Page 16 of When Our Stars Aligned

“So, you’ve seen his body, just not his face?”

“Correct.” I never imagined he would have such intense steel-gray eyes behind the silver goggles he wears.

“Does he wear one of those little Speedos?”

I bust out laughing. “No! Thank God! No man, no matter how built they are, looks good in one of those things! He wears a tighter version of swim trunks.” Normal swim trunks are too loose for swimmers. Plus, they can balloon up in the water. The type Jax wears helps him glide through the water but is less revealing than a Speedo.

“And how well built is he?” Gabby waggles her eyebrows as she takes a seat next to Michelle.

“Very. But I wouldn’t tell him that. Honestly, he’s built very similar to Alex, maybe a little broader in the chest, and of course he’s got the tattoos.”

The girls nod in understanding. In the few short weeks I’ve lived here, I’ve discovered that Alex is not a fan of clothes. That man has no shame in showing off his body. He does have a gorgeous, chiseled physique, but I swear I’ve seen him shirtless more times than not. Michelle finally made it a rule that he must wear a shirt while at the dinner table.

“Speaking of his tattoos, does he have any more than just the sleeve?” Gabby asks as she picks out a pretty shade of shimmery watermelon nail polish.

“Yeah. He has the Navy insignia on his chest.” It took me a while to figure it out, but once I got a good look at it, I could see what it was. I’d know that symbol anywhere. As a kid, I grew up right outside of Norfolk Naval Base. My parents were civilians, but I went to school with a ton of military kids. I know most people called them military brats, but they never seemed like brats to me. Some of them were the nicest kids I’d ever met. Unfortunately, I lost a lot of friends as they moved all around the world while I stayed stagnant.

“Oh yeah!” Gabby perks up. “Alex told me Jax was in the Navy but got injured or something. I noticed he has some scarring on the arm where he has his tattoos.”

“That’s what it is!” I point a finger, realizing Gabby is right. “I noticed there was something different about the tattoos on his arm, but I couldn’t figure it out. He’s too fast in the water to let me get a long enough look.”

“I’ve seen him a couple of times in short sleeves.” Gabby shrugs. “I think it’s the nurse in me that noticed it. The ink covers them up pretty well. I’m sure that was done on purpose, but I never felt comfortable enough to ask.”

“How awful,” Michelle interjects. “We really don’t know much about him and it’s not for lack of us trying. It’s a miracle he comes to dinner every now and then. He’s always so closed off.”

“He didn’t seem closed off to me,” I say. Gabby and Michelle exchange a strange look between them. “What?”

“That’s the most we’ve ever heard Jax talk,” Gabby answers.

“Really?” I scrunch up my nose in surprise. He didn’t seem to have an issue complaining about me.

“Oh yeah, he’s always super broody and kind of mysterious. I know he was one of the first people to move into the condos when they were built and he was the last one I met on this floor. No one really knows much about him or what he even does for a living. He keeps to himself mostly, although I know he’s friendlier with Alex and Carter. They hang out at the bar and sometimes work out together at the gym.”

“No one knows what he does?” That’s pretty odd to live right next door to someone and not know much about them. Then again, I lived in Beaute for the last thirteen years. Everyone there knows what kind of toothpaste your mom’s uncle’s cousin twice removed uses.

“Nope. I think the boys know, but they think it’s funny that we don’t. We’ve guessed everything from stripper to hitman for hire,” Gabby jokes.

“Anyway,” Michelle continues, “if I didn’t know any better, I’d say there were some sparks flying between the two of you tonight.”

“Oh, no. No way. He was just mad at me for hogginghis lane.” I use air quotes on the last two words.

“I don’t know.” Gabby shakes her head. “I thought I saw some sparks too.”

“You two are crazy. There were no sparks.”

Okay, I did feel something. Something happened when we shook hands. I tried to convince myself it’s because I’ve gone so long without any physical contact. Although, I did give Carter a hug the other day when he took me to see the ocean and I didn’t feel any weird sensations.

No matter what, I’m not going to act on it. I can’t. I’m done with the whole dating scene. I have been hurt and humiliated. Ending the relationship with Trent was hard enough; being referred to as the runaway bride everywhere I went just added salt to the wound. I have no desire to open myself to something like that ever again.

12

Jax

I get back from my place and make a beeline for the liquor cabinet. I’m not usually big on the hard stuff, but I’m completely bent out of shape after whatever that was at dinner tonight. I called her sweetheart? What the hell? My phone vibrates with a text message from my sister.

Emma:You owe me, big brother!

Me:What do I owe you?

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