Chapter 34 #2
His expression hardens. “She asked me to keep it private. I was giving her the respect she deserves. You’re keeping her medicated to maintain the fantasy that she chose you.”
The accusation lands like a blow to my face. My blood races through my veins and I have to step back before I do something I’ll regret.
“Get out.” The words scrape my throat raw.
“Not until you agree to handle the painkiller situation.” Jaxon doesn’t budge. “She’s going to build a tolerance. She’ll start taking more to get the same relief. If you can’t see that pattern, you’re being willfully blind.”
“I see it, Jaxon. I’ve been monitoring how many she takes.”
“You can’t do that when she’s at work and has access to them by reaching into her purse.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
There are a few beats of silence as we glare into each other’s eyes.
“Cash, I know you love her. But loving someone means making hard choices even when they hate you for it.”
I sink onto a stool, exhausted from the weight of everything. “If I take them away and the headaches get worse, she’ll suffer.”
“And if you don’t take them away, she could…” Jaxon moves closer but doesn’t touch me. “Don’t play with this kind of fire, Cash. It’s not worth it.”
The moment stretches between us, heavy with everything we’re not saying. My therapist’s words echo in my head about sabotaging what I want most.
“Fine.” I drag my hands through my hair. “I’ll talk to her doctors tomorrow and get them to prescribe something non-addictive for the headaches.”
“And the pills she has now?”
“I’ll get rid of them tonight.” My throat tightens. “She’s gonna be pissed.”
“Better pissed than dead.” Jaxon picks up his laptop and tucks it under his arm. “I’ll check in tomorrow to make sure you followed through.”
“You don’t trust me?”
“I don’t trust addiction.” He juts his chin out. “And neither should you.”
I release a long breath and gesture toward the living room. “How did you end up bringing her home?”
“I was leaving the office and saw her sitting outside by the flowerbed. She took a couple of pills while we were talking.”
“She told me she was gonna order a ride service.” I lean against the island, some of the fight draining out of me.
“She was about to when I approached her. She explained she had a splitting headache, and she’d been dealing with it all day.”
“She’s been dealing with them since the accident.”
“Then get the doctors to order an MRI so they can figure out what’s causing them.”
“It’s called trauma, Jaxon. Fucking hell, where have you been for the last month?”
Something like guilt floats through his eyes.
He places his computer down and bypasses my sarcastic question. “I offered her a ride. That’s when she took more pills. Right in front of me. Two of them with barely any water.”
My stomach drops. “Do you know how many she had already taken?”
“I don’t know, but she told me to give her brain twenty minutes for the ‘little magical workers’ to hit.” He shakes his head. “By the time we got here, she could barely stand. I had to help her up the stairs.”
“Fuck.” I scrub my hands over my face. “I should’ve been there.”
“Yes, you should have.” Jaxon’s tone isn’t accusatory anymore, just tired. “She’s been angry with me all day. She kept saying she didn’t understand why, but that was after the medication kicked in.”
“What do you mean, she’s been upset with you?” I meet his gaze. “What happened?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. She just came at me about my work in Malaysia.”
“Malaysia?” I narrow my eyes. “What’s that got to do with anything?”
“That’s where I went.”
“I’m not following.”
“When we broke up, that’s where I was.” He lowers his head.
It hits me. She’s angry with him about leaving her but can’t connect the dots. Her headaches are part of her broken heart. I sit with that for a few beats.
Footsteps from the stairs filter into the room. We both turn as Livianna appears, her hair mussed and eyes still glazed from the medication. She’s wearing one of my T-shirts and her movements are slow.
“Callum?” Her voice is soft and sleepy.
“Hey, vixen.” I rush to her immediately, catching her elbow when she sways. “You okay?”
“Mmm hmm.” She leans into me, her hand finding my chest. “I’m good now that you’re home.”
“That’s nice to hear.” I wrap my arm around her waist and press a kiss to her temple. “How are you feeling?”
“Floaty.” She turns her head and seems to notice Jaxon for the first time. Her expression shifts, cooling several degrees. “You’re still here.”
“I wanted to make sure you were okay.” Jaxon stays where he is, not approaching.
“Thank you for that.” Livianna’s words are polite but clipped. “But you should’ve left once I was in bed.”
Jaxon’s face turns red. “I was concerned—”
“I don’t need your concern.” The anger in her voice surprises even her because she blinks and touches her forehead. “I’m sorry. That was rude.”
“It’s fine.” Jaxon picks up his laptop. “The medication is still in your system.”
“It’s not that.” Livianna straightens despite still leaning on me. “I just think you should go now.”
The dismissal is clear. Her body tense against mine, that inexplicable hostility she has toward Jaxon surfacing even through the drug haze.
Jaxon notices it too. His gaze flicks between us before settling on me. “Remember what we discussed.”
“I will.” The promise sits weighted between us.
He steps toward the door, then pauses. “Cash, take care of business. Don’t make me come back here to do it for you.”
It’s not quite a threat, but it’s close enough.
“I’ve got it handled.” I keep my voice even.
Jaxon holds my stare for another beat, then nods once and leaves. The door closes behind him.
Livianna releases a shaky breath. “Why was he here?”
“He brought you home.” I guide her back toward the couch. “Do you remember that?”
“Yes.” She sinks onto the cushions. “God, I’ve been so angry with him today. So angry. But I don’t know why.”
I sit beside her and pull her close. “It’s okay. You don’t need all the answers right now.”
“But I do.” Her fingers curl into my shirt. “It’s the only way these headaches will stop.”
I hold her in my arms, stroking her hair. “Don’t worry, Lily. I’ve got you, and I’m not gonna let you fall.”
“But what if I fall anyway?”
It’s with those words that I make a decision. Everything is gonna change from this moment on. I stake my life on it. Things will change even if it tears us apart.