Chapter 13 Sloane #2
“And mom called me frantic, so I tracked you down by your location, which is probably what Chett did, I told you to turn that off,” she scolds me, “and now we are here.” My sister’s eyes narrow on Jax.
“He left about ten minutes ago,” Jax supplies.
Riley looks at him properly for the first time, and I see the exact moment she realizes who he is. Her eyes widen, then a slow smile spreads across her face. “So, you’re the hot stranger.” She looks him up and down appreciatively. “Nice work, Sloane.”
“Riley!” I feel my face burn.
“What? I’m just saying.” She turns to Maggie. “Told you she upgraded.”
Maggie, ever the more reserved one, just gives Jax a polite nod. “Nice to meet you. Sorry about the circumstances.”
“Jax Reid.” He shakes her hand. “And don’t worry about it. Family looking out for family.”
“So, what happened?” Riley demands, turning back to me. “Give me every detail so I know exactly what to tell the police when I murder him.”
Despite everything, I laugh. “You’re not murdering anyone.”
“Yet. I’m not murdering anyone yet.” She grins.
“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.” Jax smirks.
“Best you do,” Riley states.
“Can I get you ladies a drink? Water, coffee, wine?”
“Wine!” Maggie and Riley answer together.
“Can see why you’re friends.” Jax winks at me as he disappears into the kitchen.
Maggie and Riley stare at me, and I can see the millions of questions running through their minds. Riley looks around the cabin. “This place is cute. Very cozy. Perfect for a romantic snowstorm hookup.”
“Riley,” Maggie hisses.
“What? I’m just acknowledging the obvious.” Riley grins at me, and I can see the concern underneath the bravado. “But seriously. Are you okay?”
“I am now,” I say, and I mean it. Having them here, having this buffer between me and the confrontation that just happened, makes everything feel more manageable.
“Good.” Riley plops down on the couch. “Now. We need to make a plan. Because that dick weasel is probably sitting in his car trying to figure out how to get you back.”
“I have a cabin,” I say suddenly. “The one I originally booked. It’s a few miles from here.”
“Perfect!” Riley claps her hands. “Girls’ trip! We’ll hole up there, eat junk food, trash-talk your ex, and plan your future.”
“What about him?” Maggie asks quietly, looking over at Jax in the kitchen.
“He can come visit,” Riley interrupts. “But right now, you need some time with us. To process. To breathe. To remember who the fuck you are without either of those men.”
I look at Jax. This was inevitable. Maybe I need to pull the Band-Aid off and just go with my girls.
“Here you go, ladies,” he says, bringing in glasses and the bottle of wine, and starts pouring.
“Hey, big boy, thanks so much for looking after our girl, but we’re here now,” Riley tells him.
Jax stiffens as he looks at me for clarification. “I was thinking of taking them up to the cabin I had originally booked to um … sort myself out.” I hate the way he looks at me, one part devastation, the other part resolve.
“Sounds like a plan,” he says quietly. “I’ve got to go check in on things anyway. I’ll leave you girls to it. It was so nice meeting you both. Sloane talked about you a lot,” he says, turning and leaving the room.
Shit.
“Guys, give me a sec,” I say, getting up and walking after him back into the bedroom where he is packing up his things. “Hey,” I say, turning him around to look at me.
“There’s nothing to say, time’s up, I guess,” he tells me.
“My life is a complete mess at the moment.”
Those hazel eyes look down at me as he nods sadly, then he continues to pack.
I stare at his back as the tears fall down my cheeks. “You have nothing to say?” I ask him.
“Don’t cry,” he says softly, reaching out and wiping my tears away.
“Have you changed your mind? Am I too much? What?” I ask him.
“You have a lot on your plate right now, and I don’t want to add to it. Seeing that asshole in the flesh and how he truly is …” He shakes his head. “I think you need some time with your people to figure out what you want with your new life.”
“I don’t want to leave you.” I sob.
“I know. And I don’t want you to leave. But this isn’t about what we want right now. It’s about what you need.” He kisses my forehead. “Go have your girls’ trip. Process everything. And then ...” He lets his hand drop.
“And then what?”
“We’ll see, I guess.” He leans in and kisses me softly.
My heart feels like it’s being ripped out as I watch him walk out of the bedroom. He says goodbye to the girls, and then the door slams shut behind him. I fall into a mess on the floor.
“Hey.” The girls come in, concerned about my crying.
“He’s gone.”
“Who Chett?” Maggie asks.
I shake my head. “Jax.”
My sister looks confused, and Riley gives me a hug. “I’m sorry, boo.”
“I like him.” I cry to her.
“I know you do, babe. And I totally understand why, the man is hot, but …”
“My life is a mess.” I sniffle.
“That’s putting it mildly.” She hugs me again.
“I’m sure he’s a nice guy, but do you think now is the time to be starting something with someone?” Maggie asks.
“Mags. Read the room,” Riley chastises her.
My sister’s right. Maybe starting something less than a week after calling off my wedding isn’t a smart idea.
“Come on, let’s get to the other cabin, and we can drown our sorrows in a nice bottle of wine,” Riley says. I nod.