Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
"Jax," she pressed when he remained silent. "I just helped you evade someone. It better not have been the law."
"The person chasing us works for a gossip site," Jax said finally. "And the photos he took of us will be online within the hour."
His words were measured and said without any emotion, but she could see the anger and frustration burning in his blue eyes.
"Why would the paparazzi want a photo of us?" she asked. "Are you famous? When I looked you up online, I found nothing."
"I'm not famous under the name Jax Ridley."
She wasn't surprised by that. "What name are you famous under?"
"Jason Barnes."
She stared at him. "That name sounds familiar, but it doesn't really jump out at me. What are you famous for?"
"I'm part of a country music duo called Blackbird with Wren Carmichael. You might have heard of her. She's the face of Blackbird."
"Wren Carmichael," she echoed in surprise. "Yes, I've heard of her. She won a Grammy."
"We won two," he corrected.
"Both of you?"
"We are a duo, or we used to be. We're not anymore."
So many things clicked into place: why he'd been in a record store, why he'd turned off the car radio, and looked at the piano in the old lounge as if it were a treasure. And she'd heard him play the guitar last night. He'd been great. Which made sense, since he was a professional musician.
"What happened?" she asked. "Why did you change your name? Why are you in hiding? What's going on?"
"It's a long story."
"Well, we have time, and you owe it to me. Now that I know your real name, I can probably also figure it out."
He let out a heavy sigh. "I knew that this day would come."
"That you would have to talk to me?"
"That my past would catch up to me. In some ways, I'm surprised it took this long."
"Jax, what happened?"
He gave her a long, measuring look. "We got into trouble with one of our songs. We were accused of plagiarism, and there was a tremendous amount of fallout and lawsuits from that."
"You and your partner stole a song?"
"Well, most people believe I did it. That I hurt Wren, destroyed her career, because I didn't like being in her shadow. That's the most popular story."
"I'm not asking for the story; I want the truth."
"Why don't you think that's the truth?"
"Is it?" she challenged.
He shrugged. "It doesn't matter. That part of my life is over, or I hoped it was."
There was a deep pain in his blue eyes that had darkened with emotion. Whatever had happened hadn't been as simple as he was making it out to be. "She hurt you, didn't she? Wren betrayed you in some way."
He started at her words. "Why on earth would you say that?"
"Because I can see it in your eyes."
He shook his head. "No, you can't."
She didn't want to argue about whether she could see his pain or not. She'd grown up with men. She knew how hard it could be for them to show emotion, to reveal weakness. And Jax clearly didn't want to give her more than he had. But she needed more. "You're not telling me the whole story."
"I'm telling you why someone was taking our picture. I knew it was a mistake getting involved with Walter, with you. I've been out in public too much. I've met too many people. Someone must have called the press."
"Mistake or not, it's done. I don't see how it benefits you to run. If you did something wrong, maybe you just have to own it and try to make it right. Do what you need to do so you can live in the light again."
"It's not that simple. I'm not the only one involved."
"You're talking about your partner, about Wren. Are you two just partners, or are you a couple?"
"We've known each other a long time. We met as teenagers and grew up together. She's probably the closest thing I have had to family in the last decade."
"Is she angry with you?"
"She's a lot of things. None of that is important now. I'll take you home."
"Not yet. Let's get some air, walk for a minute.
" She opened the door before he could start the car and stepped out.
Taking a deep breath, she moved down a path toward the beach, not stopping until she reached the sand.
Then she pulled off her shoes and walked barefoot a few more feet before sitting down on the beach, the ocean rolling in about a dozen feet in front of her.
The small cove was popular with locals, but that was mostly on the weekends.
No one was around now, and she was grateful for the solitude.
It took a few minutes before Jax joined her on the ground. "Don't you need to get back so you can sleep before your shift?"
She turned her head to look at him, the wind whipping her hair in front of her face.
She tucked it behind her ears as she gazed into his handsomely rugged face, seeing more now than she had before—the lines of weariness, the echoes of pain that showed whether he wanted to believe that or not.
The fact that he'd said Wren was the closest thing he'd ever had to family told her that whatever had happened wasn't just about a song; it was about betrayal.
And even though he seemed to be the one at fault, she wondered if that was really the case.
He didn't seem like someone who would steal something.
On the other hand, what did she really know about him?
"Trying to decide whether you believe me or not?" he asked, before directing his gaze to the sea. "It doesn't matter if you do or don't, Kaia. We can make this our last conversation."
"I don't think so," she said, drawing his gaze back to her. "You've been calling the shots on when we talk and how much we say. It's my turn now."
"I already told you what happened."
"Not the whole story, but that's fine. I can figure out the public story on my own. I'm sure it's written down somewhere."
"Only in about a million places."
"Josie knows who you really are, doesn't she?"
"Yes. Her former agent is my former agent's father. He called her when I needed a place to stay, figuring that she'd be willing to help. I guess at some point in her life, she also needed to disappear."
"She did have some frenzied public interest in her life. That's how she ended up at Ocean Shores. But I don't want to talk about Josie." She took a moment, then said, "It feels like you need help, Jax."
"And you're the fix-it girl. Thanks, but no. I don't need your help."
She didn't like that he'd called her the fix-it girl, even if it was true. "Maybe I am that girl," she conceded. "And I'm good at it. I'm also not scared off by people who don't think they need help. Just ask Walter."
"Walter is an old man who couldn't remember how to get to his past. I am completely capable of handling my life."
"It doesn't look like it. It seems to me that you just ran away. What's the plan? Do you even have one?"
The pain in his eyes was replaced by irritation. "Not that it's any of your business."
"You just included me in a car chase."
