Page 112 of Reputation
Eavie took a deep breath, knowing it was useless to pretend.“Okay, I’m not exactly fine, but I’m also not a wreck.I’m just…I don’t know.In limbo.”
“I’m sorry you’re going through this again.”
“Well, there’s nothing that can be done now.It was my mistake.I made the wrong decision.It’s time to move on…so I’m making brownies.”
“Hmm,” he grumbled through the phone.“Well, how about you let me help you with that by taking you to a charity event at Wilson Hospital on Friday?”
“What?”Eavie said, glancing over at her phone.“You’re coming to Toronto on Friday?”
“Is that a smile I hear?”Eric teased.
Eavie laughed, feeling the ache in her chest recede a little more.Seeing her brother always made her happy, but right now, it felt like sheneededto see him—that he was the only one who would understand her.
“Wait, does this mean you’re taking the job?The Attending position at the hospital?”
He chuckled.“Yes, I’m taking the job.I feel like it’s time.I want to be closer to you and Mom and Dad.”
Eavie squealed, dropping the measuring cup she was using to scoop sugar.“Oh my god, I am so excited for you!And I am so excited that you’ll be here with me!”
“So is that a yes to coming with me on Friday?”he asked, a smile in his voice.
“Yes, I would love to go with you!What time do you land on Friday?”
“My flight arrives at three, and the event starts at seven.”
“Okay, why don’t you drop your stuff off at my place, then pick me up at work?We can walk over to the hospital together.”
“Sounds like a plan.I’ll see you Friday, sis.Love you,” he said.
“Love you too!Can’t wait to see you!”
Hanging up the phone, Eavie truly felt lighter.She hadn’t realized until now how much she needed to see her twin brother—her true soul mate—and she was beyond thrilled that he was moving here.Smiling, she picked up her measuring cup and focused on her baking.
See, brownies really do make everything better.
Chapter Thirty Nine
Jax
Eight days.
Eight excruciating, infuriating days.The woman was like a bloody ghost—there one minute, gone the next, and always just out of reach.Whenever he saw her beautiful, elegant face, it was like a blow to his stomach, and when he heard her voice or laugh echoing from a room, it was like a double-edged sword through his chest.
Jax refused to believe those nights were all they would get—refused to entertain the idea that they would never be together.He knew he wasn’t ready to let her go, but he hadn’t managed a single opportunity to talk to her in the last week.
For the past eight days, he’d tried to find her, to get even a minute alone with her, but she was always moving away from him—into a room, around the corner, out the door.Desperate after all his calls and texts to her went unanswered, he spent hours every day finding plausible reasons to visit her office, not wanting to seem too obvious so the whispers wouldn’t start again.When he could find one, Eavie was either not there or on the phone, making it impossible to speak with her.
At a loss for what to do, Jax found himself wandering through the darkened corridors of the aquarium, the lapping water above the glass walls cast the area in a gloom that matched his mood.Normally, the aquarium was somewhere he could go to think, to sort through whatever was on his mind.He guessed that’s how he found himself standing in front of the jellyfish tank, eyes distant as the array of colorful tentacles danced through the water.
Brooding, he wandered over to the next room containing floor-to-ceiling windows that looked into the stingray tank.He stared at the creatures swimming by.As he watched, he attempted to sort through the dumpster fire that had engulfed his relationship with Eavie so quickly.
The look she’d shot him that day after everything began burned around them caused a dull ache to etch itself in his chest.The entire week, all he’d thought about was her.Her beautiful, intelligent eyes, the perfect shape of her mouth.She’d looked gorgeous at every moment of every day, utterly stunning in every manner.She was always perfect.
Taking in a deep breath, he wandered through the cylindrical tunnel where sharks swam overhead.Jax cursed himself again for screwing this up so badly.He should have taken more care that night and checked the garage before kissing her as he had.
That was the problem, though.He hadn’t been thinking straight—too consumed with her, missing her and being too impatient to wait until they had made it to her place to resist kissing her, tasting her sweet and spicy flavor.
And now, she was gone just as quickly as he’d had her.The ache in his chest sharpened until it was a piercing stab that pulsed with each heartbeat.Jax rubbed the heel of his hand against it, trying to ease the sharp jabs.He had never felt a sensation like this before and couldn’t figure out what was causing it.
