27. Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Allie
I’ve spent all morning obsessively checking my phone, waiting for any kind of response to the hundred texts I sent Nora. I’ve checked it so many times that Ana finally had enough and snatched it, hiding it somewhere I still haven’t been able to find.
I just want to know if she’s coming or not. Or if I should be bracing myself for a cold shoulder, a full-blown meltdown, or maybe even an apology.
Alright, the apology part might be a stretch.
Deep down, I’m just hoping she didn’t mean all the things she said.
That I “pass off” my kids? After I tried to cancel this trip just to stay close to them?
She’s the one who talked me into coming, saying I needed something to focus on instead of turning into another couch decoration.
My mind is all over the place, spinning in constant circles. I’m in such a daze I almost forget what I was even doing.
I slow the knife down, slicing the watermelon into chunks and drop them into the bowl beside me. Then I move on to the strawberries, cutting off the stems, my knife dragging across the cutting board while I push them aside.
A hand suddenly lands on my shoulder, making me jump.
“Woah, Al! Sorry, I thought you heard me,” Jax says, his voice calm. He presses a soft kiss to my cheek.
I glance down, and my eyes go wide—red streaks are smeared all over the counter. I lift my hand, watching the blood twist down and around my wrist like a bracelet.
“Shit,” I mutter, dropping the knife with a clatter.
Jax’s hands are on me in an instant, gently cradling my wrist and leading me to the sink. He flicks the water on with his elbow, then slides my hand under the cool stream. The sting is immediate, spreading down my finger like a wildfire.
“Woah,” Ana’s voice comes from behind us. “What happened?”
“Hey, can you grab a plaster?” Jax asks, not looking up, his attention still on my hand while he turns off the water.
“Shouldn’t we fix Allie’s finger before worrying about the wall?” Ana raises an eyebrow.
He shakes his head. “No, no—I mean a... bandage? Whatever it’s called here.”
He guides me over to the kitchen table, gently lowering me into a chair, still not letting go of my hand.
Ana’s back in no time, handing him the bandage over his shoulder. “This is all I could find.”
Jax takes it with one hand, ripping it open with his teeth. “That’s perfect, thanks,” he says, then carefully wraps it around my finger. Once it’s snug, he lifts my hand and presses a soft kiss to my knuckles before meeting my eyes.
“Are you okay?” His voice is soft, concern clear in his eyes.
I nod, but the words won’t come. If I say I’m okay , I know I’ll start crying again, and Ana’s already had enough of that today.
“You’re nervous, aren’t you?” he says, almost like he’s reading my mind.
“Is it really that obvious?” I ask quietly, barely looking at him.
He gives me a half smile, then pulls out a chair and sits down before reaching for my hips.
“Come here,” he says, easily pulling me into his lap like I weigh nothing.
His hand guides my head to rest against his chest, and I bury my face in the crook of his neck. Then, I slowly breathe in the scent that always seems to bring me back from the edge— sandalwood and lavender.
“Everything’s going to be okay,” he whispers, his voice low and soothing in my ear.
I let out a long breath, then slowly lift my head. With one hand on his cheek, I meet his eyes and try to give him a smile, hoping it’s more convincing than it feels.
“I’m sorry I’m making today about me,” I murmur softly. “This is supposed to be your day.”
I press a quick kiss to his lips and start to slide off his lap, but he gently pulls me back, turning my face toward his.
His brows furrow while he shakes his head. “You’re not making anything about you, love. You’re sharing what’s on your mind. Let us help you.”
I shake my head. “No, you guys don’t need to—”
“That’s not up for debate,” he says, his tone suddenly more firm.
Before I can protest, he scoops me up and sets me back in my chair.
Without saying a word, he gives me a quick smile and goes back to the counter, silently cleaning up the mess I made. Another mess I made.
Then the front door opens and slams shut, making me jump slightly.
My eyes snap to the doorway, and my heart drops when I see Gareth come in first, then Nora trailing right behind him.
She doesn’t even look at me. Doesn’t say a word. She just walks straight through the kitchen, grabs a beer from the counter, and heads out onto the patio without even sparing me a glance.
I sink lower in the chair, feeling the sting of rejection hit me all over again.
It’s like none of the good I’ve done for her even matters now—just because, for once, I did something for myself .
I wasn’t thinking about anyone else. And if I’m being totally honest? I don’t regret that part.
What I do regret… is how she found out.
