15. JAX
CHAPTER 15
JAX
The patio of the restaurant is buzzing with chatter and the clinking of silverware against plates. It’s one of those sunny afternoons where the air feels light and inviting. Marcus sits across from me, adjusting his glasses like he’s trying to decipher some grand mystery. Honestly, I’m surprised he agreed to meet me. Marcus and I aren’t exactly tight. He’s more Ethan’s speed—calm, analytical, and definitely the smartest guy in the room.
Me? I'm just the guy who brings the laughs and a bit of charm. At least, that's how it's always felt.
"Marcus, glad you could make it," I say.
He raises an eyebrow but at least he doesn’t call me on my shit right away. "You sounded... eager on the phone. Everything okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, everything's good," I reply, maybe a bit too quickly. "Just thought it'd be nice to catch up, you know?
He studies me for a moment, adjusting his glasses. "We don't usually do this—just the two of us."
I shrug, trying to appear casual. "Figured it's time to change that. Besides, we've been working together more closely lately."
"Fair enough," he concedes, picking up the menu. "Any recommendations?"
"The burgers here are solid," I say. “But you can’t go wrong with the salads either.”
A waiter swings by to take our orders. Marcus opts for the grilled chicken salad, confirming my guess, while I stick with the classic bacon cheeseburger. Once the waiter leaves, an awkward silence settles between us.
"So," Marcus says, breaking the ice. "What's new?"
I take a sip of my water, gathering my thoughts. "I've been thinking a lot about Love Lab."
He nods slowly. "Oh? Something specific?"
"Yeah." I lean forward, resting my elbows on the table. "I want to be more involved."
"Involved how?" His eyes show genuine curiosity.
"Well, you and Ethan handle most of the behind-the-scenes stuff. Planning episodes, strategizing, all that. I feel like I'm just... there. The guy who shows up when the camera's rolling."
"You're more than that," he says earnestly. "Your personality brings a lot to the table. You're the one who keeps things lively."
I appreciate the sentiment, but it doesn't quite hit the mark. "I get that, but I want to contribute more. Ideas, planning—maybe even some of the technical stuff. I don't want to just be the face; I want to be part of the foundation."
Marcus sits back, considering my words. "That's commendable. Any particular area you're interested in?"
"Well, I was thinking I could help brainstorm new episode concepts. Maybe even learn some of the editing from Ethan."
He smiles slightly. "Ethan would probably appreciate the help. Editing can be a heavy workload."
"Exactly," I say, feeling a bit more at ease. "I just don't want to be the guy who coasts along while you two do all the heavy lifting."
He nods appreciatively. "It's good you're thinking about this. We can definitely loop you into more of the planning sessions."
"Great," I reply, genuinely relieved. "I was worried you might think I was stepping on toes."
"Not at all," he assures me. "Fresh perspectives are always valuable."
As our conversation continues, I notice a group of women at a nearby table casting glances our way. They're dressed stylishly, laughing a bit too loudly, clearly wanting to be noticed. One of them catches my eye and gives a coy smile. I offer a polite nod but quickly return my attention to Marcus.
"Still a magnet, I see," he comments, a hint of amusement in his voice.
I shrug it off. "Doesn't really interest me anymore."
He raises an eyebrow. "That's surprising. You've always enjoyed the attention."
A year ago, I’d have shot them a grin or maybe even gone over to introduce myself. Now? I barely notice. All I can think about is Olivia—her laugh, her sarcasm, the way she looks at me like she’s daring me to figure her out. Fucking hell, that woman is ruining me.
"People change," I say, fiddling with the condensation on my water glass.
"Any particular reason for this change?" he probes.
I hesitate, debating how much to reveal. "Just... reevaluating some things."
He gives me a knowing look. "Does this have anything to do with Olivia?"
I glance at him sharply. "Why would you say that?"
He shrugs casually. "Just an observation. You've seemed... different since we started the episodes with her."
I laugh nervously. "Look who's talking. You and Olivia have had some pretty... interesting moments on camera."
Marcus looks up sharply, his expression guarded. “What do you mean?”
I shrug, trying to sound indifferent. “You know, you two have good chemistry. The viewers like it. She seems... comfortable with you.”
He hesitates, then laughs lightly. “Well, she’s comfortable because it’s all an act. We’re just trying to sell the story.”
But his laugh sounds forced, and I’m not buying it. “Right,” I say, drawing the word out. “So you don’t... like her? Not even a little?”
