Page 151 of Chaos

“You are mine, Jax. Just as I am yours. We’re a family. And do you know what families do?”

I open my mouth to speak and can’t find the words. I lower my chin so I can look at her.

“I-I don’t know, Sof. My own mom didn’t give a shit about me. I lost my dad.” I shrug, trying to keep down the anger brewing inside of me. I’m upset at people I can’t even take it out on.

She pulls my face to hers, like she’s reminding me of where I am.

“We never give up on each other, baby. We are all we have in this life, we take on the world… together. I can’t fix you. But, I can be there through everything, walk side by side with you to take on the bad.”

“I’ll talk to someone, sweetheart. I’ll do it.”

I never want to feel how I did last night.

“You aren’t on your own anymore. You don’t have to fight this alone. I am right here and I am not going anywhere.”

My heart hammers in my chest.

“You really mean that? You want me and this life for you guys? You still want forever?”

“I mean it. We draw a line under the past and we move on. I know you would never intentionally hurt me. I know you love me. I want my family back, I want you back.”

I stroke her hair away from her face, and her nose presses against mine. I’m finally home.

I am where I need to be and where I need to fight to stay, forever.

Her love hauled me out of the depths of hell. She deserves the world to be delivered to her feet and I’ll do that.

“I’ll make you the happiest woman on this planet, I swear. I will love you with everything that I am and ever will be. No matter what, from this day on, I will do right by you and Maeve. Starting with therapy.”

The thought might make me itch. Talking about my feelings with a stranger, but I trust Sofia. She’s training to deal with people exactly like me.

I admire everything about her.

No one should feel as hopeless as I did.

“I’ll get it all taken care of for you, Jax. But, you talk to me, whenever, whatever it is. No more holding it in, can you promise me that?”

“I promise you,” I say. “Thank you, baby,” I whisper, nuzzling my face into her neck.

Gently, she lifts me up by my hair.

“Can I have a kiss now?” she whispers, her breath hitting against my cheek. I can practically sense her smile.

“Is that what you want, baby?”

And like that, my heart races, my body ignites. She brings me to life.

Our lips meet, and I give everything I have in that kiss. All of my love, my truth, my forever. I am hers.

“Now, shall we go get ready and pick up our little girl? The last piece of our puzzle,” she asks.

Another reminder of the life she has given me that I have to fight for.

SEVENTY-ONE

SOFIA

The driveway alert dings onto my phone, and I get up to meet Lara at the door.

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