Page 14 of Undeniable Love

“What would you say if I told you I had a piece of property that would be perfect for you?”

Jax let out a small laugh. “Seriously? In South Creek?” Another laugh. “Come on, Ty.”

“You might not believe this, but most of the property and jobs I estimate and manage aren’t only here in South Creek.”

“Okay, so then where is it?” His heart started to race a bit because this was the first step in making this dream a reality.

“South Creek,” Ty said with a small laugh of his own. “I’m going to look at it tomorrow. It’s Mr. Ramsey’s property. He passed away last month and his family is looking to sell. We’d have to see what it can realistically be zoned for and if it can be used for what you’re thinking of, but…that’s just a matter of some phone calls and getting it all assessed and inspected…permits would have to be submitted to the town…”

“I think we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves,” Jax interrupted. “How big is this property? What are they asking for it? And, again, is there even a need for what I’m proposing?”

“The property is a little under four hundred acres, so that is seriously more than enough space for what you’re thinking of. Price? That I’m going to find out when I meet with them on Monday. And as for a need? I’m going to say yes. Lucy’s a pediatric physical therapist and it seems like she has a full schedule all the time. There aren’t a lot of PT places that are geared for kids, so the fact that South Creek has one is pretty amazing. She says that people travel up to two hours each way to come and see her.”

“Wow, I had no idea…”

“She’s great at what she does.” Then he chuckled. “As a matter of fact, I go and see her sometimes because I prefer the way she does things instead of my regular therapist.”

“Dude, really? You go to a kiddie physical therapist?” he teased. “That just seems wrong.”

“Yeah, well…Lucy’s got a gift. If I go to my usual therapist with an issue, I’ll leave there not feeling a whole lot better. But when my sister works with me? I’m fine the next day. I can’t explain it.”

“Whatever works, right?”

“Exactly.” Tyler grew quiet for a moment. “I know we’ve had this conversation like a million times, but…you know that we’re cool, right? Like…I don’t want you to think that you have to do something like this—the camp—because you owe me something. It wasn’t your fault, Jax.”

They did have this conversation close to a million times, but Jax was never going to accept the fact that he wasn’t responsible.

“I should have been driving,” he said firmly. “I was supposed to be driving!”

“And I shouldn’t have offered to drive!” Ty countered. “I knew I’d had a few drinks and had no right to get behind the wheel, but I did it anyway! It was my decision!”

“But if I hadn’t been drinking…”

“Jax, enough! I was the most sober out of the group of us. Looking back, sure, we probably could have found someone else to drive, but…we were kids. Do I hate that this happened to me? Of course! But you know you’re not the one to blame, okay? Promise me we’re never going to have this discussion again, because I…I can’t. I get up every day and I’m reminded of my limitations.” He paused. “But I’ve got a good life, and I’m happy. We both know I was never going to get drafted in the NFL like you did. You were always a better player.”

“No. You would’ve been right there with me,” he murmured. “That’s how it was supposed to be. And if it weren’t for…”

“Not you,” Ty said adamantly.

Nodding, Jax continued. “If it weren’t for my father, none of it would have happened.”

Because…yeah. The accident that had nearly killed his best friend had been caused by Jax’s father, whose blood alcohol content was three times the legal limit at the time of the crash.

It was literally the worst night of his life.

And the old man never seemed to care.

Growing up, Jax had kind of idolized his old man. He’d never been comfortable with the fact that his father was so awful and almost abusive to his older brothers, but Greg Wylder had put him up on a pedestal. His father used to play football in high school and college and had dreamed of playing professionally. But he and Jax’s mom got pregnant while in college and all his dreams were replaced with having to take care of a wife and baby.

Needless to say, he wasn’t thrilled and seemed to take it out on everyone.

Except Jax.

As an adult, now he could see how his father tried to live vicariously through him—reliving the glory days of playing the sport he loved.

After the accident on grad night, their relationship changed—that was Jax’s doing. He’d been horrified to find out his father was the drunk driver who hit them—and that the woman his father was cheating on Jax’s mom with was in the passenger seat. Tyler had almost died and he’d borne the brunt of everyone’s anger.

He was supposed to be the one driving.

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