Marcus shifts in his seat, suddenly very interested in the pattern of his napkin. “I think Olivia’s... great. But I don’t think she’s the type to get tangled up with people like us.”
“People like us?” I raise an eyebrow. “Speak for yourself, man.”
He finally looks at me, his expression unreadable. “I just mean she’s here for her own reasons. She’s not exactly looking for anything... complicated.”
I nod slowly, pretending to let it drop, but my chest tightens. He’s not being entirely honest—I can see it. The thought of him liking Olivia makes me itch with something I don’t want to admit is jealousy.
“But she definitely has a crush on Ethan, though,” he says.
My head snaps up. “You think?”
He looks away. “I mean, I kind of noticed. Not sure now that?—”
“ Now that what?” I ask, but get no reply from Marcus as he focuses his attention on the food.
“So, your thing with Love Lab…” Marcus begins. It’s obvious that he’s trying to change the topic but I don’t even know if I want to press him on it. He and Olivia disappeared after their last date. Surely nothing happened. Marcus is considerably older than us, which makes only Ethan the real threat. “What caused you to make the change?”
Olivia. Her face comes unbidden to my mind. I want to prove her wrong. I want to make her see that I’m more than a shallow jock.
“But I’ll figure it out. I want to pull my weight, you know? And maybe show people I’ve got more to offer than just my face.”
Marcus smiles faintly, but there’s a flicker of something in his expression—sympathy, maybe? “I get it,” he says. “It’s not easy breaking out of the box people put you in.”
“Yes,” I say. “Exactly. I don’t want to sound ungrateful—I’m incredibly happy for Love Lab’s success.”
“But you want to see if there’s a way to reinvent yourself without compromising on your role in the channel’s views?” Marcus says. He’s good, really good.
I nod. “Yep.”
He leans back in his chair. “My advice would just to be yourself. If you force it, people will catch up that you’re being disingenuous. And that never works out.”
I nod, thinking about Olivia. I’ve tried to stay away from her, to pretend there’s nothing there. But it’s not working out anymore. “I’ll keep your words in mind.”
Ethan’s apartment is quiet when I let myself in, the sound of my boots scuffing against the hardwood the only thing breaking the silence. It smells faintly of coffee and whatever cologne he uses—clean, sharp, and just annoyingly Ethan.
My phone buzzes with a text: Help yourself. I’ll be back soon. Feel free to reply to comments and messages on the WeTube account
I toss my phone onto the coffee table and head over to his laptop, which is already setup on the desk. It’s logged in, just like he said. The WeTube page is open, and notifications are pinging like crazy. It’s hard to believe how much attention we’ve been getting lately. It’s all anyone can talk about—Love Lab, the three founders, and, of course, Olivia. Especially Olivia.
I sit down, scrolling through the comments. Most are harmless: fans debating their favorite episodes, throwing out ship names, or begging for behind-the-scenes content. But a few are… less innocent. Comments about Olivia’s looks, her body, and the kind of attention she gets from us on camera. My jaw tightens as I read them. She doesn’t deserve that kind of crap.
Still, I can’t let myself get too worked up. Instead, I switch gears. Ethan's desktop has a folder labeled " Recorded Content ." My curiosity gets the better of me, and I click it open.
Inside are a series of files, all labeled with dates and short descriptions.
My eyes land on one labeled 10/27/24, it’s the most recent file. Ethan and Olivia’s date.
I hesitate for a second. Ethan didn’t mention anything about editing this yet, but I figure I could help him out. Maybe surprise him with a rough cut. I double-click the file, leaning back as the video starts to play.
The first few minutes are standard fare—Ethan and Olivia on the couch, joking around as they set up her game. They look comfortable, laughing and teasing each other like old friends.
Ethan leans closer, and Olivia starts to blush in that way she does when she’s trying not to show how much she cares. It’s… nice. Sweet, even.
And then it happens.
Ethan brushes her arm. Olivia glances at him, her expression softening. The tension between them is almost unbearable, even on screen. And then he kisses her.
My stomach tightens as I watch. The kiss isn’t staged or playful; it’s real. Her hands go to his hair, his to her waist. Before the footage cuts, I see them falling back onto the couch together, their bodies tangling as they completely forget the camera is still running.
I sit back, my head spinning. It’s not just what I saw—it’s what it means. Ethan and Olivia. Together.
The rational part of me tries to push it aside. It’s not like I have a claim on her. She’s not mine. Hell, we haven’t even talked about what happened between us. But that doesn’t stop the sharp pang in my chest.
