Page 134 of Chaos

Maeve giggles and flings herself into Lara’s arms.

“Thank you for doing this on short notice. I wasn’t sure if I was actually going to go or not.” I pass her the diaper bag and glimpse Alexei sitting on the couch behind her watching television.

“No problem! Where are you going? I’ll make sure Alexei and Niki go and keep an eye out.” Lara kicks his foot as she walks by with Maeve. “Aren’t you, Alexei?”

“Huh? Sure. Yes. What am I doing?” He blinks as he looks between me and Lara.

“You’re going to watch Sofia tonight,” she calls from the kitchen.

His brows furrow in confusion. “I can see her. She is right here.” He gestures at me still standing in the entry.

A roll of paper towels flies over the counter and bounces off of the side of his head. “When she goes to the club!” Lara yells.

Maeve giggles and screeches herself, clapping her hands.

Seeing her happy makes me smile.

“Oh, yea, sure. I’ll get Niki.” Alexei pulls out his phone and starts texting while rattling what sounds like a piece of hard candy around in his mouth.

“You really don’t have to, I’ll be fine. It’s just a drink with a bunch of girls from the office.”

“Don’t make me throw something at you, too.” Lara steps out and puts Maeve on the floor with a handful of plastic bowls. “You know that you’re on the radar for the Reapers. There’s no reason to be crazy.”

“Fine. We’re going to the Shamrock Pub. I have to get going. Thanks again.” If I hurry, I should get there in time.

“Say ‘bye Momma’.” Lara squats next to Maeve and waves her little arm at me.

I blow her a kiss. “Bye, baby girl.”

Just like what Jax calls her.

The whole way there I can’t stop thinking about him. How broken he is.

Why would he ruin everything if he loved me and Maeve so much?

It isn’t fair. He was talking about marrying me. Who cheats when they’re supposedly that much in love?

He makes me so mad that he just gave up on us. If only he tried a little harder. I thought he really wanted me, us.

Was everything he said a lie?

It didn’t seem to be. There wasn’t anyone forcing him to keep chasing me.

God, I loved it when he did.

My friends are already gathered in a booth and wave me over.

They’re filled with smiles and polite conversation, but it’s hard to stay focused.

I can’t stop thinking about just how broken Jax looked last night when he left.

“How about them, Sofia? Aren’t they just a hunk of meat that would be fun to bite into?” Lisa gestures past me, pointing to a table in the far corner.

It takes me a minute to adjust my eyes in the dim light, but familiar shapes form.

Nikolai. Alexei.

And, Jax.

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