Page 52 of Savage

Dominic eventually messaged to confirm that he wouldn’t be back for the wedding, which I found more than a little inconvenient. We were all invited to the evening party and I didn’t want to take a taxi by myself. The thought of going with Daisy and Marcus made me feel like a loser. Jaxon and Chris had also been invited but Chris was away that week. Something to do with a Conference run by the NHS which provided medical students with an intro into what to expect during the first few weeks of their course.

I toyed with the idea of asking Jaxon to take me. Would he get the wrong idea, like I was asking him to be my plus one? Throwing myself at him again!

I decided to go for it but would make certain he knew I was only asking for a lift due to Dominic not being able to go. I didn’t want to increase his ego any further, he already knew that I fancied him like mad.

I caught him as he was on the way up to his room. I kept it casual, explaining that Dominic couldn’t take me and wondered if he minded if I caught a lift.

“I’ll take you to the wedding, no problem,” Jaxon replied. There was a stony edge to his tone; like he was mildly offended. Had I made him feel like second best?

A day or so later when Daisy and Marcus came back from my auntie and uncles, we were standing in the kitchen talking with Chris. Mum was nervous about the results of the fertility tests she and Marcus were waiting for. As a future medical student, Chris was all ears.

Whilst we chatted, I was sitting at the kitchen counter speaking to Marcus about my article when Jaxon strode into the kitchen. He looked amazing, dressed in smart jeans and a dove grey shirt. I surveyed him from beneath my lashes with mounting fascination, admiring his broad shoulders encased in the finest cotton. His bold profile was silhouetted against the light. His masculinity had never been so well pronounced in the formal clothes he was wearing. Although he’d probably look amazing in a bin bag.

“Where are you off to?” Marcus questioned, twisting from his position by the sink. Daisy and Chris had moved over to the table where he was sketching something for my mother. Goodness knew what? The reproductive system maybe?

Jaxon’s next words sent a storm of frustration through me.

“I’m meeting Molly in town,” he replied, shrugging into a crisp suit jacket. I gritted my teeth at the unwelcome response. I could smell aftershave. If he was just meeting Molly, why was he dressed so nicely? Because something was going on between them, there must have been. It felt like a smack in the face, which was ridiculous considering he wasn’t my boyfriend or anything. Jealousy roared through me in one painful surge.

Level grey eyes met my wide astonished ones as Marcus turned back to the pots and Jaxon redirected his focus. I drowned out my stepfather’s comment that Molly needed to call him about her mother’s trust. What trust? As in money? Giving my full attention to the source of my pain.

My stepbrother’s gaze bored into me and his strong jaw was clenched. It was like he was waiting for me to say something. Like what? Don’t go? Could he read the hurt in my eyes? I was just about to blurt out a forced ‘have a good time’ when he beat me to it, moving toward me with a determined expression.

As Jaxon moved past me, what he whispered in my ear ruined my entire evening.

“Don’t wait up.”

*****

The next week flew by. I submitted my article and was waiting for Jessica’s feedback. Jaxon spent most of the time at work, Chris always appeared to be in his room and Daisy and Marcus were back and forth to the clinic. We were all like ships in the night.

In confidence, my mother had explained that she had been diagnosed with secondary infertility which meant she couldn’t have any more children. Those first few days of finding out the news were sad ones, with a strained atmosphere in the house. Almost like everyone was going through their own separate bout of mourning.

“How can you miss what you never had?” my mother had said whilst she was in my room, seeking solace. I listened, and comforted her, giving her my strength and support. Daisy was now so fragile, so much so that Marcus felt she wasn’t up to the wedding and sent their apologies.

It was the start of the month, but luckily Molly didn’t come calling which was a good thing, me harbouring that secret urge to punch her in the face. I wondered what cunning feminine tricks she’d used on Jaxon to catch his eye in that way. I hadn’t been able to get the thought of her and Jaxon together from my mind for days.

The day of the wedding finally arrived and with it, two text messages. One which was welcome; the one that I’d received only hours after that first one, not so much.

The first text was from Jessica. I take it you haven’t seen this morning’s paper. Well done, your article is in print with your name beside it. Congrats! They loved it! x

I was thrilled and immediately forwarded the message to my mother. I also sent it to Jaxon with a thank you for his help. Hoping he’d message back and congratulate me. But I got nothing. Daisy replied with several emojis and a few sentences saying how proud she was. She instantly said she was going to the shops to buy loads of copies and that we could frame my first published piece and hang it in the dining room. I also messaged Dominic, who in turn, sent me a string of well-done emojis.

I had already signed consent forms when I submitted my draft and so the editorial department had the rights to print my work. Jessica said she’d email me a form which I needed to complete so they could pay me.

On cloud nine, I drew my focus back to that second text that had both shocked and excited me at the same time.

Uncertainty and intense curiosity lanced through my chest as I stared down at the message on my phone. The ID was unknown but I knew who it was.

I’d received a text from my father. How he had my number was anyone’s guess.

I need to see you. I want to explain why I left. Please reply to this message x.

As I reread the text over and over, dread surged through me like a river breaking its banks. Why now?

It couldn’t have come at a worse time; I had been in a better place, ready to enjoy my evening. We were only invited to the night party and in my opinion that was the best bit. I was ready to dance until my feet bled and was looking forward to showing off my dress, impressing Jaxon. In a look what you could have had type of way.

I drew in a cautious breath, unsure of whether to answer. My automatic confused reaction to reading those words was strange. Shouldn’t I have been happy that he’d reached out at last? He was my father.

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