Ch. 43 – Jax
S o, Saturday started off with a near heart attack. When Jax arrived at the winery, she immediately spotted Rico’s SUV in the parking lot. Cue her heart trying to escape out of her throat and her bladder just about crumbling like an underfunded seawall.
She would’ve turned around and driven home on the spot, but Haley, sitting in the passenger seat, might have asked a few questions Jax wasn’t prepared to answer. It was all Jax could do to propel her legs inside the place. Was it possible to do her job from the back room? Maybe she could chuck wine bottles and clean glasses to the servers without ever stepping into the light.
Jax nearly melted into a puddle of relief when she followed Haley into the winery and didn’t see Rico among the smattering of early guests. Turns out, other people drove gray Ford Explorers. Who’da thunk it?
However, her day didn’t exactly improve much from there. From the bar, Tess kept throwing her sympathetic looks and trembling smiles of encouragement. You’re so brave, those smiles said, and also, If you need to vomit up your soul in another raging flood of tears and snot, I’m here for you. Jax adored Tess, but she kinda wanted to strangle her petite friend right now. Her skin burned thinking about all that she’d revealed last night. Not that she regretted it. But feeling the pity in her friend’s gaze was a new, unpleasant burden to carry.
Then there was her boss. Apropos of nothing, Theo seemed intent on giving away his entire inventory. Jax was famous for her generous pours, but today Theo put her to shame. He held court at the tasting bar, practically offering full glasses with every tasting. He waved away proffered credit cards and gallantly refilled glasses nearly to the brim.
In fact, Theo seemed a little unsteady on his feet and way too smiley for his usual dour disposition. Her boss has obviously taken more than a few sips of his own goods in spite of it being—Jax checked her watch—10:32 a.m.
Good on him, Jax thought. The man could stand to relax a little.
Shockingly, the only member of their vino team who seemed to be acting the least bit normal was Haley. (Breanna the blond yoga queen was nowhere to be found.) Behind the bar, Haley giggled, flipped her wavy hair, and put on the full Haley show for her mostly male clientele.
As Jax started making rounds on the floor and patio, she had to admit it was nice having her roommate back in action. So far, Haley’s little rehab detour seemed to have done wonders. Haley had been ready for work nearly on time this morning, bright eyed and bushy tailed. Sure, the dishes were piling up in the sink again, but Tristan and his sleezy friends hadn’t darkened their doorstep. And Haley really did cheer up the winery. Her laugh flowed through the tasting room like a warm summer breeze.
An hour into her shift, as Jax ignored another gentle look from Tess that seemed to convey a hug and the whispered words I’m here for you , the door of the winery swung open. Willow floated inside, ducking her head and clasping her fidgeting hands in front of her. Jax did a double take .
What was Willow doing here? Jax had never seen her at the winery by herself. She always seemed dragged here by the sheer charisma of the other Crazy Cat Ladies.
Well, only one way to find out.
Willow sat a little uncertainly at a wine barrel table against the back wall. She looked around shyly as if even the smattering of people in the tasting room this early in the day was a large crowd.
Jax made her way across the tasting room and dropped into the seat across from Willow. “And what brings you to this humble establishment?” she asked.
With Tess, Haley, and Theo on duty, Jax could afford a short chat break.
Willow glanced down at her hands and touched her thumbs against each of her fingers one at a time. Jax had seen her perform the strange ritual before. Then again, Jax carried around a pocketful of lollipops, so who was she to judge?
“I wanted to see how you were doing,” Willow spoke. With obvious effort, she lifted her face and glanced at Jax with her dark, deep eyes.
Jax felt struck. “You came all the way down here to check up on me?”
Willow nodded.
Deep in her gut, Jax had developed a certainty that simple things that everyone else took for granted were much harder for Willow. Things like smiling, laughing, crossing a road, showing up to a Crazy Cat Lady Club meeting. Without exactly knowing why, Jax felt sure that Willow had expended a huge emotional effort to perch on her seat in the winery.
All out of concern for Jax.
“I’m . . . um, fine.” Jax’s throat inexplicably tightened. “Thanks for coming, though. I really appreciate it.” Now Jax was the one who felt nervous. She remembered again how she’d promised to show Willow her apartment . . . then utterly flaked.
“Can I get you a drink? It’s on the house,” she said.
Willow shook her head. “I don’t drink.”
Right. The tall, slim woman never drank at their Crazy Cat Lady Club meetings.
Jax fidgeted in the seat. “Lollipop?” She held out a watermelon-flavored sucker.
Willow smiled shyly, reached over, and accepted the treat. Very slowly, very carefully she unwrapped the lollipop. “Have you talked to Rico yet?”
Jax hunched in her seat. “No. Not yet.”
“You really should.” Willow tasted the lollipop, then pulled it out to speak. “Give him a chance to prove himself.”
“He probably thinks I’m crazy,” Jax moaned. “You don’t even understand how bad it was. I screamed at him. I shoved him.”
“If you explain, I’m sure he’ll understand.” Willow’s dark eyes filled with compassion and earnestness. “It’s like in chapter thirty-nine when Vince finally admitted he had a drinking problem to Naomie. He owned up to all his past mistakes and apologized for them. He put his heart fully on the line.”
Jax snorted. “ Exit Wounds is just a book, Willow. A romance book for that matter. They always get a happy ending. It’s preordained.”
Willow shook her head. Her soft voice rose. “Vince finally allowed himself to be vulnerable. He didn’t know if Naomie would forgive him, but he gave her the choice, the power to accept him.”
