Page 61 of Fighting for His Life

Then things get quiet and my stomach flips. Quiet always leads to serious. The last few minutes of light and upbeat have been a welcome reprieve to the last year of agonizing stress, fatigue, and sorrow.

“Zoey, I wanted to say I-,” Maddox starts.

I cut him off with an outstretched palm. Looking at Jax, I smile. “No apologies. Right?”

He returns my grin with one of his own. Grabbing my outstretched hand, he loops his fingers through them and kisses my palm. “No apologies.”

“Ugh,” Tori says with mock disgust. “You two are so sweet my teeth hurt. How long have you been together?”

“The easier question is how long haven’t they been together,” Zane chuckles.

Maddox looks to Zane with unbelief. “Really, man. Even when they weren’t together, they were fucking together.”

“Okay enough of that,” Jax says with a touch of a smile. “We’re together. Have been for a very long time. Will be for even longer. End of story. Right, Angel?”

I don’t respond at all. A bout of nerves and worry take over my stomach as I wonder if we can really get past everything. Can he really just take me back as broken as I am?

He can see the shadows and doubt rolling through my mind. He’s always had a direct line to my thoughts and fears just by looking at me. It’s why I’ve spent so much time staring out the window, but he’s not having it right now.

He doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t even make a move to reassure me. But he says plenty with his own eyes. They tell me that he is right here with me through it all. I just hope he realizes what that may entail.

“Well, I can’t stay,” Tori says. “I just really wanted to check on you and Maddox was nice enough to bring me. When you get out of here, come by the shop. I bet there’ll be something you’ll want done, and I want to do it for you. On me.”

I shake my head at her offer. “Tori, I can’t let you do that. If I come by, I’m paying.”

She shrugs as if it’s no big deal, but seemingly relents before walking out the door.

Maddox doesn’t follow right away. “When do you get to go home, Zoey?”

“She has to stay here for at least a couple of weeks,” Zane explains. “Then we go from there.”

Maddox levels me with a hard gaze. I want to look away. It’s a struggle not to, but Jax’s firm hand in mine gives me the courage to hold his gaze. “Zoey, I love you, but so help me god if you ever pull any shit like that again, I will throttle you. No more running and hiding. Okay?”

I swallow a lump and nod in agreement. “No more running, Mads.”

“Good because these two Neanderthals need you.”

Zane scoff his resentment at the remark. “Not a Neanderthal, fuck you very much.”

Jax laughs. “You’re right. We do need her.”

Maddox nods then heads for the door.

“Maddox,” Jax calls out making him pause. “Thank you for being there.”

“Yeah, man,” Zane agrees softly. “Thanks. More than you know.”

Maddox nods. He taps the door twice before walking out without another word.

“Tellme about Jax,” Dr. Thompson says.

Jax and Zane left four days ago for home, the same day I became an inpatient psych patient. The last three days have been filled with group therapy and other exercises meant to help me cope. Today is my first session with Dr. Thompson, and I’ve been dreading it. I know she’s going to want to delve deep into my psyche and the incident that brought me to this point.

“What about Jax?” I counter picking at the invisible lint on my t-shirt.

“What is Jax to you? I noticed how intensely you look at each other. At times, it’s almost like the two of you can’t see anyone else. How did you get to that point?”

“Are you saying it’s unhealthy?” I question. I know what I’m doing. I’m avoiding talking about anything specific or direct.

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