19. Candice
CANDICE
“H oly shit, Jax!” I shriek as my eyes scan over the newspaper. “You didn’t tell me Brent was getting married!”
“What?” he snaps as he storms towards the counter.
When I hold the paper up, he snatches it out of my hands and reads the small article that accompanies the picture of his brother and his new wife.
His parents are standing on either side of them, smiling.
It’s front and centre of the society section of today’s newspaper.
I hope he doesn’t read the caption under the image: Malcolm and Penelope Albright, standing proudly with their only son, Brent, and his lovely new wife, Jennifer .
Jax doesn’t say a word, but the look on his face speaks volumes. It breaks my heart.
I gather he knew nothing about this, and I hate that his family have yet again excluded him. Without taking the time to read the entire article, he closes the newspaper and slams it down on the desk before spinning around and storming away.
I flinch when I hear the door of his studio slam shut. His family suck, and although he’s so much better off without them, I can only imagine how much this would hurt. Nobody wants to be rejected, especially by the people who should care about you the most. I know that feeling all too well.
I sit there for a few minutes contemplating what I should do. I wish I hadn’t said anything, but he deserved to know. Sliding off my chair, I walk hesitantly down the corridor. If nothing else, I want Jax to know he’s not alone. He’ll never be alone as long as he has me.
Things have been strained between us since our night out at the Ivy.
We had a huge argument the following day, and he’s been pulling away from me ever since.
Unlike him, I didn’t go home with the guy on the dance floor—I never intended to.
The kiss was just that … a kiss. It wasn’t planned.
I’d had too much to drink, and the guy kissed me.
That’s it. After Jax left, I went back to the table and sat with the boys.
I don’t think that guy was game enough to come near me after that.
We all shared a cab home, and even though I lived furthest away, the boys made sure the driver took me home first.
“Psst,” I hear when I walk past Gus’s room. “What’s up the boss’s arse?” he whispers.
I roll my eyes as I shoo him away with my hand. “None of your business. Now get back to work.”
“Yes, ma’am, Pinkie.” I laugh when he salutes me.
“Jax, can I come in?” I ask, knocking on his door.
“Go away.”
I turn the handle despite what he said and I find it locked. Ugh! “Please, Jax.”
“I don’t want to talk about it, Candice.”
I rest my forehead against the door and sigh. As much as I’d like to comfort him, I have to accept he wants to be alone. “Okay. I’m here if you change your mind.” I wait for a reply, but it never comes.
My heart is heavy as I walk back to the front counter. Fuck his family. I have to control the urge to ring them and give them a piece of my mind.
For the rest of the day, Jax avoids everyone, only emerging from his room to collect his next client. He doesn’t even make eye contact with me when he enters reception. He looks so broken and I want to pull him into my arms and tell him how special he is, and how much I love him.
At the end of the day, I stay behind while he cashes up.
“You don’t need to hang around,” he says.
“I want to.” My father has dedicated his life to rejecting me, but this is so much worse. This is his entire family. I’d be lost without Sophia and Maddie. “Are you going to come over for dinner tonight?”
“Nope. Not tonight. I’m not really in the mood.”
“Please. I don’t want you to be alone,” I plead, gently rubbing my hand down his arm.
He flinches away from my touch. “Don’t.”
“Jax.”
“I’ll be fine, honestly. I just want to be alone.”
I blow out a puff of air. “If that’s what you want then I’ll respect it.”
“It is.”
I’ve been trying my best to stay away and give Jax the space he wants, I really have, but I can’t do it any longer. He’s been occupying my mind ever since I left work. Being alone may be what he wants, but it’s not what he needs.
“Will you make me up a plate of food to take around to Jax?” I ask Sophia.
“Of course. Why didn’t he come tonight? Is he working back?”
“No, he’s not,” I say with a sigh. “I’m worried about him. We saw an article in the social pages of the paper today.”
“What about? His father?”
“No, Brent. He got married on the weekend. Jax knew nothing about it.”
“He wasn’t invited to his own brother’s wedding?” Her eyes widen as she speaks.
“You know what his family are like.”
“Poor Jaxson. He’s such a good kid. I could never stand his mother. She’s a stuck-up bitch, and his father … ugh … he’s an A-grade arsehole.”
“I know. I think I’ll head over to his house after I shower. I don’t want him to be alone.”
“Good idea. If anyone can cheer him up, it’s you, sweetheart.
” She smiles as she stands and collects our plates to take to the sink.
