Page 19 of Forever Home

“Well…” she starts pausing for a moment as she steps closer to me. “It’s just that the topic of Jaxson has always been touchy for you. Even when we were kids. You always try to be strong for everyone, but I know you well enough to know that the sarcasm and bold words you say are just a cover for how you’re feeling.”

Damn, am I that readable?

Hearing her say that only further fuels the aggravation I feel inside me over Jaxson. For years, I thought I had gotten over my obsession with him. That I would eventually find someone who can love me the way I want to be loved.

But that all came crumbling down the moment he stepped into Mrs. Kendall’s house for the reading.

“Kylie… it doesn’t matter if I like him or not,” I finally sigh, giving into her persistence. “Jaxson doesn’t like me and I need to be realistic with my expectations. We aren’t in high school anymore and I refuse to ever again pine over a man I can’t have. Even if he does make me want to drop my panties at a single command.”

“What the hell did I walk into?” Knox says out loud, causing both Kylie and I to burst into a fit of laughter as I wave my hand at him dismissively.

“It’s nothing.”

“Nothing,” he smirks. “Sounds to me like you want to… what was it again…drop your panties, for Jaxson Rivers.”

I open my mouth to protest, but his phone rings. As soon as he pulls it out of his pocket, he looks at me and his smile widens. “Jaxson! To what do I owe this pleasure?”

Oh shit. You better fucking not, Knox.

Jumping to my feet, Knox’s eyes meet mine with a mischievous glint as he wags his finger at me telling me “no” as he backs up.

“Don’t you dare—”

“Yeah, no.” He cuts me off while still talking to Jaxson. “Well, the lawyer gave me the keys to the house so we could get some of this stuff packed up… uh, huh… No–no. It’s me, Kylie, and Madi here right now… I mean if you want to come over and help, you sure can.”

My stomach flips hearing Knox tell Jaxson that he can join us. It wasn’t what I had in mind, and right now I look like absolutely shit. Leggings with paint marks on them from when my mom and I repainted the bakery, and bleach stains on my t-shirt.

For fuck sake.

“Yeah, I’ll order some pizza if you want to pick up a few beers— Yeah, see you soon.”

The moment he’s off the phone, I want to throttle him. I absolutely CAN NOTbelievethat he just did that to me. “Are you serious right now?”

Knox raises a brow in question. His arms cross over his chest as he glances at Kylie who only continues to find this entire exchange amusing. “Are you worried about something, Madi? Because I could have sworn that you and Jaxson were only friends… or so you say.”

My face turns red with embarrassment. I know what he’s playing at and it isn’t going to work. It’s not just me that made that statement. Jaxson told literallyeveryonethat we were only just friends.

“Nope,” I lie, biting my tongue as I try to keep my composure. “Let him come over. At least then maybe we will actually get some work done.”

If I survive the torment, that is.

Chapter Nine: Jaxson

When I woke up this morning, I had anticipated a busy day. But honestly, I hadn’t anticipated spending hours on the phone with my work back home trying to make sure my life didn’t completely fall apart. Which is why I’ve always been so hesitant about actually leaving. Because as soon as I did… suddenly no one knew how to do their job.

One by one, I checked on the various restaurants that I own, both in New York and Paris. Checking the inventory lists. Making sure the menus were ready for their seasonal changes. As well as checking in with Sous Chefs and other employees, making sure that we were in line for any major players who were booked to come in for a bite to eat. Majority of them run well and can hold their own. But my recent partnership with Eric, with a restaurant in New York, is taking a toll on me. The inability for things to run smoothly is becoming more problematic than I would like.

I’m supposed to be a silent partner. Helping this man to create what he always dreamed of, and while I helped to set up the menu and made sure that the grand opening was a massive success it’s quite obvious that Eric doesn’t want to follow the guidelines I set for him. Because now he’s making changes that don’t sit well with me. Like cutting the menu in half, and trying to organize events so that the place runs more like abarthat sells food.

Not a restaurant that happens to have a bar.

All of which would normally be fine, but with my name attached to this place, it isn’t okay with me. The bad reviews that recently came in, as well as unlisted spent money, is a problem. I refuse to have my name tarnished because he has his own views on how he wants things.

If my name had not been attached, and I hadn’t given him a large amount of money to start the place, I probably wouldn’t care. But, with the contract in place—if he doesn’t get it fixed.

He won’t have a place at all, and I’ll be able to assume full control.

Not that it’s what I want to do. The man is the reason I got my shot to begin with.

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