I head towards the door, when it opens and Ethan steps in.
Rage fills my head. He looks up and grins at me, and I see red. How dare he touch her?
Ethan’s smile fades when he sees the look on my face.
“Whoa, Jax. What’s your deal?” he asks, his brows knitting together in confusion. He tries to sidestep me, but I move with him, keeping my arms crossed and my stance firm.
“You tell me, Ethan,” I say, my voice sharp. “You planning on telling me about you and Olivia, or was I supposed to just stumble onto it accidentally?”
Ethan freezes, his eyes narrowing. “What are you talking about?”
I lean closer, my jaw tightening. “The footage,” I say, emphasizing every syllable. “Death Crunch. You left the recording running, genius. Guess what’s in the last five minutes of your little ‘date’?”
It takes a second, but I see it click in his brain. His face goes pale, then flushes red. “Shit,” he mutters, running a hand through his hair. “You watched it?”
“Yeah, I watched it,” I snap.
Ethan sets the bags on the counter a little too hard, spinning to face me. “Okay, first off, it wasn’t like that?—”
“Don’t even try to downplay it, Ethan,” I cut him off.
“That’s rich, coming from you,” Ethan says.
“You’re pissed because you like her, and you can’t stand that she and I?—”
“Don’t,” I warn, cutting him off. “Don’t even finish that sentence.”
Ethan doesn’t back down. “Admit it, Jax. You’re jealous.”
My fists clench at my sides, and it takes everything in me not to lose it. “I’m not jealous,” I grind out. “I just don’t want you screwing this up for her—or for us.”
“Bullshit,” Ethan says, his voice dripping with frustration. “You’ve been acting territorial ever since the rink. And you know what? Fine. You like her? Great. But don’t stand here and act like I’m the only one crossing lines.”
I take a step closer, glaring at him. “At least I’m not stupid enough to get caught on camera.”
Ethan’s face flushes, and for a moment, I think he might actually swing at me. Instead, he throws his hands up in exasperation. “You know what, Jax? Fine. Let’s be real. You don’t like the idea of me and Olivia because you can’t figure out how to deal with your own damn feelings.”
“Oh, and you’ve got it all figured out?” I snap. “Because it sure seems like you’re making this up as you go, Ethan. And in case you forgot, this whole thing was your idea.”
Ethan opens his mouth to retort but stops, shaking his head. “This is pointless,” he mutters, running a hand through his hair. “We’re not getting anywhere.”
“Because you won’t admit that you’re the one screwing up,” I shoot back.
“And you won’t admit you’re jealous!” he fires, his voice echoing in the apartment.
We both stand there, glaring at each other.
Finally, Ethan breaks the silence. “You know what? Fine. Maybe I like her. So what?”
The admission hits me harder than I expect, and for a moment, I don’t know what to say.
“Look, this isn’t going anywhere,” he says, his tone more resigned than combative. “We’re not going to agree on how to handle this, and Olivia doesn’t deserve to be caught in the middle of some petty fight.”
I arch an eyebrow. “You’ve got a better idea?”
“You think you’ve got a claim here, Jax? Let’s settle this like grown men.”
I narrow my eyes, unsure of where he’s going with this. “Settle what?”
“This. Her. We try and win her over, both of us,” Ethan says. “No sabotage, no underhanded crap. Just two guys trying to win over the same girl. Fair and square.”
I hesitate. “And Olivia has no idea about this?”
“She doesn’t need to know,” he says, pushing off the couch. “We keep it between us.”
“This feels kind of sleazy, don’t you think?”
“Not if we do it right,” I argue. “We don’t mess with her head. We just… make an effort. Show her what we’ve got. If she picks you, fine. If she picks me, also fine.”
Ethan doesn’t look convinced, but I can see the gears turning in his head. “And if she doesn’t pick either of us?”
“Then we back off,” I say firmly. “No hard feelings.”
He narrows his eyes at me, clearly trying to gauge whether I’m being sincere. Finally, he exhales, rubbing the back of his neck. “Fine. Let’s do it.”
A grin spreads across my face. “I knew you’d come around.”
Ethan points a finger at me. “But no games, Jax. This isn’t about stroking your ego or mine. We call it off if Olivia figures out what we’re doing and feels weird about it. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” I say, holding out a hand.
Ethan shakes it, but the competitive glint in his eyes tells me he’s already planning his next move. Good. Because so am I.