silly that she feels ashamed to share. “C’mon, it can't be that bad.”
She swipes the sleeve of her ugly green Christmas sweater—the one with Mr. Grinch—under her eyes before sitting on a bar stool next to the kitchen island. “So, I came across this super sweet Christmas tradition...”
“And?”
“Okay, so, with each ornament you add to the tree, you say something you like or love about the person with you.”
“Did you get emotional thinking that over?”
She nods but doesn't say anything. I know she has been trying to think of a new Christmas tradition just for us two, and it sounds like this one is the winner. “Okay, darling, let's get started then.”
Soph lifts her questioning eyes to mine. “You like it?”
“Yeah, it sounds like something we could do.”
“You don’t think it’s too cheesy?”
“Nothing is too cheesy with you…well, except what I just said.”
Her eyes shine with humor as she takes the first item from the box of decorations next to me.
The turquoise Statue of Liberty Christmas ornament Ollie got me for our first Christmas in the city is my favorite.
“Okay, let me think...I love your creativity and how you bring beautiful, colorful art into this sometimes dark world.”
Damn it. She has me hooked with one sentence. I take the next trinket, a musical note made out of glass she bought earlier this month. “Darling, I love your spontaneous nature. Even when it means rash decisions that you’ll regret later.”
Soph chuckles. “Like when I stole Isla?”
It’s something we can now joke about. For weeks, we avoided the topic, but I’m over it now.
Isla got her final replacement parts last week and is ready for a ride once the weather is a bit nicer.
I would probably go for a ride right now if I didn’t want Soph to share the first ride with me.
She complains that it’s too cold. I disagree.
“Yeah, just like the night you stole the second most important woman in my life.”
The warmth fills her eyes as she realizes what I just said, and she kisses me, holding a silvery glitter Christmas ball. “I love your sense of humor.”
Watching her place the ball on the tree, I take one of the ornaments shaped like a heart. “Related to my previous point, I love how I never know what the day will bring with you.”
She frowns. “That doesn't sound too positive.”
“Trust me; my life would be boring without you in it.”
“Back at you, my favorite Jackass.” She picks up the motorbike ornament next. “I love your loyalty and honesty. Both towards me as your partner and everyone else you know.”
I need to kiss this woman. Her words dig deep into my soul and make me feel warm inside. “Come here, darling. We can do the rest later.”
Taking her in my arms, I show her how much I love her with every tongue stroke. Soph pushes me away lightly. “Trust me; I would love to continue here, but we still have to bake gingerbread cookies and prepare the Rocky Road we promised to bring for tonight’s get-together.”
“I’m sure Ollie is okay with us being late.”
“He would be, but I’m not so sure about Nelly or Rose.”
I groan half-jokingly. “True.”
“So, let’s start with Rocky Road chocolate bars first. You can help with choosing what to add to the mix. My vote goes for mini marshmallows, biscuits, and nuts. But you get to choose the final ingredients.”
“If I was given the option, I would cover your lips with that chocolate and lick every last drop before going lower.”
“Keep that in mind for tomorrow.” Soph winks, and we get busy baking.
“Happy Christmas Eve Eve,” Ollie says as he opens the door to his place for our pre-Christmas drinks. “That definitely sounded better in Friends.”
“Ollie, it’s so good to see you. How are you holding up?” Soph asks, hugging Ollie without letting go of him right away.
Ollie broke up with his long-term girlfriend earlier this month when Alessandra got a job offer in Paris, and they agreed that a long-distance relationship wasn’t for them.
He’s still heartbroken over it, but he told Eli and me that he couldn’t pack up and move to another country right now.
Not when his sister is expected to have her baby early next year.
Ollie wanted to stay close to his family, even though it meant he had to let go of the one person he thought he would spend the rest of his life with.
Soph is spending the holidays with her family, while my cousins are coming in tomorrow to spend it with me, Ollie, and his younger brother Chase.
Everything we have planned should help to keep Ollie busy.
Tonight, we’re spending the night celebrating with Soph, Eli, Rose, and the King Tattoo crew.
Haisley is out of town on a family holiday, so she couldn’t make it tonight.
“I’m okay. Many say that the holidays aren’t great for the heartbroken, but it has helped to have something else to think about,” he tells us.
We walk into the living room to see that we are the last to arrive. What catches my attention is Nelly and Dom looking rather cozy next to each other.
Dom notices me glancing their way, smiling sheepishly. “After watching you two this fall, I realized that I should make things less complicated and be honest about my feelings…so I finally told Nelly how I felt earlier today.”
Soph shrieks and jumps up and down. “About time!”
“It doesn’t surprise any of us that the feeling is mutual,” Spade comments and takes a sip of his bourbon-spiked hot apple cider that he brings to every holiday gathering.
Dom’s cheeks redden at his friends’ comments, and Nelly beams his way dreamily. “He asked me out as more than a friend, and I said yes faster than ever. We had our first date this afternoon skating at Rockefeller. It was like a scene from all the Christmas movies set in the city.”
“I love that. It sounds perfect and so romantic.” Rose sighs and gets up to refill her mug with what looks like eggnog. I might have it later, too.
Nelly giggles. “You should have seen Dom on skates. He almost needed one of those skating aids that mostly kids use.”
“Please tell us there’s material for blackmailing,” Rogue jokes before looking around. “By the way, you all lost the bet. I told you they would get together before the year ends. Pay up, bitches.”
