Page 47 of The Sandover Beach Billionaire

“Ethel!” Jenna grabbed the woman in a hug. “What’s going on?”

“It’s Bob. He fell. The ambulance is here. I just—I couldn’t get Steve. He said he was with you earlier this week and I thought you could reach him. Can you tell him we’re going to the hospital?”

Steve. Jackson closed his eyes, missing the rest of the conversation. How could he have forgotten that he had lived next door? His heart went out to Steve’s mom even as it was also having a mild panic attack about the fact that Steve had been here earlier in the week. Why hadn’t Jenna mentioned that?

“Jackson!”

Ethel had gone and Jenna stood in the doorway, staring at him. He had obviously missed something she said. “I’m sorry—what?”

“I need to go. I’m going to lock up their house and follow them to the hospital.”

Jackson put his hands in his pockets, trying to channel the compassion for Steve’s parents, shoving down the molten jealousy burning a hole in his chest. Behind her, a fire truck and cop car pulled up beside the ambulance. Jackson recognized Cash, Jimmy, and Beau. Great. If he talked to them, they wouldn’t miss the fact that he was losing his cool over this. Beau and Jimmy knew about his history with Steve.

“Of course, go. Need me to do anything?”

Jenna gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and grabbed her purse from the front hall. Pulling a key from the door, she pressed it in his palm. “Do you mind turning off the lights and locking up here? I’m sorry to bolt like this.”

A joke about giving out house keys died before hitting his lips. Not the right time. He needed to pull it together. He may not like Steve or his past with Jenna, but he should care that Steve’s dad was hurt. Jenna certainly did. “I’ll call you later. If you need me, I’ll come up to the hospital with you.”

She waved him off. “I’ll be fine. Thanks, Jax.”

She was already halfway out the door before he realized that she had used his nickname for the first time. It had to be now. Jackson wanted to kick himself for the sour turn of his attitude. Especially as he watched Jenna holding Ethel’s hand as the paramedics wheeled her husband out, an oxygen mask over his face. Once the couple was safely in the back of the ambulance, Jenna disappeared into their house.

Jackson went through the house, turning off lights and straightening up a bit. When he locked the front door, Jenna was just dashing across the lawn to her car with a duffle bag over her shoulder. She waved once to Jackson while holding the phone in her other hand. Was she calling Steve? The thought was like poison, making his whole body feel sick. Jealousy was such an ugly emotion, like a poison.

The fire truck and police car were still out front, lights and sirens off now. Cash stood in front of his cruiser, talking to Beau, while Jimmy sat in the front of the truck, door open and legs out. When he saw Jackson, he jumped down and met him on the way to the truck.

“Hey. Jenna followed them to the hospital. Neighbors, huh?”

“And her ex’s parents,” Beau said. He and Cash joined them.

Jimmy’s eyebrows shot up. “Steve? Those are Steve’s parents?”

“The Steve?” Cash asked. “The one who is always trying to pick fights with you when we see him out?”

“Yep.” Jackson rocked back on his heels. It had been a few months since they last saw Steve. But every time their paths crossed, he tried to find a way to provoke Jackson. It was like he never moved on from their high school drama and kept trying to bring it back to the surface.

“Jenna obviously cares about them. She’s known them most of her life. I should be concerned and compassionate. But I also just heard his mother saying something about calling Steve and that he was over here this week.” The other guys were silent for a beat. “Yeah, exactly my reaction.”

Beau spoke first. He usually did. “It’s natural for you to be upset. You can ask God for help feeling compassionate, but I don’t think one of us would blame you for how you’re feeling given your history with Steve and his history with Jenna.”

Jackson looked down at the ground. He hated the feelings that were rolling around in his gut right now. They made him feel immature and weak and reminded him of the powerless sway his emotions held over him before he started going to church.

“Things are going so well with Jenna right now. But it’s all new, you know? Tentative. I don’t know if she’s even planning to stay On Island or what’s next. I’ve been afraid to push her, so I haven’t told her how I feel or what I want. I know she’s vulnerable and I probably shouldn’t push things too fast. Knowing that Steve is trying to worm his way back in her life … I feel sick.”

“Maybe you should go up to the hospital with Jenna,” Jimmy suggested.

Jackson shook his head. “That’s the last thing I need. I can’t imagine his reaction if I show up there. Jenna doesn’t need me going all caveman on her. I can trust her. She was burned by him before and I’m sure she has her guard up.”

Beau clapped a hand on his shoulder and grinned. “You’re a good man, Jackson. I mean, just as messed up as everyone else, but still. Good.”

Jackson chuckled. “Thanks, I think?”

“We’ve got to get back, Jimmy. Load her up!” Beau called to the other firemen who were lounging around the back of the truck. Jimmy patted Jackson on the back before following Beau.

“Maybe I’m the odd man out, but I wouldn’t let that guy anywhere near my girl,” Cash said. “For what it’s worth. It’s not caveman. You’re being practical, protecting your woman. Just my opinion. Anyway, see you later and let me know if you need anything.”

Jackson got in his Jeep as the cruiser and the fire truck turned around in the small cul-de-sac and headed off. When he got to the entrance to Jenna’s neighborhood, he hesitated, hand on the blinker. Left, toward his house. Right, toward the hospital. He wanted nothing more than to put everything on the line. To reassure Jenna that he was going to be there no matter what, not to let his fears and his jealousy and mistrust of Steve affect the way he behaved. Would she feel comforted if he showed up at the hospital or smothered?

With a silent prayer that he was making the right choice, Jackson turned left and headed away from the woman he had no doubt he loved.

---