38. Ava
Today is the day I’m going to see Kayleigh after two and a half years.
After my conversation with Jaxon, we got in contact with her. We video called each other because I don’t think she believed I was real. When her face popped up on the screen, tears started to flow.
I found out she’s attending a university sixty miles from here. Jaxon said she could come to the pack house to see me while being trailed by our guards for safety into the district.
The intense butterflies make my stomach churn. I know I need some normality from my old life.
Kayleigh wasn’t just a best friend to me; she was like a sister.
Jaxon kneads his thumbs into the muscles on my shoulders. “Relax, baby,” he whispers, giving my cheek a peck. “This is good. This is exciting.”
“I know.” I chew on my lip. “I’m apprehensive.”
He hums against my jaw gently before wrapping his arms around me from behind. I latch onto his arm and smile at the warmth of his body. A moment to embrace his calmness—God knows I need it.
“She’s here.” He kisses the back of my head. “Guards have informed me.”
I jump from Jaxon’s arms and start shaking out my limbs. My throat tenses, but I force a gulp of air down anyway. He gives me one firm nod before I make my way to the front door. I take hold of the handle and swing it open. My eyes immediately fall on my best friend. Her expression is weary, but as soon as she sees me, her mouth bursts into a grin. Then, I glance to the right of her, not having noticed a second person.
“Danny?”
Holy hell. What is he doing here?
Danny doesn’t say anything for a few moments. Instead, he watches me with sadness and relief in his eyes. My heart aches at the expression. “Hi, gorgeous.” His lips tremble as he speaks. “I’ve missed you so much.”
He steps forward to wrap me up in a hug, but it doesn’t even compare to an embrace from Jaxon. I tilt my head and return it gently. “Hi,” I exhale.
When he lets me go, I turn back to Kayleigh, who has tears in her eyes, but her smile hasn’t faltered. “Hey, Av,” she murmurs before bundling me into an embrace that almost knocks me over.
I chuckle and hold her tight. “Hi, Kayleigh. It’s so good to see you.”
We stay like this for a few seconds, and I close my eyes and savour our reunion. The bones in my body begin to relax, and I can’t stop the pressure behind my lids. Nothing beats this moment—especially now I’m coming to terms with who I am.
I pull back and hold her at arm”s length. Goodness, she’s still as beautiful as ever. Blonde wavy hair hangs around her shoulders and pale blue eyes are sparkling at me with joy. I glance down at her signature nose ring she’s had since we were sixteen.
“Come in,” I say before guiding them down to the kitchen.
Kayleigh and Danny’s eyes glance around the grand hall in awe. “So, this is what you left us for then, huh?” Danny laughs hesitantly.
I flick my gaze to Kayleigh, who is beaming along. I didn’t tell her where I had been on our phone call. They think I left Russell Vale by choice.
“Not quite,” I admit and step into the kitchen. “I want you to meet someone first.”
Jaxon is leaning against the counter with his arms folded over his chest and biceps bulging out of his black T-shirt. His head turns towards us as soon as he notices we’re in company.
“Kayleigh, Danny, this is my…” I glance between them. “My boyfriend, Jax.”
Danny’s brows pinch together at my words, and it makes me wince inside.
“It’s Jaxon, actually,” he clarifies.
Kayleigh takes a few confident strides towards him and holds out her hand. “Nice to meet you.” She grins, and Jax shakes her hand.
“Likewise, Kayleigh.”
Then Jaxon’s eyes instantly move to Danny. His expression hardens like stone.
Please don’t tell me that’s who I think it is? he says through our mindlink.
Guilt churns my stomach, but I had no clue. I didn’t specify to Kayleigh not to tell anyone, so that’s my fault.
I hold his stare. I’m sorry. I didn’t know he was coming.
Danny scratches the back of his head before reluctantly holding his hand out to Jaxon. “Nice to meet you, man,” he says with a struggle.
“Yeah. You, too, Dale.”
“Danny,” he corrects him with an edge to his tone.
Jaxon looks unphased. “Right…that’s it.”
I squirm at their exchange and how long they awkwardly shake hands for. Kayleigh clears her throat, sensing the tension. “So, how did you guys meet? What’s the story?”
I urge them both to sit down at the kitchen counter. Danny sits down beside me and Jax narrows his eyes at the action. “Uh, well,” I say with a shallow breath. “I didn’t choose to leave Russell Vale. Things happened to me over two years that I cannot quite vocalise yet, it’s too painful. I’m getting help for it. I’ve got a therapist, and I found Jaxon. I’m happy here, and that’s what matters.”
Kayleigh’s face drops, and her lips part, but I can tell she doesn’t know what to say. “I’m sorry, Ava,” she whispers carefully. “How are you now?”
“I’m getting there.” I swallow the rough lump in my throat. “I have my good days and bad days. I’m taking every day as it comes.”