Jax looks over his shoulder and notices right away—like he always does. He’s at my side in seconds, kneeling in front of me, his hands sliding gently up my legs in that grounding way only he has.
“We’ll figure it out,” he says with a small shrug, like it’s no big deal. “I know it’s hard, but try not to let this ruin your day.”
Maybe it really is that simple for him. Or maybe he just believes enough for both of us.
I lean down slowly and press my lips to his. This time, not as quickly. Instead, I savor it, letting his positivity channel into me. Like I can somehow borrow even a sliver of his strength.
Because he’s right about one thing.
This is hard. So goddamn hard.
But somehow… we’ll figure it out.
“Why doesn’t he let me do anything ?” I whine, flopping into the chair next to Ana, wine glass in hand.
She glances over, then slides her sunglasses down just enough to give me that look. She doesn’t even have to say a word. I already know what’s coming.
Before she can open her mouth, I wave her off. “Yeah, yeah, I know. ‘Don’t complain, Allie. Drink your wine and shut up,’” I say, doing my best Ana impression.
She snorts. “Actually, I was gonna say…” She pauses, then bursts out laughing. “Okay, yeah. That’s exactly what I was gonna say.”
I grin. “What can I say? I know you.”
Nora’s high-pitched laughter cuts through the air, loud enough to make us both turn toward the noise. My eyes land on her across the yard, clutching her drink like nothing’s wrong. Like nothing even happened.
She didn’t even look at me earlier. Just walked past like I was invisible. Like I was something she might catch if she got too close.
Yet she’s over there, laughing like everything’s fine.
What she doesn’t know is that Gareth kept it from her too. I almost told her during our fight, had it right on the tip of my tongue. But throwing someone else under the bus to save myself? That didn’t feel right.
My eyes drift to Jax, watching while he flips burgers at the grill.
It’s stupid, how even the smallest things he does manage to pull me in.
He could be scrolling through his phone, watching a movie, or even just taking a simple sip of water—and somehow, I’m pulled into this beautiful vortex that’s him .
His eyes snap up to mine like he can feel my staring, and my heart kicks up. My cheeks instantly heat knowing he definitely caught me gawking like a weirdo.
I offer a small smile, wishing I could just walk over, wrap my arms around him, and stay there forever. But I’m not ready for that. At least not with Nora standing just a few feet away, judging my every move.
“Has she spoken to you at all?” Ana asks, interrupting my thoughts.
I turn to her and press my lips together. “Not a single word.”
She leans across the little table between us and rests her hand on my forearm. “She can’t stay mad forever,” she says reassuringly. “It’ll get figured out.”
“I’m not even sure I want it to,” I admit, my voice low. I’m suddenly being hit with that wine-drunk confidence, and right now? I love it.
“She said some pretty hurtful things. Not just the comment about the girls… but the Trevor stuff? I mean, did I really complain that much?” I ask, face scrunching.
She scoffs, shaking her head. “Girl, you didn’t complain enough. Trevor treated you like dirt. You had every right to feel how you did.”
Before I can respond, we hear Nora’s voice calling out her goodbyes—to everyone except us.
Which is exactly why Ana and I have stayed as far away as humanly possible. Sitting poolside while everyone else engages in conversation. James and Jax tried to drag us over a few times, but it was a hard pass for the two of us.
Yesterday, she mentioned she felt like the black sheep, but right now, that’s exactly how she’s treating us. Like we’re unworthy of her acknowledgment, and we’re just a couple of peasants while she floats around, above it all. So why would we want to go over there?
Ana pushes herself up and slaps her palms against her thighs. “I should probably get going too.”
My brows draw together while I watch her stretch her arms over her head.
“What do you mean? Where are you going?”
“James and I planned a movie night. Didn’t I tell you?”
“No, you absolutely did not tell me,” I reply with a laugh.
I lean my elbows on my knees, narrowing my eyes at her.
“What’s up with you and James, by the way?” I ask, nodding toward where he’s currently helping clear the table.
She huffs, throwing me a playful glare. “Can a man and a woman not have a strictly platonic relationship? Not everyone has to fuck , Allie,” she teases with a wink.
“You’re right,” I reply, holding up my hands in surrender. “I was just making sure.”
She starts to turn away, but then pauses, looking over her shoulder with a small smirk. “I say this with as much love and respect as I can. But if I were seeing James, you’d be the first to know.”
I watch her walk away, my heart sinking slowly.