“You had a bet going on about Nelly and me?” Dom acts shocked when, in reality, he must have been expecting something similar.
“Of course, we all knew it was going to happen, but it was just a matter of when and how,” I explain. “Rogue was the only one who said this year. We were sure next year would be the winner.”
Spade nods at my assessment. “Yeah, we had no idea you would grow some balls and finally ask her out before then.”
Dom flips us the bird, and we all laugh at him. After a few minutes, I leave my work crew to their conversation about holiday traditions. That’s when I spot Rose talking to a woman I haven’t met before, but recognize from Eli’s family photos. Walking towards her and Rose, I pull Soph with me.
“I think we haven’t met yet. I’m Jax, and this right here is my girlfriend, Soph. It’s nice to meet you officially.” I offer my hand and smile at the newcomer.
“Peyton. I’m so glad to finally meet you both. Eli and Rose have told me many stories about you and how you met. It’s like I’ve known you for years.”
Soph looks at Peyton. “And you know them how?”
“Oh, sorry, I totally assumed you knew who I am—silly me! My older brother Dex is married to Eli’s sister Claire, so we are family through marriage. My niece, Rosalie, is also Eli’s niece if that helps.”
“That makes sense. Do you live here in the city, or are you visiting for the holidays?”
“I’m here for the next few days since my husband is on a business trip. He’ll be waiting for me at home in California for New Year’s.”
I tense at the mention of Peyton’s husband. Eli has mentioned more than once how the guy is a douchebag and doesn’t deserve her.
“If you want a city guide while you’re here, hit me up. I’m originally from Brooklyn and love to show visitors my favorite secret spots around the city,” Soph offers.
“I would love that, thank you! I bet my parents will drive me crazy before our visit is over, so any time away from them is appreciated.”
Letting them make plans, I turn to the bar cart and check the bottles. Eli comes to the room and joins me, filling his glass from a bottle of scotch.
The women keep talking about Peyton’s plans for her stay as I motion Eli closer and whisper, “Should we talk with Ollie or let him be for tonight?”
“Let him be. If he feels like talking, he’ll come to us. You know how he is.”
“Yeah, true. I still can’t believe they broke up.”
Eli shakes his head. “It seems unreal since they were together for such a long time. But that’s life. Anything can happen.”
“Ain’t that the truth.”
“How about you? How's everything with Soph?”
I smile at his question. “Better now that we cleared the air and Soph understood that I helped her because I love her, not because I wanted to be the one in control.”
“That's fair. It’s important to feel like equals in a relationship.”
“What you just said should be added to the Dating for Dummies book.”
“Cheers for that,” Eli says and we both laugh, clinking our glasses.
Later that evening, I tell my friends about the upcoming vacation with the Walters, my father’s side of the family.
“My sisters are excited to show Soph and me around their maternal grandmother’s coastal hometown of Moon Harbor, Maine.
There are like thirty of us going, which should be interesting.
I’m going to meet most of my family for the first time during that trip. ”
Rose takes hold of my arm and squeezes. “I love that for you, Jax. I bet they’ll be welcoming based on what you have told me about your father.”
“I’m expecting photos of the girls giving you a makeover or something,” Eli quips next to her.
Soph laughs. “Oh, you can be sure that I will capture every moment.”
“I honestly wouldn’t mind some eyeshadow or lip gloss if it made them happy.” I shrug with a smile. “Soph insists they have me wrapped around their tiny fingers, but I’m simply learning to be a big brother to three giggling girls. It’s anything but easy.”
“Wait, did you say Moon Harbor?” Nelly squeals like she realized something important, and Dom covers his ears, wincing. I wonder how long it takes until he starts telling her to lower her volume.
“Um, yeah?”
“Oh my God, I can’t believe you get to visit the place where The Witch’s Brew is! I have wanted to go there ever since I saw this one influencer posting about it on her social media…”
I turn my gaze to Soph, and she’s holding in her laughter. Nodding at Nelly, I offer her a confused smile. “We’ll try to visit and take photos for you. Okay?”
She beams at me and snuggles next to Dom. “I would love that. Bring me any souvenirs you can! I wonder if they sell their sugar cookies in takeaway boxes.”
Spade looks around the room with a confused expression. “Am I the only one missing something here?”
“No,” most of us reply in unison.
“Eryn Blake, a social media influencer I follow, visited Moon Harbor with her friends and posted about it on her page a while ago. I have wanted to visit since I saw those photos of that coffee shop. Damn, I’m actually a bit jealous you get to go there before I do,” Nelly explains.
“I’ll take you there next summer, deal?” Dom suggests and gets a kiss as an answer.
Most of us whistle or catcall them, and act like their kiss is scandalous, when in reality, we are happy they finally got their heads out of their asses and saw what was right in front of them. Dom covers his face with his tattooed hands, and Nelly smiles smugly.
Looking around me, the same warmth fills me that I felt earlier today when we decorated the tree.
Seeing my friends together in one place makes me beyond happy.
I think about the past year and how much has changed—Soph, her family, and my dad’s family have found their way to my heart.
At the same time, I have my two brothers and friends, who I get to work with.
They have been there for me through it all and know the real me.
I’d walk through hell for them and my cousins. Because their love is what keeps me alive. It only took me a bit longer to realize it.