Page 32 of Fight for You

I furrow my brow. “No?”

“Apparently the other day when you asked them to check on Jax, he was passed out drunk on the couch. They had words and Dean punched him in the face.” Lainey gasps and I groan.

“Oh my god. Seriously?” I gripe and she grins and nods her head.

“Oh, yeah. Told him to pull his head out of his ass and get his girl back,” her comment has my heart skipping a beat. I didn’t want to end things the way I did with Jaxson, but I was so upset. Hurt that he just stormed out and left the three of us alone, knowing that Hank was pissed and trying to prove a point.

“You know that he had no way of knowing that Weller would show up that night, right?” Clarissa points out and I sigh. Deep down, I do know that. I know I’m being irrational, but the fact that Jaxson just left when he knew Hank could still be around doesn’t sit right with me.

“I know, but instead of talking shit out with me he just stormed out. It’s not the first time that’s happened. I can’t,” I take a shaky breath, “I can’t be with someone who refuses to talk to me when things are tough.”

“I hear that,” Lex says, raising her glass in a toast. Her ex-husband was a piece of shit and did all his talking with his fists. “Open and honest communication is important in a relationship.”

“So is rough sex,” Clarissa says, raising her glass and Lex rolls her eyes.

“It’s not all about sex, Riss.”

“I’m just saying, if he doesn’t choke me, what’s the point?” she murmurs, and Lainey shakes her head.

“And just where are you getting sex from, Clarissa?” She asks and I’m curious to know the answer.

“None of your business, Lainey. Have you and Zander fucked yet?” Clarissa’s comment has Whitley choking on her snack cake and Lex pounds on her back. Lainey’s face turns beet red.

“Oh my god, have you?!” I squeal excitedly and she rolls her eyes.

“No, you vultures. He doesn’t even know I exist.”

“Bullshit,” Clarissa proclaims.

“Seriously, guys. He has no clue. The parade of women in and out of his house every day is glaringly obvious.”

“Oh honey,” I say, reaching over and patting her hand. “You just need to be assertive. Let him know that you’re interested.”

“Uh, no,” she coughs out. “I’m too old for games and players. If he can’t open his eyes and see what is literally right next to him, then maybe he isn’t the guy for me.”

The rest of the night we drink and give each other facials, and not even for a second does Jaxson’s truck leave its position in front of my house. And when I wake up in the morning, it’s still there.

Jaxson

Tap tap.

Shit. The knock on my window has me startling awake. Avery’s face is staring back at me through the thick pane. I roll the window down on my Raptor and she hands me a coffee cup. The clock on the dash tells me it’s barely six in the morning. She’s wearing a robe tied tight around her and her hair is up in a messy bun, bags under her eyes.

“Thank you,” I say, taking a sip and peering at her over the cup. She sighs.

“Why are you here?” She asks, tugging the robe she’s wearing tighter over her chest and crossing her arms.

“Because I’ll never forgive myself if something happens to one of you,” I tell her honestly, and her face softens.

“We aren’t yours to protect, Jax,” she says softly, and I narrow my eyes at her.

“Bullshit you aren’t, Ace. Does anyone else in this town know the fuckin’ face you make when you come?” She scoffs.

“You don’t have to be so crass, Jaxson. Webroke up. Just because you may have fucked me doesn’t mean you get to continue inserting yourself into my life.” Her words have me losing my shit.

“That’s right, Ace. We did fuck. Over and over and over again. And hear me now because I’m only going to say this once.This,” I say, motioning between the two of us, “is far from fuckin’ over. The sooner you realize that the better.” I hand her back the coffee cup and slide my sunglasses on my face. “See you at dark, Ace.” I pull away from the curb, glancing in my rearview mirror at Avery standing in the same spot, watching me drive away. She’s insane if she thinks I’m letting her get away.

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