"Look, I'm sorry about that. None of this is your fault, and I appreciate your concern, but I can take care of myself. Even if I wanted your help, there's nothing you can do. I made my bed, and I have to lie in it."
"Tell me about you and Wren."
"No. I've said enough. Let's go." He got to his feet.
She slowly followed, seeing the look of determination in his eyes. She liked to push, but she also knew when to back off. "You know, I heard you play last night on the beach. When I came home from my shift, I walked out to the sand, and I listened to you play."
His eyes widened with surprise. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"I thought I should respect your privacy."
"Well…thank you."
"You play really well," she said as they walked back to the car. "You could play Reina's song for Walter, couldn't you?"
He stopped when they got to the car and gave her a pointed look. "The last thing I want to do right now is play someone else's song."
"There's more to this story than you're telling me."
"Maybe there is, but it doesn't matter. From here on out, we don't really need to speak again."
"Are you going to pack your bags as soon as you get back and disappear somewhere else?" she asked, feeling disappointed at that thought.
"I don't know. Doesn't sound like a bad idea."
"You can't just keep running."
"Actually, I can."
"Just because you can doesn't mean you should.
" His angry eyes didn't intimidate her because she'd gotten to know him, and a man who played music like he did, who looked at a piano like it was the holy grail, who was willing to take time to help an old man didn't seem like a villain.
And God help her, she did want to help him, even if he didn't want her to.
"Kaia—" he began.
"Ocean Shores can still be a haven for you," she interrupted. "No one there will talk to the media."
"Of course they will."
"No, they won't," she argued. "You might not like any of us, but we're a community, and we stick together. If any photographers come around, they'll be sent on their way."
"Why do you care what I do?"
"Maybe because I'm a nosy, meddling, fix-it girl like you said.
And the people who need the most help are usually the ones who don't want to ask for it or accept it.
I don't know what happened with this song, or with your partner.
But you are in pain. I've seen it in your eyes. And leaving won't take it away."
"Staying won't do that, either," he countered. "Get in the car. I'll take you home."
"We should keep talking."
"You can argue in the car. I'm sure I can't stop you."
She reluctantly got in the car. "You're very stubborn."
"Right back at you," he said as he started the car.
As they headed into town, she gave him directions on the back roads to Ocean Shores. There was no sign of the car that had been following them, and no one was lurking in the parking lot.
"I don't think he knows where you live," she said as they got out of the car.
"I'm sure it won't take long."
She caught him by the arm just before they entered the courtyard. "Jax."
"What?" he asked.
She stared into his eyes, knowing she probably couldn't convince him of anything, but she had to try. "Can you stay for another day? Take a breath. Think about it."
Their gazes clung together for a long moment. "I don't know why it's so important to you that I stay, Kaia."
"Maybe I'd like to get to know you better. And because you helped Walter and me, I want to return the favor."
"I didn't help you. Today was all about Walter."
"Well, I might need your help in the next day or two if his granddaughter complains about me again.
I might need a witness for what actually happened.
And you could also help me find Reina. I know you think Walter got his happy ending today, but wouldn't it be even happier if he could see her again? "
"You're playing with fire. Reunions are not always good."
"I know relationships are complicated. But sometimes there's a connection, and when there is, it seems better to lean in than to lean out. Aren't you tired of being solely on your own?" When he didn't answer, she let go of his arm and added, "Just take a day; that's all I'm saying."
"You should go take your nap."
She doubted she'd be able to sleep after everything that had happened, but she would try. "I'm going to do that. And whatever happens, thanks again for today." As she left, she wondered if she'd ever see him again.
Jax entered his apartment and locked the door behind him, blowing out a breath that was filled with emotion. Seeing that photographer taking pictures of them, had shot him immediately back in time. He'd reacted the way he always had; he'd run. Thankfully, Kaia had shown him the way out.
Now, she wanted to help him find another way out of his life, but she didn't know the entire story, and he couldn't tell her.
Which was why he had to go. He'd let Kaia get too far into his life.
She might not know everything, but she still knew too much.
And her impassioned plea to stay, to feel the protection of this community, had hit him harder than she might think.
He was tired of being alone. He was exhausted from trying to keep everyone at arm's length.
That was why Walter's story had captured him so completely.
It had broken through the icy shell of numbness that had encompassed him for months.
And Kaia's stubborn beauty had also given him a much-needed jolt.
She'd implied that they had a connection, and he couldn't deny that he was attracted to her, that he found her fascinating, not just because she was pretty and fiery, but also because she had depth.
She stood on her own two feet. She fought for what she believed in.
She had a strongly defined sense of what was right and what was wrong, and those were traits he hadn't seen in many people in his former life.
But their connection had nowhere to go. How could he ever get involved with someone when he had secrets that he couldn't share? When he had to protect someone else, even if they didn't deserve it?
Flopping down on the couch, he stared at the ceiling for a long minute.
Then he grabbed his laptop off the coffee table and opened it up.
He went to his email and saw the massive string of unopened messages.
Clay's email was on the third page in, and his fingers hesitated one last time before he opened it.
The email from Clay was short: Wren wrote this last week. She has some of the words, but she needs you for the rest.
His gut clenched as he clicked on the attachment and read the beginning of the song:
How can you ask for forgiveness when you're the one who is wrong?
How can you ask someone to forget when the memories are so strong?
How can you make them remember the good and not just the bad?
How can you get them to talk when they're still so mad?
You're the only one who has ever really known me, and I'm the only one who has ever really known you…
How can this be the end?
He drew in another shaky, emotion-filled breath because he could hear the melody, he could hear her voice, he could feel her desperation. Wren had never been able to accept not getting what she wanted…
Now she wanted to know how this could be the end?
And he wanted to know, how could it not be?