8. Jax
Chapter 8
Jax
“How are things with my mum? She’s not being too much of a nightmare, is she?” Jasper asked as he set up the balls on the pool table.
“No, she’s amazing.”
Jasper laughed. “Yeah, she is, isn’t she? I was worried about her after she and Dad split, but she seems okay in the new house, right?”
I shrugged, trying not to think of Helen wandering around in her gym gear this morning, the Lycra clinging to her curves, making me so hard I had to make my excuses and go jerk off in the shower.
“I think so.”
I watched as he lined up his cue and struck the white ball, sending the others careering around the table.
“But enough about my mum. How’s work?” He potted the first ball.
“Good. I’m really enjoying it and the crew is great. It’s nice to be back here.” He hit another ball, putting it in the far left pocket. “What’s new with you?”
He shook his head. “Young, free, and single.” His next ball missed the pocket, bouncing off the cushion. “I’m not ready to settle down yet. You must feel the same, right?”
I took my shot, missing completely. “We’re in our thirties, Jas. Do you not think we need to grow up and settle down?”
He lifted his head, a look flickering behind his eyes that I couldn’t interpret. “Na, I’m still enjoying my freedom too much.”
I lowered my cue, walking closer to him. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just feeling a bit cynical about love and romance. Ignore me.” He picked up his beer and took a sip. “I don’t think I’m cut out for it.” His sad eyes landed on mine. “It hurts,” he almost whispered.
I leaned my body next to his against the pool table. “You met someone?”
“I did.”
“And?”
“They had to make a choice, and they didn’t choose me.” He sounded so hurt.
“I’m sorry you went through that. Was it recent?”
Closing his eyes, he looked as if he were replaying a memory. “Six months or so ago.” His eyes opened again, his face twisting to see mine. “I thought it would get easier, but it hasn’t. It’s hard when they're everywhere.”
“You still have to see them? Are they local?” I didn’t say he or she because I had no idea what my oldest friend was into these days.
Jasper put his pool cue down, reached for his phone in his back pocket, and unlocked the screen. He opened his saved photos, pulling one up that I instantly recognised.
“Is that Astrid Strickland?” I whispered.
“Apparently, but I knew her as Halle Whitaker.” I stared at my friend, utterly confused. “We met while I was working away. She was just a girl I met on the beach. We got chatting and well, the next few weeks were pretty spectacular. But she didn’t tell me who she was, and I had no clue.”
I let out a laugh because Jasper was always so unaware, so it made sense that he wouldn't recognise the lead singer of the band Anatomical Hourglass who’d had a number one album for about the last… 6 months. My laughter stopped. “She chose the band over you and then went home and became a megastar?”
He shrugged. “I mean, what do I have to offer her? She has the whole world at her feet. I don’t blame her.”
I threw my arm over Jasper’s shoulder. “She’s a fool.”
He pushed up, put his phone away, and took hold of the pool cue again. “Well, it’s done, and I need to move on. But I’d appreciate it if you kept this to yourself. I don’t want anyone finding out what a tit I made of myself with her.”
I zipped my lips, offering him a sad smile. “You know, you can talk to me about it… tell me what happened?”
He bent, lining the cue up with the white ball, slamming it so that three balls slipped into the pockets. “I know, man, but I think the best thing I can do is forget it ever happened.”