Page 38 of Savage

“Well, why don’t I come with you to the hospital? We could talk on the way?”

“Why would you want to do that? You can’t stand Nixon or Jenna,” Jaxon grunted, his expression darkening. I found that revelation interesting as I didn’t know Molly disliked Nix and Jenna. It didn’t surprise me though as anyone Jaxon showed interest in was immediately the enemy.

“Look, you’re back the weekend after next. How about I make it up to you then?” he soothed, placing his hand over hers on the table. I watched in silence as he squeezed it. It was like I wasn’t even there. Molly glanced down and pouted. Like the girls do in those movies when they can’t get their way with a boy.

I started to help my mother clear away, needing the distraction before I screamed at them both across the table. Common sense told me to get the heck out of there before Jaxon changed his mind about taking me to the hospital. I was determined not to allow Molly to ruin my excitement at the thought of seeing Jenna’s new baby.

As I left the room with my hands full of dirty crockery, Chris materialising by my side to help, I heard Molly loudly whisper. “Well, I’ll make sure you make it up to me Jax. Several times.”

A lump the size of Norfolk appeared in my throat as I attempted to stomach her sexually suggestive comment. I so wanted not to care and so why did I feel such sadness at the thought of them together?

I bit my lip as anxiety settled in my gut. As I walked away with my original happiness at Jenna’s news fading, that question mark about the closeness of Molly and Jaxon’s relationship was answered with a deep, throaty response.

The promise in his voice and those following five words forced a tremor of pain through me. “I’ll look forward to it.”

Six

The trip to the hospital the following afternoon was unbelievably pleasant. No major issues or strained atmospheres. I had expected the car journey to be quiet and uncomfortable, so I decided to put some effort into making the situation normal. If Jaxon threw that back in my face, I’d sit in silence.

I purposefully showed an interest in Jaxon’s time in the army and he spoke about the first time he’d met Nixon. There had been a mix-up at the base due to their names being similar.

During their first tour together to Afghanistan, they hadn’t warmed to each other at first. Nixon had an issue with authority and it was Jaxon’s job to train him as his PT (physical trainer). What didn’t help was that Jaxon was much younger than Nixon and so there was the whole, respect your elder’s crap. Eventually, they put aside their differences and established that they had loads in common. Dysfunctional families were mentioned as one of these but Jaxon didn’t go into detail and I didn’t pry. We were at last having the normal conversation I had strived for.

I raised the subject of Nixon’s injury but Jaxon was guarded and I soon changed the subject. He probably didn’t want to discuss it because it wasn’t his story to tell. I had only met Nixon a few times and he was a proud man; he wouldn’t want everyone to know his private shit. It was funny really, as I would never have pictured such a huge, towering tattooed beast with someone like Jenna. She was way too sweet and quiet. I wasn’t as close to her as I was to Amy, but she appeared way too nice. He probably dug that submissive vibe that oozed out of her.

I asked Jaxon if he had ever been injured and he said no. Not during a tour anyway. Just one time when he’d needed stitches; a drunken instance at the base which included him and a colleague breaking a window by accident. Again, he didn’t go into detail.

Jaxon explained that even though he didn’t go into battle-type scenarios he had to travel with the squads to ensure that they all remained physically fit whilst they were away. He said that some tours lasted for over twelve months but that the longest tour he had joined had been for six months.

We got to the hospital whilst it was still light. I’d managed to pop to the shops that morning to buy a card to congratulate the pair on their new baby but hadn’t managed to pick up a gift. I decided that I’d ask Jenna what she wanted when I saw her. The whole family had signed it, even Jaxon and Molly.

Jaxon did ask about my newspaper article and I explained that I had finished my first draft. I told him it wasn’t due until the end of the month, and that I had plenty of time to submit it. He again reminded me that he needed to see it first.

Jaxon parked the car and then we both made our way into the building. Jenna had given birth at a private hospital on the outskirts of their village. Both the McKenna and Taylor-Joy families owned farmland and were loaded. I remember Jaxon and I going to one of Jenna’s BBQs and how huge their house was. Jaxon had of course been a shit to me then. No change there then. He’d even threatened to leave me there to walk home. An empty threat but it still stung. He’d also shouted at me in front of everyone.

We negotiated the signage which pointed us to the maternity unit and eventually found the right corridor.

As we approached the private room where Jenna and the baby were staying, Jaxon stopped outside the door and looked down at me. His smile faded into nothing as he whispered, “Will you be alright?”

I was puzzled by his question. “Sorry, what do you mean?”

“I mean with your tendency to bring forth the waterworks.”

Shooting him a lopsided smile, I replied. “I’ll try and control myself.”

“Good, see that you do. Crying females makes me nervous,” Jaxon muttered before knocking on the door. Whatever, I couldn’t imagine anything making him nervous. Astonished, I opened my mouth to deliver a witty comeback but then closed it again when a man’s voice bled in between us.

“Come in,” Nixon’s voice boomed.

Jaxon held the door for me and motioned for me to proceed him; which surprised me. He was probably doing the chivalrous act to make a good impression in front of Jenna.

Jenna’s face lit up as we entered, blatantly pleased to see us and Nixon pushed to his feet. The two men approached each other, fist-bumped and then did that man hug thing where they pounded on each other's backs with their hands.

“Congrats, fucking awesome news,” Jaxon stated with a wide smile on his face.

“Thanks, man,” Nixon replied as he drew back. I shot him a bright smile as I moved past them toward Jenna.

“Wynter,” he said.

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