Danny leans over to take my hand, which catches me by surprise, and I blink at the action. “What happened, Ava?”
“She just said she doesn’t want to talk about it,” Jaxon’s voice booms across the kitchen, which makes Danny flinch. “So don’t push her.”
Then he glances down at the grip he has on my fingers, and my chest tightens. His eyes darken and not in a good way—he looks murderous.
If he doesn’t take his hands off you in the next second, I will happily break both of his wrists. Jaxon’s words are calm but full of deadly determination.
I slowly pull my hands away from Danny’s touch because I don’t want any broken bones here. “Yeah,” I rasp with a forced smile. “I don’t want to talk about it. Please respect that.”
Danny nods. “Of course. I’m sorry.”
“But I’m here now. I’m safe. I had nothing left for me in Russell Vale. This place feels like my home,” I admit to them and myself.
Because it is your home, baby. Jax’s words wrap around my heart.
“I’m glad you’re safe,” Kayleigh says. “I missed you so much. You have no idea.”
My head tilts to my shoulder and I blink back my tears. “I missed you too.”
“So you didn’t write that post?” Danny asks, and Jaxon shoots him a glare.
“No, I didn’t. They probably wanted to cover their tracks. Must have made sure that no one started looking for me.” I shrug simply.
Kayleigh brushes a finger over her lips in deep thought. “When you left, I went to your house and saw your foster parents. They kept deflecting everything and seemed so angry. They said you were eighteen now and could do what you wanted.”
“They didn’t care about me.”
“They moved away shortly after you.”
I’m desperate to change the subject. “Sorry. I”m an awful host. Do you guys want something to drink?”
Kayleigh nods. “Sure, thank you.”
“Yeah, that’d be great,” Danny says.
“It’s okay, I’ll do it.” Jaxon moves towards the counter. “Is coffee okay?”
They both agree, and Danny glances over his shoulder before turning to me, his face inches from mine. “I don’t understand this, Ava. So…you guys meet, and now you’re all happily ever after?”
Kayleigh gasps and scolds him.
“All of this seems strange and very out of character for you.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “I’m not the same person I was when I was eighteen, Danny. Things have changed. I have changed.”
“Have you seen this house? It belongs to a billionaire,” he whispers under his breath. “You cannot tell me you just fell into his arms.”
“Danny–”
He leans impossibly closer. “Is this a cult? Because if it is, we can get you out.”
My brows widen at his accusation. I watch him carefully as he pulls away and focuses on a spot on the floor. “Although I’ve seen some seriously messed-up documentaries, and they did not end well.”
“This isn’t a cult. None of this is strange—not to me anyway. I get it from an outsider”s point of view. But I didn’t have anywhere else to go, and I’ve found peace here. Without Jaxon, I probably would have been dead.”
Jaxon’s shoulders tense. Despite us speaking quietly, his sensitive hearing means I’m probably shouting. I grimace at my choice of words.
“Well, I’m glad you’re happy, Av. I’m just so pleased to have you back in my life.” She leans over to take my hand, and I give it a soft squeeze. “Please tell me we can see each other more.”
I nod without hesitation. “Of course. I would love that.”
“Our university isn’t too far away.” She nods. “Maybe you could come up and see it.”
“Sure,” I agree as Jaxon sets down their drinks on the counter.
Kayleigh thanks him before her eyes settle on the kitchen window. “Oh my,” she murmurs. “Who the hell is that?”
We all turn our attention to the window. It’s Kayden. He’s on his way back from a run, and his whole body is glistening with sweat, dripping off his large forearms. He tugs his T-shirt off his back, exposing his toned body.
“Oh,” I say, turning back to her, but I can see the love hearts blooming in her eyes. She’s in a Kayden-induced trance. “That’s Kayden. Jaxon’s B–”
“Brother,” he cuts over me, and I freeze. That was a close call. Crap.
Danny’s brows crease as he glances from Jaxon to Kayden. “Funny, you guys don’t look alike.”
“Ever thought about the fact adoption exists, Dale?”
“Danny,” he says through gritted teeth.
Jaxon rolls his eyes. “Yeah, yeah,” he mutters. “He’s like a brother to me. We’re friends, but we’re not related.”
Kayden then strolls into the kitchen, and I glance at Kayleigh, who is composing herself. He notices we have company and raises his brows.
“Kayden, these are my friends from home,” I say. He glances at Danny first and shakes his hand. “And this is Kayleigh.”
“Hey,” she greets him politely.
His eyes roam over her face as she sits on the stool. “Hey, nice to meet you.”
Kayden’s hand extends for her to shake, and she takes it delicately. The encounter goes on for a few seconds too long, like no one else in the room exists. Danny clears his throat, which snaps them out of their daze, and Kayleigh looks away, cheeks reddening by the second.
