Page 30 of Game Changer
“It’s true,” Jax says in my ear.“You ready to go?”
“Any time you are.I’m just tagging along.”
“I’ll have lots of time to visit with everyone,” he says.“I think I need to…go for a walk.”
I nod, and we take our leave too, with lots of hugs and intentions to make plans.I’m touched when Riley says, “I hope I’ll see you again.”
I shrug and peek over at Jax.“I hope so too.We’ll see.”
Everly, Lacey and Taylor make similar comments, suggesting a girls’ night while I’m here.It sounds fun and amazing, and I could use some girl power support right now, but I’m not really part of this family.I’m only Jax’s friend and I’ll probably never see them again, but I make non-committal comments and then Jax and I head out.
“Holy shit,” he says.
“You okay?”
“I don’t even know.”He rubs his mouth and pulls out of the driveway.“There’s dysfunctional, and then there’s whatever the fuck we are.”
7
Jax
I find my way back to the resort with the help of my GPS.Spotlights illuminate the palm trees around the grounds, white lights twined around their trunks.I park and we walk into the lobby.The bar on our right is open and lively.“Let’s have a drink,” I say, jerking my head toward it.
“Okay.”
There’s a huge fireplace at one end and the bar is open to a terrace.We find a table near the fire and a waitress approaches right away with a smile.
Molly studies a cocktail menu.“I’ll have a watermelon margarita, please.”She smiles back at the waitress.
“Of course.And for you, sir?”
“Have you got Gran Patrón Añejo?”
“We certainly do.”
“Great, thanks.”I turn back to Molly.“I couldn’t drink enough at the party since I had to drive back here.And I needed to drink.”
She smiles and rests her chin on one hand.“Your family is interesting.”
“Interesting?I assume that’s a euphemism for fucked up?”
She laughs.“They’re not that bad.I feel so sorry for Chelsea, though.”
I snort.“Yeah, you said that earlier.”
“Well, now seeing her with your grandpa…and it’s only going to get worse.”Her eyes shadow.“Can you imagine?The person you love most in the world, your partner in life…deteriorating like that right before your eyes, and there’s nothing you can do?”Her voice catches.“It must be so hard for her.”
“Yeah,” I say slowly.“You’re right.I noticed that everyone seems a lot warmer toward her than they used to.I guess I have some catching up to do.”
“You will.Everly’s going to make you.”Her eyes glint.
“I see you have Everly figured out already.”I smile.
“She’s kind of scary.”
“Yeah, I was always scared of her when we were kids.”
“Get out.”
