Chapter 31
thirty-one
When we pull into Jax’s driveway, I let out a thankful sigh. I had an amazing weekend—more than amazing, actually—but I’m still happy to be home so I can get back to work.
He looks over at me and grins. “I had fun.”
“Me too,” I say, reaching for my purse. “Thanks for inviting me. It was really special being able to see that part of your life.”
“My pleasure.” He kills the engine and turns to face me fully. “So when are you going to show me your special place?”
A laugh bursts out unexpectedly. “You dirtied that up on purpose didn’t you?”
“Maybe,” he says with a wink. “But seriously. Fair’s fair.”
“First of all, I technically already showed you my special place, thank you very much.” He huffs out a laugh, scrubbing a hand over his face. “Not to mention, I don’t own anything as special as a big ass ranch with horses and cabins with retractable ceilings.”
“No, but you’ve got the yoga studio opening soon. I bet you could show me some… interesting positions.” His eyes darken as he leans in a little closer. “After hours.”
Heat rushes to my core. Is this guy for real? I’ve always had this fantasy of doing naked yoga in my studio, only to have someone come in and do dirty things to me while I’m in downward dog. It’s almost like he can see inside my head, for fuck’s sake.
Feeling a little overwhelmed, I ignore his proposition. “Speaking of Summit, I should probably get home and check on things. This whole blackmail situation has me on edge,” I quip, pushing open the passenger door before his magnetism pulls me in. Again.
Jax shrugs and climbs out, grabbing our bags. “Let me walk you home.”
Too tired to argue, I just nod.
The whole drive back, I couldn’t stop thinking about the video and who might have sent that text. Obviously Ryan is involved, but to what extent? The thought makes my stomach turn.
“Thanks for everything,” I say when we reach my front door. “Not just the weekend, but for helping with...” I hold up my powered-down phone.
“That’s what friends are for.” He sets my bag down by the door. “Speaking of which...”
“What?”
“You know what other things friends do? They hang out. Play video games, have sleepovers, meet up for drinks.”
Crossing my arms, I lean against the doorframe, shaking my head with a smile. “Sounds more like dating to me.”
Jax lets out a mock gasp, hand flying to his chest. “How dare you! Ryder comes over to play video games all the time, and we’re not dating.”
“Yeah. And I highly doubt you pound him into the mattress within an inch of his life, either.”
Jax sputters out a laugh, shaking his head. “Damn, sweet cheeks. My dick is struggling with whether it wants to get hard, or shrink up into my body at that visual.” He shudders. “It’s actually kind of disturbing.”
“Come on.” His eyes flick down to focus on my mouth. “It’ll be a fun way to work on the whole friend dynamic of this unique thing we’ve got going.”
I tap my chin, pretending to think it over. “Alright. Then I propose anytime we ‘hang out’ as friends, there’s no sex involved.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “Kinda beats the point of FWB, but okay.” He leans against the side of the house and blows out a breath. “I’ll accept your offer and raise you with one of my own. If either of us needs help scratching an itch, we booty text.”
“Booty text?” I repeat, trying not to laugh. “What are we, college freshmen?”
“You got a better idea?”
I think for a moment. “No, actually. That works.” I unlock my door and push it open. “So what happens next?”
“With the blackmail or with us?” he asks, shifting to lean against the open doorframe.
“Both, I guess.”
“As far as the blackmail goes, we wait to hear from Dylan. As for us...” His eyes roam over me slowly, taking me in. “I’m thinking we should test out our new rule. Tomorrow night—strictly as friends, of course—we watch a movie at my place. No sex.”
“You sure you can handle that?” I challenge.
“Sure can. Can you?” His grin is pure wickedness.
“I guess we’ll find out,” I say, stepping inside. “Oh. I need my phone for work. Can I turn it back on?”
“Yeah. Dylan should have the monitoring set up for it by now.”
“Cool, thanks. See ya, Jax.”
“See ya, beautiful.”
I close the door and lean against it, letting out a long breath. What am I getting myself into? This whole friends-with-benefits deal seemed simple enough when we first agreed to it, but after this weekend, things feel… different.
If I’m not careful, this shit could get real complicated.
Pushing off the door, I head to the kitchen to make some tea, sorting through my jumbled thoughts.
The ranch, the hot tub, the sex—it was all incredible. But it’s the quiet moments that keep replaying in my mind: Jax telling me about his dad, the vulnerable look in his eyes when he talked about his recovery, the way he held my pinky while we watched the meteor shower.
Those aren’t just friend moments. Those aren’t even friends-with-benefits moments.