Once upon a time, I would’ve believed that, but things between us aren’t what they used to be.
Our friendship has become very complicated.
“Go and get all dolled up and I’ll pack some food for you to take to him. ”
“I’m not getting dolled up. Do you want me to bathe Maddie before I go?
“No. I’ll do that. Jaxson needs you.”
Butterflies churn in my stomach as I walk down his front path.
Please don’t let him have a girl inside.
I’ll die if he does. Although there have been no beauties dropping off his wallet at work lately, that doesn’t mean he’s not still sleeping his way around Sydney.
He’s never been one to talk about those kinds of things, but the rumour mill was ripe when we were at school.
And I occasionally overhear some of the things Gus says.
Jax’s car is parked out in the street, and there’s a light on inside the house, that’s a good sign. I knock and wait, but when nobody comes to the door, I try again.
Just when I’m about to call out his name, I hear him say, “Hold on a minute.”
My breath hitches the moment he opens the door.
He’s fresh from a shower and looking sexy as hell.
His hair is wet and he hasn’t shaved so there’s a light stubble across his chin.
He’s wearing a T-shirt and a pair of sweats and smells all manly and delicious.
Shit. The sight of him has me having second thoughts about coming.
It’s one thing to be around him all day at work, but being alone together in his house when all I want to do is jump his bones is dangerous.
His face lights up as soon as he sees me. That expression will never get old. It turns my insides to mush every time.
“I thought you might like some company. Have you eaten? Sophia packed some leftovers for you.” I hold up the basket in my hand and I’m relieved when he steps aside so I can enter.
“No, I haven’t,” he says, following me into the kitchen.
“Good.” I place the basket on the breakfast bar and start unpacking.
“You brought alcohol too?” he asks, holding up the bottle of Sambuca.
“I did.”
“I hope you left your cock cups at home.”
“Actually…” I pull out a cup and hold it up to him.
“I’m not drinking out of that, Candice,” he growls.
“Wait,” I say, digging into the bottom of the basket.
“When Sophia, Maddie and I went to Vegas last year, I bought this.” I hold up a shot glass that has a pair of boobs on the front.
“I don’t know why I bought it because you weren’t even in my life then, but I saw it and immediately thought of you, of that night—” I stop talking.
Tonight is not the time to rehash that. I came here hoping to cheer him up, not depress him further. One day I hope we can sit down and talk about it, but right now, it’s still too raw.
He laughs as he picks up the shot glass. “A titty cup. Now that’s more like it. I love it.” He’s grinning when his gaze moves to me. “Thank you for coming here tonight. I thought I wanted to be alone, but I was wrong. I’m glad you’re here.”
“That’s what friends are for right?” I see his face drop as he turns his head to the side. “Let me heat you some food.”
“The food can wait. I’d rather get stuck into this if you don’t mind.” He picks up the bottle of Sambuca and removes the lid, lifting the bottle to his nose and inhaling. “The last time I drank Sambuca was…”
He doesn’t finish his sentence, and I know why. That damn night will forever haunt us. It was the last time I drank Sambuca too. I don’t know what possessed me to buy it on the way over here. It was always my drink of choice back in the day, but I wished I’d picked something else now.
He fills his shot glass, followed by mine. “Titties up.” He downs the liquid in one gulp and immediately refills it. “Drink up. Don’t tell me you’re getting soft in your old age?”
“I’m not old. I’m a year younger than you.”
“Come on then softy,” he says, pointing to my drink.
“I drove, so I shouldn’t.” I’m not going soft; I just don’t think that us drinking together is a good idea. We both know what happened last time. One of us needs to keep a clear head.
“You can get a cab home.”
I shrug.
“I’m not drinking on my own, Candice. Did you come here to cheer me up or placate me?”
“Fine,” I say, picking it up and bringing it to my lips. “Penises up.”
“That’s my girl.” He refills my glass before drinking his second shot. “Wanna go sit in the lounge room?”
“Sure. Just let me put the food in the fridge. You really should eat before you drink though.”
“Yes, Mum.”
I poke my tongue out as I gather up the containers. There’s enough food to last him a week. Sophia always cooks like she’s feeding an army.
I grab the bottle of Sambuca when I’m done. “You can carry the glasses.”
“I’m not touching your cock cup.”
“Seriously, Jax, you have issues.”
He arches a brow. “I have issues? That’s rich coming from someone who collects penises. Besides, I don’t want cock germs.”
“Hello, you have a cock. Or did you forget that?”