Chapter 4
FOUR
BELLA
It’s barely 8 a.m., and I’m already on my second cup of coffee. The house is quiet, the early sunlight streaming through the windows as I stare at the blank page of my notebook, trying to focus on my to-do list for the day.
Except I can’t.
My mind keeps wandering back to last night. To Jax.
The way he stepped in, calm but commanding, when Mike got out of hand. The way he didn’t hesitate to check on me, walk me to my door, and make sure I felt safe. And that smile… God, that smile. It was so different from what I expected. Gentle, almost. Like it was meant to ease my nerves, and somehow, it worked.
I don’t know much about him, but the thought of him—his presence, the way he seemed to care even though I was practically a stranger—keeps tugging at the edges of my thoughts.
My phone buzzes on the table, snapping me out of my trance. Amelia’s name flashes on the screen. I groan, already dreading the conversation.
“Hey,” I say, answering the call.
“Bella!” Amelia’s chipper voice comes through loud and clear. “So, how was last night? You haven’t texted me at all. Did you hit it off with Mike?”
I let out a long sigh, leaning back in my chair. “Uh, no. Not exactly.”
There’s a pause on the other end. “What happened?”
“Well…” I hesitate, unsure how to even begin. “Mike wasn’t… great. Actually, he was awful.”
“What do you mean?” Amelia asks, her voice laced with concern.
I take a deep breath and spill everything—how Mike was drinking the second we got to the carnival, how he got handsy and didn’t listen when I told him to stop, and how things escalated until Jax stepped in.
Amelia doesn’t say anything at first, but I can practically hear her jaw dropping. “Oh my God, Bella. Are you serious? I can’t believe Mike acted like that. I mean, he’s cocky, sure, but I’ve never seen him behave like… like that.”
“I was surprised too,” I admit. “You were so sure he was this great guy, but he was the exact opposite.”
“I’m so sorry,” she says quickly. “I feel awful. I never would’ve set you up with him if I thought he’d pull something like that.”
“It’s fine,” I say, though I’m not sure I mean it. “I just want to put it behind me and move on.”
“No,” Amelia insists. “It’s not fine. I’m going to talk to him about this. And my aunt. He needs to know that what he did was completely unacceptable.”
“Really, Amelia, don’t worry about it,” I say, my tone softening. “It’s over. I’m okay. Let’s just forget it ever happened.”
She sighs heavily. “You’re way more forgiving than I would be. If I see him, I’m giving him a piece of my mind.”
I smile faintly, appreciating her loyalty even if it’s unnecessary. “Thanks, Amelia. But seriously, I’m fine. Let’s just move on, okay?”
“Okay,” she says reluctantly. “But if you ever want to talk about it, I’m here.”
“I know,” I say. “Thanks.”
We hang up, and I set my phone down, letting out a long exhale. I know Amelia means well, but rehashing the whole thing only makes it harder to push past it.
I glance at my to do list then at the book sitting on my coffee table, the one I’ve been slowly making my way through. A gritty MC romance, full of danger, loyalty, and intense love. I pick it up and sink into the cushions, flipping to the last few chapters, but as I read, my mind drifts back to Jax.
What does he do in the club? Is he like the men in this book—strong, fiercely loyal, always ready to protect what’s his? He doesn’t seem like the rough and reckless type, not with the way he carried himself last night. He was calm, steady, and… different.
I shake my head, trying to focus on the words in front of me, but it’s no use. Every time I read about the stoic, protective hero in the story, my thoughts veer back to Jax. The way his hand brushed mine when he gave me his phone. The way he spoke my name, like it mattered.
I close the book with a sigh, staring out the window at the clear morning sky.
Damn it, Bella. You just met him. Stop thinking about him like this.
But the truth is, I can’t. Not yet. And maybe… I don’t want to.
The book in my lap is forgotten as my phone buzzes next to me. I glance at the screen, half expecting it to be Amelia checking in again. But it’s not.
It’s him.
Jax.
I stare at his name for a second, my heart skipping. I wasn’t expecting to hear from him—not this soon, maybe not at all. Swiping to unlock the phone, I open the message.
Jax: Hey. Just wanted to check in. You good?
The corners of my mouth tug into a smile. Straight to the point, no fluff. Exactly how I imagine he’d talk.
Me: Hi. I’m good, thanks. How about you?
The reply comes quickly.
Jax: I’m fine. Just wanted to make sure that guy didn’t bother you again.
I let out a breath, my fingers pausing over the keyboard. The thought of Mike showing up again makes my stomach churn, but knowing Jax is checking in settles the nerves just a little.
Me: No, no sign of him. And thanks again for last night. You didn’t have to step in like that.
Jax: Didn’t have to, but I wasn’t going to stand there and watch that asshole put his hands on you.
I bite my lip, warmth spreading through me at his no-nonsense tone.
Me: Still, I really appreciate it. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t been there.
Jax: You’d have handled it. I can tell you’re tougher than you look. But I’m glad I was there.
A laugh slips out, and I shake my head. He’s not wrong—Mike didn’t know who he was dealing with when he grabbed me—but having Jax there made all the difference.
Me: Well, it’s nice to know someone has my back. That guy was a nightmare.
Jax: Yeah, I could tell. If he shows up again, you call me. I’ll take care of it.
My stomach flutters at the firmness of his words, the way they leave no room for doubt.
Me: Thanks, Jax. Hopefully, it won’t come to that.
Jax: Hopefully. But don’t hesitate if it does.
I sit back on the couch, staring at the screen. He didn’t have to reach out, and he definitely didn’t have to offer to help if Mike came back. But here he is, doing both.
Me: You’re a good guy, you know that?
Jax: I’m just a guy who doesn’t like seeing people get hurt.
Me: Well, either way, thank you. It means a lot.
Jax: Anytime.
As I set the phone down, my chest feels lighter, and my thoughts keep drifting back to him. The way he stood between me and Mike, the calm way he handled everything, and now, this.
Jax isn’t just a good guy. He’s different. Solid. And for the first time in a long time, I find myself wondering what it would be like to know more about him.