Page 70 of Game Changer
“Canada.With Jax.”Seeing their expressions, I hold up a hand.“We’re just friends!Again, he was planning to go there anyway, and I didn’t want to hang out here waiting for Steve to show up—” I pause.“With Claire,” I add disdainfully.“So he asked me to come with him.”
This is all met with silence and poker faces.I eat my mushroom.
“What?It’s fine.This is delicious.I want the recipe.”
“Well, good for you,” Brielle says.“Have all the fun.Why not?”
“I’m not sure I agree.”Grace glances around.“The more time you spend with Jax, the more chance there is that somethingwillhappen.”
“So what?”Brielle asks.“What if it does?They’re both single.Neither of them is looking for a relationship.He can be your rebound,” she adds, looking at me.
My eyebrows shoot up.“Rebound?”
“Yeah.The first relationship after a breakup is always a rebound.”
“Hmm.”I consider that.“Well, I’m not even looking for a rebound.”
“I suppose that’s true,” Grace says slowly, apparently unconvinced.“I just wouldn’t want you to get hurt again.”
I roll my eyes.“I’m not getting hurt, because it’s not like that.I’m going to a lake cabin to commune with nature and relax.It’s summer, I’m on vacation, and I didn’t get to go to Europe.Unlike Steve.”I screw up my face.
“That’s true.”Grace smiles.“You do whatever you want and have fun.”
“Thanks.”
14
Molly
I’m doing what I want, and I’m going to have fun.
I survived another flight and we’re in Winnipeg.
All I know about Winnipeg it that it’s the home of the Jets.Jax laughed at me when I asked him if I needed warm clothes for this trip.Then he admitted that I would need a sweater or hoodie for at night, as it gets cool up at the lake.
And sure enough, it’s a beautiful day as we leave the airport in another rental car, warm and sunny.Jax’s first stop is visiting his grandparents.
“I don’t need to meet your grandparents,” I tell him.“Maybe you can drop me off somewhere.A shopping mall or something.”
He eyes me.“You sure?”
“Yes.The fewer people who know about me being here, the better.”
“Huh.I guess that’s true.Okay, there’s a new outlet mall not far from them.I’ll leave you there and pick you up in a couple of hours.”
“That sounds good.”
Not that I need to do more shopping.I’ve reclaimed my belongings and now have ample clothes, toiletries and my beloved Kindle.But I can hang out there and grab something to eat.
He points out the modern new condo building where his grandparents live as we pass it, then turns into the parking lot of the mall.We make a note of which entrance we’re at and he says he’ll pick me up at four o’clock.Apparently it’s about a three-hour drive to the lake.
I pass a couple of hours easily, with a stop at Starbucks and an impulse purchase of a pair of shoes that are fifty percent off at Saks Off Fifth.
Jax smirks when he sees my shopping bag.I toss it in the back seat and climb in.“What’s so funny?”
“You like shopping, don’t you?I could tell that day at Target.”
I pull my seatbelt down and across my body.“Yes, I admit it.But we’re going into the wilderness, and I won’t be able to shop, right?”
