CHAPTER 22 #2
It struck a resonant chord deep within me, reminding me of the overwhelming turmoil that came with loving someone battling their own demons. How easily it could twist and warp even the strongest bonds, leaving scars that never fully healed.
"Do you think he'll be okay staying at the motel by himself?" I asked cautiously, my voice soft, fearful of the answer.
Jaxon sighed, his hands gripping the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. "I hope so," he admitted, his brow furrowing. "But I can't keep bailing him out or cleaning up his messes. He has to take responsibility for his own life now."
I felt the weight behind his words, the weariness settling into the tense lines of his face. This went beyond his brother's struggles, it was about setting firm boundaries, choosing to move forward without being dragged back into someone else's chaos. I understood that completely.
As we drove deeper into town, the buildings and signs grew more frequent, the landscape shifting from rural to urban.
When we finally pulled into the potholed parking lot of a run-down motel, Jared practically leapt out of the truck before it had fully stopped.
His wiry frame was tense, radiating agitation like heat waves off asphalt.
Jaxon climbed out to help retrieve his brother's meager belongings from the truck bed, but Jared shoved him away with an angry force that made me flinch.
The tailgate slammed shut with a sharp crack that reverberated through the air like a gunshot.
Jared hurled his battered backpack over his shoulder, muttering curses under his breath I couldn't quite make out.
The tension between the brothers crackled in the air, making my skin prickle.
I cautiously opened my door and stepped out, gravel crunching beneath my feet.
Heated words flew between them, their raised voices cutting through the still morning air.
I debated intervening, wondering if it would make things worse.
Jared's narrowed eyes suddenly locked onto me, his lip curling into a menacing sneer. His cold stare raked over me with contempt that made my stomach twist.
"Don't get your hopes up thinking you'll be getting a piece of his money, sweetheart," he spat with venom, taking a threatening step closer that made me flinch back instinctively.
My heart hammered against my ribs.
"He's so far up his own ass denying he has cash that he won't even help out his own blood stay on his feet until I find work in this shit-hole town."
The biting words sliced through me like shards of glass, my breath catching at the sting of the implication. This went beyond sibling resentment, it was a direct challenge, an unstable threat aimed straight at me. And I was completely confused about the mention of money.
Jaxon's glare followed his brother with undisguised loathing as Jared turned and stormed toward the flickering neon Vacancy sign humming in the distance. Every muscle in Jaxon's frame was coiled tight with barely restrained rage as he returned to the driver's seat.
I climbed back into the passenger side, my pulse still thudding in my ears, the visceral tension from the confrontation hanging thick in the air like a suffocating fog. The truck smelled of dust, anger, and something acrid I couldn't quite name.
"Did your brother just call me a gold digger?" I asked, my brow furrowing as confusion spread across my face. I had no idea what the confrontation had truly been about, only catching Jared's biting comment about money.
My bewilderment deepened when Jaxon suddenly burst into loud, unrestrained laughter, the sound rumbling from deep in his chest. The tension between us instantly dissipated with each rich chuckle that rolled through the confined space of the truck.
I blinked in surprise, my lips parting as I studied his face in puzzled fascination. The corners of his eyes crinkled with unbridled amusement, and I couldn't help the sense of relief that washed over me at the joyful sound.
"He did," Jaxon confirmed once his laughter subsided, flashing me a lopsided grin as he started the truck's engine. We pulled away from the motel, heading back toward the main stretch of town.
"Why?" My confusion lingered, my mind still reeling. I couldn't understand why Jared would make such an accusation, especially considering how little he knew about me.
Jaxon's expression softened, sensing my bewilderment. "It has nothing to do with you, Anna, I swear," he reassured me, his tone sincere. The truck rumbled beneath us as he merged onto the main road.
Then he glanced at me, his expression turning serious. "I'm about to tell you something that not even Connor knows. Is that okay?"
My surprise must have shown—my eyes widened. Something Connor didn't know? That seemed impossible; they were so close. I nodded, curiosity piqued, silently promising to keep his secret.
