Page 125 of Beneath the Hood

“Well, we’re having family dinner over at Chase and Lee’s tonight and you’re comin’.”

I’m ripped from my thoughts with Becca’s statement, dread pooling low in my gut. I run my hand through my hair. “I don’t know, Becca. I’m tired. I was planning on spending tonight with my mom.”

She narrows her eyes. “You’re comin’, Jax. You’re part of this family, and now that you’re back, I won’t let you sneak off and hide.”

I huff. “I’m not hiding.”

“No?” Her hands go to her hips.

“Rebecca, leave him alone,” Eli chides.

She quirks a brow at him. “When have youeverknown me to do that?” Her eyes come back to mine. “Is this about Chase?”

My chest pinches and I shrug, suddenly remembering why I avoided her calls. She’s so damn pushy and she seeseverything.

She sighs, her finger twirling in the strands of her hair. “Yeah, I figured as much. Listen, I’m no fan of the man either, but he’s... he’s different now.”

“Good for him.”

“Heis,Jax.” She pauses. “Come to dinner. Lee will keel over and die from happiness. She’s been missin’ you somethin’ fierce.”

“She just saw me.” I cross my arms.

Becca’s brows draw down. “For like, a day. That ain’t the same thing and you know it.”

Sighing, I nod, knowing that once Becca puts her mind to something there’s no getting out of it.

A few hours later, I’m bouncing on the balls of my feet, nerves tangling together in my stomach as I stand at the front door of Chase’s place. It’s ridiculous that even though I spent the best years of my life with this group of people, I feel as though I’m a stranger walking in, hoping they’ll accept me.

The door swings open and I come face-to-face with my ex-best friend. The one who left town and didn’t bother to mend our fences when he came back. His hazel eyes spark when they see me and he runs a hand through his jet-black hair, tousling the strands. He tips his chin. “Hey, man. Welcome.”

Resentment churns through my insides, my teeth grinding as I force a small smile.

He stands there for a few seconds, his eyes watching me, waiting for a reaction. But I won’t give him one.

Sighing, he moves to the side. “The girls are in the kitchen.”

I shoulder past him, animosity radiating off my body like lightning rods, and head to find Lee and Becca, hoping that being around them will allow me to relax. I paste a smile on my face, doing my best to hide my heartbreak behind the charm as I walk into the kitchen. “Ladies, have no fear, thesexyone is here.”

Lee turns around and squeals, running over and grabbing me into a hug.

Becca stands at the counter with a knife in her hand, smirking. “Good Lord, I didnotmiss your lines, Jackson Rhoades.”

I wink at her as Lee pulls out of my arms and smacks me in the chest. “How could you not tell me you were comin’ back?”

Because I didn’t plan on having my heart ripped from my chest.

Shrugging, I swallow, biting down the pain. “Surprise.”

Her eyes catalog my reaction, growing dark as she takes me in. Her lips pinch but she doesn’t say anything, choosing to walk back to the cutting board instead.

“So,” she starts again. “How long are you in town for?”

Sitting down at the set table, I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. “For good.”

Becca spins back around and Lee stops mid-chop. “I’m sorry, what?” she asks, her voice rising.

My eyes meet hers, begging her to not push—trying to show her without words that I’ll tell her later, when we can talk alone.

---