Page 5 of Jaxon

Jaxon returned with the cables and a small tool kit, his expression unreadable.The ride back to her car was cloaked in a heavy silence, one that felt louder and more telling than any conversation could have been.It was as if they were both teetering on the edge of something momentous, too afraid to take the plunge but unable to turn back.

He worked quickly, efficiently attaching the cables to her battery and starting his bike to charge it.Harper watched him, her heart pounding in her chest.The sound of her car roaring back to life filled the air, bringing an almost overwhelming rush of relief.

“Thank you,” Harper said.

“Anytime,” Jaxon replied.

For a moment, it felt like the years between them had vanished, leaving them as they once were—Jaxon and Harper, two people drawn together by an undeniable connection.

Harper’s gaze dropped to the ground, her mind racing.She knew she needed to tell him about Mia.He deserved to know.But the words felt heavy on her tongue, weighed down by years of uncertainty and fear.

What if he was angry?What if he felt betrayed?The thought of losing whatever fragile connection they had managed to rekindle terrified her more than anything.

“Jaxon...”she began, unsure how to continue.

He stepped closer, his hand brushing gently against hers in a touch that was both comforting and electrifying.

“Yeah?”Jaxon asked, voice a little rough.

Harper’s heart pounded in her chest, her breath coming in shallow gasps.She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself enough to speak the truth that had been locked away for so long.

“There’s something I need to tell you.About why I left.”

Jaxon knitted his brows together, concern flashing across his face.He nodded, his gaze softening as he tried to reassure her.“You can tell me anything, Harper.You know that.”

The sincerity in his voice only made the lump in her throat grow larger.She opened her mouth to speak, the truth teetering on the edge of her lips.But then the familiar wave of fear crashed over her, drowning her resolve.What if this ruined everything?

“Not here,” she managed to say, her voice barely steady.“Can we talk somewhere else?Another day?”

Jaxon’s eyes searched hers, as if trying to understand the turmoil she was going through.He nodded slowly, his expression gentle.“Whenever you’re ready.”

Harper exhaled, a mixture of relief and anxiety tightening her chest.

“Thank you.”It was all she could manage.

They stood there for a moment longer, the hum of the now-functioning car engine filling the space between them.

Harper’s mind raced with thoughts of how to approach the conversation, of how to explain the choices she had made and the reasons behind them.But for now, she was grateful for the reprieve, however brief it might be.

As Jaxon stepped back to give her space, Harper’s heart ached with the knowledge that this moment, this fragile peace, was only the beginning of what could either mend or break them.

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