10. Jax
JAX
FLASHBACK
I can’t stop watching her. The bright lights of the hotels and casinos reflecting in her eyes, her lips parting in awe as we walk down the boulevard.
Convincing her to take this trip with me for our twenty-first birthdays is quickly becoming one of my best ideas.
It’s both our first time outside of our hometown, and Vegas is unlike anything we’ve ever experienced.
“Anything you want to do? Or just wanna walk around and take it all in?” I ask.
Marley smiles, looking back at me. It’s one of the few times I’ve seen her so carefree, and the beauty of no stress on her perfect face is priceless. “Get drunk, eat, and fuck.” She leans in, whispering the last word before kissing me.
I laugh at her giggles, pulling her closer into my chest and dragging us off the main sidewalk to lean against the building. “In that particular order, or good for it all whatever, whenever?”
“Whatever you want,” she says, kissing me again before sighing as she lays her head on my chest.
It doesn’t take a genius to know what she’s thinking about. I squeeze her tighter. “You’re allowed to have fun, baby. Colt and Levi are going to take good care of Cooper.”
She nods. “I know. I’m just scared that they’re pushing the bull riding so hard. It’s so dangerous.”
Cupping her face, I tilt her head to look up at me. “He’s almost eighteen. Even if you try to ban it, he’ll be able to make his own decisions soon.”
She rolls her eyes. “I know that. I just—It’s hard.”
I smile, kissing the tip of her nose. “I know. He’s your first baby, it’s hard to let go.”
Her throat bobs. “He’s my brother.”
Shaking my head, I run my hands down her back and then wrap them around her.
“I was there for every moment you took care of him. He’s more than your brother, and you did a good job raising him.
This is the part where you let him go to become his own person.
And this is why we’re here, just me and you.
This weekend is going to be about only the two of us. ”
“Sorry, you’re right,” she says, pushing off me and then wrinkling her nose. “How about...no plans, we just do. Whatever we stumble upon.”
I laugh, entangling our hands as I lead her into the first bar we come upon.
My eyes are heavy, and it hurts to try to open them. I groan, trying to turn over and feel like the weight of an elephant is on me.
Another groan echoes to my right, and I slowly move my hand out, feeling the warm body next to me.
“Marley?” My throat is hoarse and scratchy. I need water. Water and a whole fucking bottle of painkillers.
“Shh,” she whines back, pushing my hand away from her.
I force myself to sit up, holding on to my face as the room spins. “I never want to drink again.”
“I want you to shut up,” she moans, tossing a pillow at me.
It nearly knocks me off the bed with how uncoordinated I feel.
I only muster up half a laugh and half a breath since I use the rest of my energy to push off the mattress and stumble to the bathroom.
Thank god for the walls and their strength to hold me up.
The coldness of the sink’s counter feels glorious under my clammy palms. I turn on the faucet and splash my face with the cold water.
I feel like I can finally breathe as rivulets of water drip down my bare chest, and I finally glance up to look into the mirror.
Yikes. I won’t be running for the sexiest man alive any time soon.
It takes a few more minutes to feel a bit more human and I brush my teeth.
Just as I slather on the toothpaste, a glint of metal on my left hand catches my eye.
The toothbrush halfway to my mouth pauses.
I flip my hand over and back, ensuring I’m not seeing things, like the wedding band around my ring finger.
I can’t look away from it as I brush my teeth half-ass and spit out the rest before I head back into the bedroom.
I set down some medicine and the cup of water I’d filled on the nightstand.
Marley is curled around a pillow in the fetal position with another pillow over her head.
I kneel behind her, grabbing her hand as she whimpers.
My heart skips a beat at the small diamond sitting on her finger.
She grunts as I drop her hand, and then I stand, looking around the room.
If it means what I think it means, there has to be evidence somewhere.
I swallow down two ibuprofen and order us some breakfast. My stomach heaves at the thought, but we gotta get something in our systems. Marley groans again from the bed as I start sifting through the pockets of our clothes before moving to her small backpack.
We used it to carry most of our stuff yesterday, switching off when it got too heavy for her.
“Why are you being so loud? I’m trying to die in peace,” she gripes. I finally catch sight of the paperwork and pull it out, giving it a quick glance over.
I chuckle. “Marley baby, love of my life, I think we got married last night.”
This has her sitting up way too fast before she slumps back onto the pillows, holding her head. “Oh my god. Ouch!”
“Take the medicine on the nightstand. You’ll feel better, and I have breakfast on the way up.”
I glance through the small packet, shaking my head at the short clause stating that the chapel is not responsible for unwanted marriages. It’s not unwanted. I wanted to marry Marley, but I definitely think it could have been under better circumstances. Like for one, being able to remember it.
“Oh my god. There’s a ring on my finger.”
I wave the papers in my hand. “And a marriage certificate.”
Her brown eyes are wide as they lock with mine. “We got married last night.”
“It would seem so,” I tell her, unable to hold back the smile turning up on my lips.
She blinks, still stunned. “We’re married.”
“Drink the water and take the medicine, dear.”
Marley does it without complaint, holding her hand in her sight to continue staring at it. “I don’t hate the idea.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Of what? Being married to me? That’s good to know.”
She rolls her eyes and winces. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant...it’s like done and over with. No stress about paying for a wedding, no stress on who to invite and where it’s going to be. Oh, and when! It’s just...done.”
I study her face, trying to determine if she’s lying. If she’s trying to convince herself she’s okay with eloping. I cross my arms over my chest. “I don’t know. I kind of liked the idea of making it a big deal, parading you around town in the Carter’s carriage to show off that you’re mine.”
She snorts. “The Carter’s carriage? Really? That thing is gaudy.”
“It’s a replica of Cinderella’s carriage. It has a romantic…vibe to it.”
“It also has splinters and rat poop. Ew, Jax.”
A knock on the door interrupts my laughter, and I grab our breakfast from the room service tray. Both of our stomachs rumble with the smell of eggs, sausage, and waffles.
“Our first meal as a married couple,” I tease with a wink.
She swats at my chest, but doesn’t remark further because she’s too busy moaning while drinking down a glass of orange juice. My cock twitches to life, and I wonder if I’ve fucked her as my wife yet.
“Let’s eat and then take a shower?” I ask, my eyebrows wagging.
Marley licks her lips, then smirks. “Sure, husband.”