“I’m gonna go clean up,” he says, dismissing himself, but not before he looks over his shoulder to take one last glance at Kayleigh.
“So, what do you do for a job, Jaxon?” Danny quizzes.
Jaxon leans his hand on the island. “I invest in property.”
“Like this one?”
“Yes.” He nods.
“And you own it?”
“Yes.”
“And who exactly lives here? This place is a goddamn mansion.”
“Danny,” Kayleigh snaps. “This isn’t one hundred and one questions. Cut it out.”
His head whips in her direction. “I’d like to know more about Ava’s boyfriend, if that’s okay with you.”
I press a hand to my head and close my eyes for a second. “Please,” Kayleigh hisses. “Stop. Just stop.”
“Fine,” he grumbles. “Can I use your bathroom?”
“Sure. I’ll show you.” Jaxon’s voice is low.
I jump off of my stool faster than lightning. “No. I’ll show you.”
There is no guarantee what would happen if I leave Jax and Danny alone, but I can imagine it won’t be pretty. I catch Jaxon’s eyes on the way out and raise my brows at him.
I show Danny down the hall to the bathroom, and then as I’m about to turn, he takes my wrist. “Ava, wait,” he pleads.
My eyes meet his, and I pull back at the devastated expression on his face. Those eyes don’t lie. He’s hurting right now. “Are you sure this is what you want?” he asks. “Do you remember what we had? That we loved each oth–”
I pull away from his grip, shaking my head vigorously. “Danny, stop. Stop.” I hold up my hands. “I’m sorry this is how you had to find out about us, but it’s been two and a half years. I’m not the girl I was in school. I don’t mean to hurt you. Things have changed. I have changed.”
“What you and this guy have had for God knows how long was better than what we had in two years?”
I release a tight breath. “We were kids, Danny. I’m sorry. I never want to hurt you.”
“I still have feelings for you, Ava.”
My eyes close in defeat, and I chew on the inside of my lip. “Please, don’t do this. Please respect that I”ve moved on and I’m trying to let go of my past. I need it for my recovery. I’m sorry for being selfish, but it’s what I need.”
He lowers his head, covering the look in his eyes. “Right,” he rasps. “Sure. I can respect that. I can respect whatever you need. I’m just hurt.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
When I make it back to the kitchen, Kayleigh and Jaxon are laughing away as they crowd around Kayleigh’s phone. “What are you guys doing?” I ask suspiciously.
Kayleigh turns to me with a wide grin. “I’m showing Jaxon videos and pictures of you from school from our cheerleading days when you face-planted the floor at Lydia’s party.”
I laugh hesitantly, my face on fire. Jaxon’s eyes glitter with amusement. “O-Kay, I think that’s enough,” I say, reaching forward to take her phone.
“Fine, fine.” She swats me away gently. “I thought Jaxon would like to see.”
“I did.” He nods in agreement.
Danny makes it back to the kitchen, where he sits in silence. Jaxon quirks a brow in my direction.
I’ll tell you later, I shoot down our mindlink.
They stay for another hour before they head off, and I give Kayleigh a much-needed hug goodbye—one I couldn’t give her before. But this won’t be our last.
She pauses by the door as Danny starts the car. “Oh, I’m sorry I brought him unexpectedly. We’re both at the same university, and I got excited. I had to tell someone. If I knew you were with Jaxon, I never would have done that. I’m sorry if I pushed any boundaries. I assumed you might have liked to see him, too.”
I shake my head. “It’s okay. I still saw you. It doesn’t matter.”
“Bye.” She waves with a beaming smile. “It was super nice to meet you, Jaxon.”
“You, too. Drive safe.”
I return to the kitchen when they leave, and within seconds, I sense Jaxon’s eyes on me. “What did he say?”
I sigh and fill the dishwasher. “He still has feelings for me and doesn’t understand how this happened so quickly between us.”
Jaxon leans against the counter with a firm nod. “How did you feel when you saw him?”
“Surprised,” I admit. “But I didn’t feel anything—not a single thing.”
He holds out his hand for me, and I take it, and then I’m tugged to his side. “Not even a sliver of something?”
“No. I felt nothing. But when I’m with you, I feel everything. This is right. I’m still getting my head around it all, but I couldn’t imagine being anywhere but here. Does that make sense?”
Jaxon leans down to peck the corner of my mouth. “Makes more than sense,” he whispers. “You’re meant to be by my side. This is your home. It will always be your home.”
“I’ve never really had a home,” I confess heavily. “Jumping around in foster care didn’t give me much security. Nothing was stable. Nothing was forever. It was continuous false hope, and I hated it.”
“Well, you have indefinite security here because this can be your first true home. I’m glad I can be a part of it,” he says so softly it makes my eyes water.
A smile possesses my lips. “Me, too. I don’t want to be anywhere else.”