Page 37 of Game Changer
I study her.She’s tough, but I see the sadness in her eyes.“I’m sorry.”
She tilts her head and peers at me.“Sorry for what?”
“I’m sorry you’re going through this.I’m sorry I doubted you.And I’m sorry I’ve been avoiding Grandpa because I was pissed that he stole Dad’s money.”
Chelsea sucks on her bottom lip.“Thank you, Jax.”
“I guess I’m a little late, but it seems like the rest of the family has already realized all this.”
One corner of her mouth lifts.“I think so, yes.”
“You’ve never defended yourself to us.”
She slowly moves her head from side to side.“If I’d told you all I didn’t marry Bob for his money, would you have believed me?I don’t think so.I just wanted to live my life and love my family and I knew that one day you’d all see that.I didn’t expect…this.”She waves a hand.“But this is our story now.”
She turns to pull mugs out of a cupboard.“What do you take in your coffee?”
“Just some milk, please.”
She pours the coffee and retrieves the milk from the fridge for me, then adds some to Grandpa’s cup as well.
“What about the future?”I ask.“At some point, it’s going to be too much for you.”
“We can afford help,” she says calmly.“Bob doesn’t want to be a burden on me or anyone else, so we talked about memory care facilities and we’ve explored options.We found a nice one not far from here, when the time comes.”
“Will you make sure you take care of yourself?”
She picks up the two mugs and smiles.“You sound like Everly.”She lifts her chin.“She and the boys have all been great.They’ll make sure I’m okay too.”
“That’s good.”
My throat feels scratchy.I take a quick sip of my coffee as I follow her back into the living room where Grandpa is watching a new show.
Back at the resort, I change into board shorts and head down to the pool to find Molly.I find myself out of sorts.Anxious.Guilty.Sad.I really, really want to see her, because her quiet understanding and sunny outlook feel like something I need right now.
I find her at the pool bar talking to a good-looking dude, who’s looking at her like she’s the most fuckable thing he’s ever seen.
Jesus.
“Hey,” I say.
Molly turns to me, her face lighting up.“Oh, hey!You’re back.Wow, what time is it?”
The dude looks at me, then back at Molly.“Uh…”
“Oh, Justin, this is my friend Jax.Jax, this is Justin from New Orleans.He’s here for the convention.The one that has all the rooms full.”She rolls her eyes.
I frown, my gaze sliding back and forth between them, then reach for Justin’s hand, eyeing him.
The bartender sets drinks on the counter in front of Molly and Justin, and she pays for hers while Justin charges the rest to his room.
“Do you want to get a drink?”she asks me.
“Yeah.”
“Why are you looking like that?”She sips her margarita.“Bad day?”
“Uh.”I become aware that I’m still scowling.“Yeah.”I order a beer from the bartender.
