Page 82 of One Life to Loathe

Realization dawned on Jax’s features. “I did not think about that.”

“We’re trying to keep it quiet because…well, it just needs to be that way for now. Sam deserves happiness, and if this blows up in the gossip rags, she’s going to get the brunt of all the vitriol. Nobody expects anything from me.”

Jax looked taken aback. “You don’t want people to expect anything from you,” he said finally. “Have you considered that if you were to start expecting things of yourself, that might change?”

“And what if I can’t deal with that?”

“I don’t think you’re going to get a choice in the matter.” Jax’s expression was neutral. “You’ve coasted on your charm for a long time. You don’t engage, though. Or, you didn’t engage. You’ve been engaging more here.”

“Is this the part where you tell me I’m finally growing into a man?”

“I don’t need to tell you that. You already know it.”

“I know what I want for my future,” I insisted. “I’m glad you found your happily ever after here. You and Daisy … you guys are pretty cute together. It’s nice for you. I don’t think I’m getting ahappily ever after, though. I just have to work for a happily for now and hope that I can keep it going.”

“You’re stubborn.”

I burst out laughing. “You’re just figuring that out?”

“No. I’ve seen it from the start. What’s interesting is that you remind me a little bit of myself when I came here.”

“Is that so?”

He nodded.

“I don’t remember being left a hotel by a grandfather I barely knew.”

“You get caught up on surface stuff.” Jax shook his head. “I’m not talking about the hotel. I’m talking about me. When I came here, I was positive I knew what I wanted, how things would go. I was wrong, though. I didn’t even really want the things I thought I wanted.”

“What did you want?” I was honestly curious.

“You think I’m going to say Daisy—and she is the easy answer—but she was just a piece of the overall puzzle,” he replied. “I wanted to fit somewhere. I wanted to belong. I found that here.”

“Because of Daisy, though, right?”

He nodded. “She was the first and most important piece. There were other pieces, though.”

“Can you really see me settling down here and having some happily ever after with Sam? I know that’s what you and Daisy sit around talking about when you’re bored. Be truthful, though.”

“Okay.” Jax planted his hands on his hips. “Do you want to know the truth?”

“I’m all ears.” I expected him to say something funny, or maybe even corny. What he dropped on me stole my breath.

“I don’t think you even like being an actor,” Jax replied. “I think it was an escape for you because you had some rough stuff in your past, and I get that. I can see wanting to escape.

“You light up when you’re around Sam, though,” he continued. “Melanie said you guys held hands the entire trolley ride the other day and that it looked as if you were having a serious discussion. When you were finished, you seemed happier.”

“Who is Melanie?” I demanded.

“She was your tour guide on the trolley a few days ago.”

“And she spied on us?”

“This town isn’t very big and we all gossip about each other. You need to get over that.”

“It’s rude,” I grumbled under my breath.

“Was she wrong, though?”

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