Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Jax
When I get home after my shift and set my keys on the counter, I’m still thinking about Lauren.
Her haircut framed her face perfectly, highlighting every little freckle the sun has dusted across her nose and cheeks and illuminating the dimple that appears whenever she gifts the world a genuine smile.
The top she was wearing was bolder than the simple blouses she normally wears, but she looked absolutely stunning, and her jeans accentuated every one of her curves.
Watching her dance with guy after guy was maddening. Even now, hours later, the thought sparks jealousy inside me. I wanted to be the one who held her waist, the one who made her tilt her head back in laughter. I want to be the one who gets to call her mine.
As torturous as it was to watch her with other men, it was great to see her looking happier than she did last week. Maybe the list is starting to serve its purpose.
My phone lights up, and my heart soars when I see Lauren’s name on the screen. But then I realize it’s two thirty in the morning. Why is she calling so late? The last time she called me at this hour, she wanted me to drive her to Amarillo so she could find out if Austin was cheating on her.
I swipe my thumb across the screen to answer. “Hey, Freckles. What’s up?”
“Oh thank god you answered.” My stomach sinks. “Jax, I need you to pick me up.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Where are you?” I’m already walking out my door, keys in hand.
“I’m at Austin’s parents’ house.”
Shit. “What’d you do? Never mind. Just stay there. I’ll be there in five.”
“Okay.” There’s a weighted pause before she adds, “Thank you.”
I barrel out of my driveway and flip through radio stations, searching for something to calm me, but nothing does the trick. I end up giving up and turning the radio off, but the silence and anticipation swallow me whole, so I turn it back on.
When I pull onto the street, Sheriff Baker’s car is in the driveway. Lauren and Callie sit on the porch steps while he stands in front of them with his hands on his hips. Behind him, Austin paces back and forth, fuming.
I slam my truck door closed behind me, rounding the hood. “What’s going on?”
Sheriff Baker spins around and opens his mouth to explain, but Austin catches sight of me, throwing a hand in my direction.
“What is he doing here? He’s the one you called?
Seriously, Lauren? First you try to steal my dog, and then you call him to come to my house and pick you up? What the hell is wrong with you?”
I don’t like the look in his eye or the tone of his voice. It reminds me too much of a past I’ve tried to bury, and it sets a fire inside of me immediately. I step up to him, pushing a hand hard against his chest. “Don’t talk to her like that.”
Sheriff Baker inserts himself between the two of us, turning toward me. “They were trying to take the dog.” He looks as if he’s biting back a smile.
“I’m sure there’s some other explanation.” I turn to the girls for help.
Callie shrugs, and Lauren says, “He was left outside overnight. He was whimpering!”
It takes everything in me not to throw my palm to my face. “You’re kidding. You actually tried to take the dog?”
Lauren grimaces, raising her brows in a way that’s supposed to look innocent. I hate how cute it is because it makes it so much harder to be mad at how irresponsible they were tonight.
Sheriff Baker steps forward. “Austin isn’t pressing charges for breaking in and theft, but I figured someone should drive them home and make sure they stay out of trouble.”
“I can do that.” Glancing at Austin, I ask, “Why’d you call Baker? You of all people should know Lauren wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
“I would’ve driven them home myself, but Lauren refused, and Callie was causing a scene.”
“Austin didn’t call me,” Sheriff Baker explains. “It was a noise complaint from the neighbors. I guess there was a lot of shouting.”
I can’t help but feel a small amount of pride for the women, but there’s also concern rising inside me. If the neighbors called the cops, there’s a good chance Austin was a complete asshole to Lauren again.
“Let’s get you two home. Thanks, Baker. Sorry about all of this.”
He shrugs. “This is the most exciting thing to happen to me all year. I can’t wait to tell my wife in the morning.”
Lauren and Callie get up from the steps and follow me to my truck. They’re both quiet until we turn off Austin’s street.
“You can’t tell me that jerk didn’t deserve it,” Callie mutters from the back seat.
“To have his dog stolen? What were you going to do with him? Did you think no one would notice you suddenly had Austin’s dog?”
“I guess we hadn’t really thought that far ahead.” Lauren crosses her arms.
“This doesn’t help anything. This isn’t how you move on.”
“It wasn’t about moving on. I was just worried about Poker. Austin clearly isn’t fit to look after him.”
I pull into Callie’s driveway, and they both unbuckle.
I reach out to Lauren. “I don’t think you should stay here tonight. We should talk about this.”
“But—”
“I’m worried, Lauren. This isn’t like you.” Not to mention I’m concerned Austin said some nasty things to her again. I don’t mention that part though. I don’t know if Callie knows about the night at the bar, and it’s not my place to tell her.
“But my truck is here.”
“We’ll get it tomorrow.”
Callie glances between the two of us before wisely deciding to extricate herself from the situation. “Sorry, Lo. I’ll call you tomorrow.” Callie leans in for a hug before rushing out of the truck.
Lauren looks at me with hurt eyes as I back out of the driveway. “I don’t need you to act like my big brother right now. I need a friend.”
“That’s what I’m being. I want to make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m fine.”
“Baker said he was there because of a noise complaint. What happened?”
“Austin was obviously not happy about being woken up or having his dog stolen. He shouted a bit.”
“What did he say?” I pull onto Roots Road, heading toward Copper Hill. “Did he try anything?”
Lauren slowly uncrosses her arms. “Like I’ve already told you, Austin never hurt me, not physically anyway.”
Relief washes over me for a brief moment, but it’s quickly replaced by concern. “I don’t want him to hurt you in any way. You deserve better.”
“Thanks. I’m okay though. Nothing happened.” She stares out the window, even though it’s pitch-black on this gravel road. “We had some words, but it’s fine.”
I pull into Lauren’s driveway on the east side of the ranch. When I park and help her down, she’s stiff, like she’s restraining the emotions inside her, and it breaks my heart in two. I stroke my hand over her head in a soothing motion, clutching her close to me.
When she murmurs against my chest, I have to strain to hear her. “I was being stupid. I don’t know what got into me. Alcohol, I guess? I clearly need to stop drinking, and that’ll solve all my problems.” She glances up at me, laughing lightly.
“Did he say something awful to you again?”
She nods.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“Will you just come inside and sit with me while I get ready for bed? I’m not ready to be alone yet.”
“Of course.” I follow her toward the door, determined not to ruin the little seed of trust she gave me by admitting that. “You know, I’ve been missing your skincare routine. My skin hasn’t had the same shine since you helped me.”
When she looks up at me, I feel like I said the right thing because she says, “I can do it for you again.”
“I’d like that. I’ve been watching some YouTube videos on how to braid hair too. I think I’m ready to give it another go.”
She laughs. “I don’t believe you.”
“I’m not kidding. I’ll prove it right here, right now.”
We shuffle quietly through the front door, and I can tell her thoughts are still swirling.
I want to make her laugh and smile again.
I try to think of something clever to say, but once she locks the front door, she spins toward me.
“I want to check another thing off my list tomorrow. I need to do something for myself again. I’m tired of being the old Lauren, lost and hurting. ”
“Is this because of tonight?”
“No.” She drags her lower lip through her teeth.
“Maybe? I don’t know. I think it’s been an accumulation of things, but tonight opened my eyes to everything I was missing out on when I was with Austin.
It made me realize he didn’t treat me half as well as I deserved, and I’m ready to let go of it all and be better.
I need your support though. I need you to bust down my door and drag me kicking and screaming if I’m being shady. ”
I laugh as I drape my arm over her shoulders. “I can do that. Where do you want to start?”