"When our parents died, I inherited everything," Jaxon began, his voice taking on a somber edge. "I sold all their assets and banked the money, along with whatever other funds came from their passing."
He paused, his jaw tightening as though bracing himself for my reaction. I stayed still and silent beside him, my eyes fixed on his profile, listening without judgment.
"Because Nikki didn't have any living family, when she signed up for a life insurance policy through work, she made me the beneficiary," Jaxon continued, the words heavy as they filled the space between us.
"So when she was murdered, I got that money too.
It's basically how I'm able to hang out at the ranch without having to work… "
His voice trailed off, the undercurrent of lingering pain clear in the taut lines of his face and the way his hands gripped the steering wheel a little too tightly.
I slowly exhaled a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. The revelation made so many things make sense, why he had time to help Connor so much, why he never seemed stressed about money, why he could just be there without worrying about employment.
I nodded in solemn understanding, completely unfazed by his confession. It didn't change how I saw him. If anything, it made me respect his restraint with Jared even more.
"Okay, but why would he say what he did back there?" I asked after a weighted pause, returning to Jared's earlier accusation.
Jaxon shook his head, his bewilderment mirroring mine. "Because he somehow knows about that money, even though I never told him," he explained, stealing a sidelong glance at me as the truck idled at a red light. The sun through the windshield was warm on my skin.
"And because he knows that, he wanted me to give him money, to support his…
situation." Jaxon's jaw clenched, barely restrained anger simmering behind his eyes.
"I refused and told him I didn't know what the hell he was talking about.
I tried to deny having any cash in the bank, but he knows somehow. I just don't understand how."
We lapsed into silence, the weight of Jaxon's confession pressing between us. I couldn't shake the unease Jared's accusation had stirred. Had he been snooping through Jaxon's things? The thought made my skin crawl.
I turned toward the window, watching the world pass by, the familiar storefronts of the small town, people going about their daily routines. The normalcy of it all stood in stark contrast to the tension we'd just left behind.
When we finally parked along the sidewalk, I looked at Jaxon with a confused expression. "What are we doing here?" He'd only mentioned taking Jared to the motel, not stopping anywhere else.
"I figured you might like to see Harper while we're here, since there won't be a cookout again until Connor comes back home.
" He pointed across the street to Harper's store, and warmth spread through my chest at the thoughtfulness of the gesture.
He had thought of me, wanted to do something nice for me after that awful confrontation.
He came around the truck to meet me, and I felt the warmth of his hand settle at the small of my back as he guided me from the truck and toward the store. His palm was broad and steady against my lower back, the heat of it seeping through the thin fabric of my blouse.
The bell above the door chimed as we entered, and the familiar scent of Harper's store enveloped me, a mix of new fabric, vanilla candles, and the faint floral perfume Harper always wore.
Soft music drifted from the overhead speakers, and the cool air-conditioning was a welcome relief from the summer heat outside.
I spotted Harper near the fitting rooms, her distinctive red hair catching the light as she tossed clothes over a door for whoever was inside.
"Anna! What a nice surprise! What brings you here?
" Harper smiled brightly when she saw me, waving enthusiastically.
Her green eyes sparkled with genuine delight.
She gestured for us to come closer, then turned her attention back to the fitting room door.
"You better try those on, and I better see them all," she teased the customer inside.
Jaxon stayed close to me, his hand resting lightly on the small of my back. The touch was gentle but steady, a silent reassurance that made me feel anchored, safe. He glanced around the shop, taking in the racks of vibrant clothing and carefully arranged displays.
Harper noticed Jaxon's presence and winked at me, a knowing gleam in her eyes. "You came with Jaxon again? Does this mean you've made him your official chauffeur now?" she teased, then quickly added, "I'm glad you're here, though. I've missed you."
Emboldened by the lighthearted teasing, and still riding the relief of leaving Jared behind, I leaned instinctively into the solid wall of Jaxon's chest beside me.
My body fit against his with surprising ease, and I felt the weight of his arm settle more securely around my hips, his fingers curling slightly along the curve.