Chapter 31 Taevin
Now
After living in Nashville for the past decade, I nearly forgot how cold early October days here can get, especially when the weather is dreary like it is today.
Tugging the sleeves of my cardigan down over my hands, I snuggle further under the fuzzy blanket Ryan sent me and try to absorb as much heat from the fireplace beside the chair I’m curled up in as I finish the last few chapters of my book.
My phone vibrates with a message and I unlock it to find I’ve got a string of messages.
Kenna, Dakota, Alexa, and Scarlett added Walker and I to their bookclub, which meant we were also added to their group chat text thread.
Not only is the group name funny as hell, but the content shared back and forth is hilarious bordering on slightly unhinged.
Like now, for example, as I read through and catch up on my missed texts with them, I can’t stop the laughter.
The Smutty Stickhandlers:
Kenna:
Alright, babes. Are we still on for bookclub this week?
Dakota:
Saturday afternoon, right?
Scarlett:
Yes! Gemma and her friend Eva said they’d babysit the kiddos for us again at our place if that works?
Kenna:
That’s amazing! Thank you!
Dakota:
I know we’re going to talk about the book on Saturday, but I just need to say the angst in this one had me in a chokehold.
Alexa:
Oh my gosh, me too! I read it in the span of one red-eye from CA to NY this week.
Kenna:
OMG, same!
Scarlett:
I’m obsessed. I’ve only got a few chapters left.
Me:
I’m planning to finish the book today as well!
Alexa:
Tae! How are you feeling?
I smile at Alexa’s message, the two of us have become fast friends in the past few weeks. I can’t help but feel foolish that I ever felt threatened by her friendship with Jax.
Me:
I’m feeling much better today.
And I am. Today is day four after my second round of chemo, which seems to be when the nausea subsides and I’m mostly just exhausted. The fatigue is unlike anything I’ve experienced before. But hopefully by the time book club rolls around on Saturday, I’ll be feeling even better.
Adjusting the cool capping device on my head, I snuggle deeper into my blanket as I fight off the chill the device causes.
The cool capping was recommended to me by the cancer center I’m receiving treatment at, and the nurses told me that it’s supposed to help minimize the hair loss from chemotherapy.
Just as I move to pick my book back up, my phone buzzes again.
Kenna:
Let us know if there’s anything you need!
Walker:
Sorry, just catching up on everything! Tae, are we still on for our dinner and watching the game date night tonight?
Me:
You bet!
Walker:
Perfect, I’ll bring dinner over around six-ish if that works for you.
Me:
Sounds great!
Scarlett:
What are you bringing?
Walker:
Chinese takeout.
Kenna:
Okay, now I’m jealous and officially craving Chinese food.
Dakota:
Considering the two of us will be having a sleepover with the kids tonight, I’ll pick up Chinese on the way over, Kenna.
Kenna:
*drooling emoji* God, you’re the best!
Alexa:
I wish I wasn’t away on a work trip so I could join you ladies!
Me:
You’ll be back on Saturday for bookclub though, right?
Alexa:
Wouldn’t miss it for even an exclusive interview with Brody Meyer!
Dakota:
I’m pretty sure he’d rather get kicked in the face by a steer than do an exclusive interview.
Alexa:
*gasp* not his beautiful face, anywhere but there!
Kenna:
Tae and Walker, if you didn’t already know this, Brody Meyer aka the quarterback for the Voyagers, is also Dakota’s older brother, who just so happens to be Alexa’s dream interviewee and she most definitely has the hots for him.
Walker:
No one says “has the hots for” anymore, Kenna!
Kenna:
Stop making me feel old, Walker!
Walker:
Scarlett asked me to keep her in the know so she wouldn’t sound old to Gemma and all of her friends.
Scarlett:
Guilty . . .
Kenna:
Fine, young one, what should I be saying instead?
Walker:
Alexa’s so gone for Brody. Or Alexa has the feels for Brody. Or she simply has a crush still works too.
Kenna:
Thanks for keeping me up-to-date on the latest slang.
Walker:
Happy to be of service.
Alexa:
Yes, thank you, Walker. Just want to set the record straight . . . I have zero feels for Brody Meyer.
Walker:
CAP!
Dakota:
***
Scarlett:
Oh! I know this one! That means: LIES!
Walker:
You’ve been paying attention, Scar!
Kenna:
You’ve been called out, Lex!
Me:
Wait, didn’t you do a sideline interview with Brody last Thanksgiving that went viral?
Dakota:
Do you mean the one where my brother basically told her to kick rocks until after the game?
I wince as I think back to the interview.
Me:
Yep, that’s the one.
Alexa:
He also told me “you’re welcome” the next time he saw me at Dakota and Carson’s house.