“It didn’t hurt that they were trapped in that restaurant freezer and thought they were going to die,” Jax muttered.
As much as she hated to admit it, Jax was actually enjoying the book. After scoffing through the first few chapters, she’d found herself slowly sucked in, silently rooting for Vince to believe in himself and for Naomie to let down her walls and be willing to give love a chance. She only had a few chapters left until the end of the book.
“Maybe Rico won’t understand. But maybe he will,” Willow pushed. “You won’t know until you give him a chance.”
Damn, when did this shy slip of a girl become so wise and strong? More importantly, why hadn’t Jax noticed that quiet strength all along?
“Willow!” Tess called, practically skipping over. “Hi! What are you doing here?”
Without thinking, Jax hopped off her seat and pulled the slender girl into her arms. She felt Willow stiffen, then relax. “Thank you,” Jax whispered, “for being a good friend.”
She stepped back and pulled in a steadying breath. “You two catch up,” she said to Tess. “I’ll cover the bar.”
Before Tess could argue, Jax stepped away. She picked up a few empty glasses on her way back to the bar, fielded several orders, and picked up a credit card from a couple preparing to leave. At the bar, she swiped the card and noticed Haley out of the corner of her eye. Her roommate glanced in either direction, then picked up an abandoned wineglass from the bar and finished the remaining contents before placing it in the dirty glass bin.
Jax frowned. Theo didn’t mind them enjoying a free a glass at the end of their shifts, but drinking on the job was a big no-no . . . not that Theo seemed to be following his own rule today. Even now, her boss was hamming it up with some regulars at a large table in the corner, his eyes a little extra twinkly, his laugh almost booming in volume.
Should she say something to Haley? Jax unwrapped a blueberry-flavored lollipop and put it in her mouth. Drinking a little wine wasn’t a big deal, right? It’s not like Haley was taking pills or snorting powder.
Jax put the uncomfortable thoughts out of her mind as she filled her orders and walked the credit card and receipt back to the couple. A few minutes later, Willow motioned her over to say goodbye.
“Give Rico a chance,” Willow said. “He may surprise you.” She did the thing with her thumbs again, touching each finger down her hands. “Love is so special and so rare.” She gazed up at Jax with her luminous eyes. “Don’t give up on it so easily.”
Jax reached out and took Willow’s hand. “Thank you,” she managed. For possibly the first time, Jax looked at Willow and saw her. Really saw her. With her shining waterfall of black hair, mile-deep dark eyes, and lush pink lips that broke into a shy smile, Willow was beautiful. And not just that. Now that Jax was paying attention, she appreciated Willow’s tall, slender body and the way it moved with subtle grace. How had Jax never clued into the fact that her friend was a smokin’ hot catch before?
Probably because Willow made it a habit to hide herself, to huddle in the background, to always escape notice. Well, that had to end. Jax squeezed Willow’s hand and made a secret vow to herself. She’d never overlook Willow again. No matter how much the other woman tried to fade into the background, Jax was going to make an effort to pull her into the sunlight.
“Well, um, okay. Goodbye.” Willow gently extricated her hand. The visit seemed to have exhausted her energy reserves. She hunched, tensing as a loud peal of laughter erupted from a nearby table, before gracefully slipping from her chair and hurrying to the door.
As Jax returned to the bar, Willow’s advice echoed in her head. Should she reach out to Rico? His text messages had been so kind and apologetic after her massive freakout. Maybe he would understand. Then again, the messages and calls had stopped the next day. Had he already moved on? Given up on her after receiving the cold shoulder?
The man surely had no shortage of women ready and willing to throw themselves at him. After all, an unofficial Twitter poll doesn’t crown you the hottest reporter in San Diego for nothing.
Jax waffled. Was it too late? Had she lost her chance with Rico?
“Hey, toots. Canna I get ’nother drink over here?” a man slurred from the end of the bar.
Toots? Did you step out of a 1950s gangster film? Jax thought as she moved to the man. He wore an expensive white polo and about three pounds of hair gel.
“Hey, honey,” he said as she approached, then frowned, taking her in. “Whatcha wearing?” He moved his hand up and down Jax’s body, indicating her loose T-shirt and suspenders. “Why you hiding all your . . . your assets away?” He hiccupped. “You gotta show those tits off.”
“Leave,” Jax said.
“Huh?”
“No wine for you,” she clarified. Soup Nazi meet Jax the Wine Nazi.
“Wha’d I say?” the man whined.
A woman in a bright sundress left the bathroom and approached. “What’s going on?”
“I’m cutting him off,” Jax told her.
“I was . . . was giving her a compliment,” the man tried to explain.
“Sure you were, Ross.” The woman shoved a credit card at Jax. “Sorry for whatever he said. He lost his job this week. And he’s going to lose his wife at this rate.”
“Cynthia, I was just sayin’— ”
“You probably shouldn’t be saying anything for a while,” Jax noted, handing the woman a receipt. She scrawled her name, grabbed the man by the arm, and practically dragged him out of the winery.
Jax watched them leave. A year ago, she would have been intimidated by an asshole like Ross. She would have shrunk beneath his gaze, stammered, maybe even apologized. Not anymore. She wasn’t weak.
She looked up and caught Tess’s gaze. Tess nodded at her, a look of pride on her face.
Jax was strong. Strong enough to stand up for herself. Strong enough to make waves. And, she realized, strong enough to reach out to Rico and tell him her truth.