And then there’s the blackmail. What if Dylan can’t find the source? What if whoever it is still leaks the video?
I’ve worked too damn hard building Summit into something I’m proud of. Into what it is today. And the thought of it all crashing down because of what Ryan did without my knowledge, not only makes me sick to my stomach, it pisses me the fuck off.
After waking up from a two-hour nap, I stretch and check the time. Shit, it’s almost noon.
I grab my phone and call Noia.
“Hey! There she is,” she teases. “How was your friend’s weekend with Jax?”
“It was...” I pause, trying to find the right words. “Complicated. And amazing. And now there’s this whole other thing—”
“Whoa. Back up. What whole other thing?”
I sigh, rubbing my forehead. “I’d rather tell you about it in person. Can you meet me at Summit in thirty? I want to check the progress.”
“Sure thing. I just finished editing a chapter. I’ll head over now.”
“Perfect. See you soon.”
After hanging up, I quickly change my clothes and pull my hair up into a messy bun.
When I arrive, I’m surprised to see Noia already waiting outside holding two cups of coffee.
“You’re a lifesaver,” I say, accepting a cup.
“Figured you might need it.” She gives me a quick once-over. “You definitely look like you had a good weekend.” Her face splits into a snarky grin. “A little sore, maybe?”
“Shut up,” I mutter, cheeks flushing as I unlock the door.
This time the door opens easily, and as soon as we step inside, I gasp.
The last time I was here, it was just an empty shell with taped markings on a concrete floor. Now, hardwood floors gleam under the lights, and partial walls on this side of the building divide the space exactly as I’d envisioned.
“Holy shit,” I breathe as I take a few more steps in. “It’s actually happening.”
The main area is going to be perfect for group classes, with glass walls creating separate zones for more specialized training, and another area that’s been fully enclosed for hot yoga. There’s even a small alcove that will soon house a juice bar.
“This looks amazing, Sash,” Noia exclaims.
I nod, unable to speak past the lump in my throat. This is my dream—my vision—materializing right before my eyes. Despite the ominous threat of a sex-tape hanging over my head, I feel a surge of pride.
“The email the contractor sent said they’re ahead of schedule,” I say, finally finding my voice. “The mirrors will be here in a couple of days, and the equipment should be here by Thursday.”
Setting her coffee down on a windowsill, Noia turns to face me with her hands on her hips. “Okay, enough stalling. What went down with you and Jax over the weekend, and what’s this ‘other thing’ you mentioned?”
I take a deep breath and tell her about the ranch and the blackmail text.
“What the actual fuck?” she explodes when I finish. “Ryan made a sex tape without telling you? That’s all sorts of fucked up!”
“I know,” I sigh, sinking down to sit cross-legged on the new floor.
“Do you think he’s behind it?”
“I don’t know what to think. The text said he owes them money, but...” I trail off, shaking my head. “It just doesn’t make sense. Ryan’s family is loaded. Why would he need to borrow that kind of cash?”
Expression serious, Noia lowers herself to the floor, facing me. “Gambling debts? Drugs? Bad investments? Could be just about anything.”
“Whatever it is, I’m screwed if Jax’s friend can’t help.”
“So Jax has a hacker friend, huh? Doesn’t surprise me.” She nudges my foot with hers. “So... what’s going on with you two? You were supposed to just have a friends weekend, not blackmail drama.”
I bury my face in my hands. “I know, I know. It all just... happened. And he was right there when I got the text, so he immediately offered to help.”
“And the sex?”
I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. “Mind-blowing.”
She waggles her eyebrows and grins. “Nice.”
“You have no idea.” I lean back on my hands and stare up at the ceiling. “But it’s not just about that. He showed me this whole other side of him. Did you know he owns the J & R? And that he designed the Night Hunters video game?”
“Wait, seriously? Jax is secretly loaded?”
“Apparently. But he doesn’t act like it, you know? He genuinely cares about helping those kids and people in recovery.” I pause, realizing how I must sound. “We’re still just FWB. We even made a rule that when we hang out as friends, there’s no sex.”
Noia throws her head back and laughs. “Oh my God, that is the dumbest rule I’ve ever heard. You realize that’s just going to make you want to jump each other’s bones even more, right?”
“That’s not—” I start to protest, stopping when I see her knowing look. “Okay, fine. Maybe. But I’m trying to be smart about this. I can’t handle a relationship right now, especially with everything else going on.”
“If you say so,” she says, clearly unconvinced. “But from where I’m sitting, this is exactly how I would play it out in one of my books. The more you hang out as friends, the closer you’re going to get. And adding sex into the mix? Sounds like you’re already in deeper than you want to admit.”