Me:
Why would you thank him for that?
Alexa:
Because apparently the quarterback’s diva tendencies gave the network quite the boost in viewership.
Walker:
Dakota, you should see if he’d come on Lex’s podcast!
Alexa:
That’s a hard pass.
Dakota:
I don’t know . . . it could be kinda fun!
Kenna:
Yeah, all of the building tension between the two of you might come to a boiling point while you’re recording the episode!
Scarlett:
10/10 recommend workplace romance trope. Not that I’d know from experience or anything.
Me:
Also 10/10 recommend recording booth spicy time.
Walker:
GROSS.
Scarlett:
Oops, my bad!
Me:
Sorry, not sorry!
Kenna:
Don’t be sorry, Tae! You’ve got a decade of spicy time to make up for!
Walker:
Definitely didn’t mean you should be sorry for it. More power to you sisters! But you are doing these recommended actions with my brothers so . . . GROSS.
Me:
Touché. See you tonight, Dubs!
Shaking my head at their antics, I close out of the text thread and it’s only then that I realize I have missed texts from Jackson.
Bear:
I miss you already! Does that make me pathetic?
Bear:
Carson just watched me text you that over my shoulder and said I am indeed pathetic. You don’t think I’m pathetic, do you baby?
Bear:
Alright, I’m having full blown Tae withdrawals. My playlist keeps shuffling to either songs by you or songs we used to sing together.
Bear:
We just landed! I love you!
Me:
And I love you, my adorably pathetic husband.
Bear:
I love when you call me that.
Me:
Pathetic?
Bear:
Well, no, not that. Your husband.
Me:
I know.
Bear:
We’ll be at the hotel in about twenty. Will you FaceTime me before my game day nap?
Me:
Depends . . . what do I get out of it?
Bear:
Stay tuned and find out ;) I promise to make it worth your while.
I miss him something fierce and it’s only been a matter of hours. I’m officially just as pathetic as Carson said Jax is. But I’m not sure either of us can help it; we’re in the nauseatingly, infectiously in love honeymoon stage of our second act.
Over the past few weeks since I started chemo, our bond has strengthened and we’ve grown closer in ways I’d never imagined.
My walls are finally coming down and I’m allowing his help while reminding myself that it’s okay to lean on someone I love.
Jackson has been my rock through all of this and I honestly don’t know what I’d do without him.
Setting down my phone, I pick up my paperback copy of When I Come Back by Alise Monroe, our book club pick of the month, and allow myself to get lost within the pages of this second chance love story.
I’m so absorbed in the story I don’t realize how much time has passed until I receive a FaceTime call from Jax. Swiping to accept, I give him a shy smile in greeting.
He shoots me a crooked grin when his gaze locks on mine. “Hey, T. We just got settled into our rooms.”
Oh, he’s settled alright. On the other side of the screen sits a shirtless Jax with his back propped up against a wall of pillows and the headboard of his bed.
His broad chest stretches as he curls one arm behind his head.
I could spend hours tracing the lines of his biceps that twitch each time he situates himself to get comfortable.
When he quirks a brow at me, I realize I’ve been silently ogling him instead of greeting him back. Clearing my throat, I murmur, “Hi. How was the flight?”
“It was good. How’s it going holding down the fort by yourself?”
I have to bite my lip from blurting out how much I miss him. Instead, I go with, “Good, though I think we should discuss getting a pet to keep me company while you’re on the road.”
Jax’s eyebrows lift in surprise and he sits forward. “Yeah? What kinda pet are we talking about?”
“I’ve always wanted a cat.”
He chuckles at that. “I know. But I feel like you’re the kinda gal who wouldn’t stop at just one cat so before you know it you’d turn into the crazy cat lady and we’d have four or five of them.”
“You’re right. I would so do that. Besides, if memory serves, you’re allergic.”
“Yup, probably my biggest flaw.”
I chuckle at that.
“Is Walker still planning on coming over tonight to watch the game with you?” he asks.
I stretch my arms wide and stifle back a yawn.
“Yeah, she’s going to bring Chinese food over for dinner. I haven’t really had much of an appetite lately, but I’ve never been one to turn down a takeout container of chicken fried rice.”
“Dubs knows everyone’s favorites. She has the uncanny ability to remember the smallest details about everyone.”
“She does,” I agree, biting my lip in hesitation before I decide to ask him something that’s been on my mind lately. “Have you noticed anything different about your sister?”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know. It just seems like she’s . . . lonely. Even when we’re hanging out together, I catch her staring off into the distance with this forlorn expression. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I feel like she’s been sad ever since she moved here and I wasn’t sure if you knew anything.”