Page 37 of Savage

Molly started to whisper to Jaxon and I attempted to pull my gaze away. Were they talking about me? Her face was so animated and I didn’t miss the way she shifted her eyes at me.

Idle banter circulated the table, with Daisy and Marcus talking about Chris’s course before switching to plans to refurbish the pool house. Chris at that point was then pretending to listen. At one stage, Jaxon drew back his head and laughed. It was a good look on him. My envy at that point was almost painful. I wasn’t sure why I felt that surge of jealousy by the carefree way he and Molly spoke. It’s not like my relationship with either of them had ever been fulfilling.

Chris’s phone buzzed a few times which earned him a scolding from his father. “Put it on silent Chris. You know how I feel about phones at the dinner table.”

And then, as usual, our family gathering became the Molly Show. I had to bite my lip a couple of times as she banged on about her favourite subject; which was, of course, herself. She worked in fashion as a personal shopper and had been promoted once, so what?

Marcus asked if anyone wanted seconds. The boys both went for it but I declined as did my mother and Molly. My eyes bulged as I watched the size of the second portion Marcus dumped onto his plate. But I knew that all the Savage men had huge appetites.

Molly cleared her throat noisily; a tactic of hers to get attention which worked, drawing my gaze. She was squinting at me. “You should eat more Wynter. There’s nothing of you,” Molly insulted with an edge to her voice. Her tone suggested she was concerned, but I saw straight through her. I was mildly relieved that she was pulling the skinny card on me; that I could deal with.

I smiled sweetly and was just about to reply but my mum’s phone also buzzed and she pulled it out to check the message. Jaxon’s phone went off seconds afterwards to signal he too had a text.

Marcus’s comment also ruined Molly’s ploy to antagonise me. “What part of no phones in the dining room do you guys not get,” he said firmly, his eyes roaming over his sons as they both placed their knives and forks down. Jaxon ignored him and removed his phone from his jeans before swiping the screen.

The silence stretched as Jaxon continued to swipe his thumb across his phone.

“Oh dear, you appear to be swiping left a lot Jaxon,” I muttered in a needling tone. He raised his eyes, those cloudy grey pools locking on mine. “What are you on about?”

I knew there was no way someone like Jaxon would ever need to find a girl online but I felt the urge to mess with him. “I didn’t have you down as the type of guy who needs Tinder.”

Molly snorted and his eyes shot to mine. “Piss off Wynter. The fact that you know how it works suggests you do. What’s up, the boyfriend not cutting it in the sack?”

“Jax, you’re so funny,” Molly giggled, playfully punching him on the shoulder. Please, someone pass me a sick bucket.

I should have been embarrassed but it was obvious no one else was really listening apart from Molly. It was also amusing that Marcus said nothing to Jaxon or Daisy who too sat there on her phone with her half-eaten chilli placed before her.

Jaxon’s brooding expression suddenly lightened as he read what must have been good news. He then flicked a glance at Daisy who was now grinning from ear to ear.

“My niece Jenna has had the baby!” she declared and my smile was automatic.

My mother waved her phone, sending a spark of excitement into the air. Everyone appeared pleased by the news apart from Molly who just sat there looking disinterested.

“Nix just messaged me. They had a girl,” Jaxon explained. “Great news.” I ran my gaze over his face with a smile. He was genuinely happy for his friend. It was only brief but as our eyes connected, a silent message passed between us. We were both pleased for Nixon and Jenna no matter about our differences.

“Well then, time to celebrate, I think! Dee, do we have some Champagne in the chiller?” Marcus chirped pushing to his feet and leaving the room. Great. Yes, I was pleased, but I was ready to run away and hide in my room. Champagne meant the evening in the same room as Molly would be lengthened. No, thank you. Maybe I could dash off and blame the chilli?

Daisy started to clear the plates and Chris stood to help her. Both Molly and Jaxon remained where they were with Jaxon texting on his phone. Once he’d sent his message, he lifted an eyebrow at me. “I’m going to the hospital tomorrow afternoon. I imagine you’ll want to come?” he put out there. Knock me down with a feather kicked in as I digested those words. Was he offering me a ride?

My reply almost lodged in my throat. “Yes, please. That would be great,” I tried to keep the desperation out of my voice.

Our gazes remained locked and Molly just faded away into the background. It was like we were both part of something and this time, she was the outsider. My earlier bad karma evaporated and I couldn’t lie, I loved it.

The words I welcomed poured between Jaxon’s lips. “Fine. We’ll go together if you’d like.” At those words, I looked at him with the most appreciative stare I had ever been able to muster in his company.

I then sucked in what little oxygen I could get into my tight hopeful chest. “Cool.” If Jaxon hadn’t offered to give me a lift, I would have had no way of getting there. Unless I went with Daisy and Marcus.

Molly grunted, pushing her plate away and folding her arms. “But I thought we’d do something together tomorrow Jax. A movie and then some food or something. My treat, to celebrate my promotion?” she said with a hurt look; attempting to guilt-trip him. “That’s the only reason I thought I’d stay the night. We haven’t done anything for ages. I was going to book Jaws at the IMAX for us?”

“You could go with Chris?” he suggested which caused his brother to start choking. He recovered himself quickly.

“Yeah, I’m free Molly.” Yeah, whatever, more like backed into a fucking corner.

“I wanted us all to go. Well, just family. Sorry, Wynter, no offence.” She put in the latter part as an afterthought as Marcus came back into the room to collect the crockpot. I didn’t care that she didn’t see me or my mother as family.

“It won’t be the same if both my brothers aren’t there and besides. There’s something I must talk to you about Jax.” My God, talk about over the top.

Jaxon cast her a hooded look. “No can do now Mols. The only time I have to visit Nix is tomorrow.”

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