Jaxon

The next few weeks flew by in a domesticated blur of bliss. Jaxon spent nearly every night at Lucy and Brooke’s. He spent countless hours showing them how to cook. They were hopeless in the kitchen, but it only made him enjoy being there more. It felt good to be needed. Plus, he certainly didn’t mind the nights when Brooke scurried off somewhere mysterious and left Jaxon and Lucy alone in the kitchen to make dinner.

Lucy had taken to sitting on the counter while Jaxon prepared their meal. Seeing her sitting there, smiling and happy made his heart feel too big for his chest. And it didn’t hurt that she looked sexy as hell with flour on her slim thighs and in her hair. She really was helpless when it came to cooking.

Jaxon swore Lucy ended up wearing more ingredients than they ate, but watching her help was half the fun. That and feeding her samples of whatever he was making. Goddamn, watching that girl part her lips and wrap them around a spoon did wildly inappropriate things to Jaxon’s insides.

Yep, life was pretty amazing. During the day, Jaxon was Lucy’s campus chauffeur. He took her to classes and physical therapy appointments. At night, he was her rock. Her nightmares were fewer as long as he was by her side. She’d even agreed to start seeing a therapist once a week. And at her latest follow up appointment for her leg, Lucy was able to trade her heavy cast for a more comfortable walking boot. It seemed to help boost her spirits. She could take it off for showers and it didn’t get as tangled in her sheets when she slept.

Jaxon loved watching Lucy’s progress. She smiled more and she’d actually been eating healthy meals and sleeping through the night, which was a major improvement to her over all appearance and mood. Her skin glowed and her clothes didn’t hang off of her quite as much as they had a few weeks ago.

But by far, Jaxon’s favorite improvement was the way Lucy lit up whenever she saw him. They weren’t officially dating and they hadn’t done more than hold hands while watching movies together on her couch, but their connection was undeniable. Lucy made Jaxon feel things he didn’t know he could. She made him happy and for the first time since his accident, he found he was okay with letting himself feel loved.

He was falling for her. Lucy made Jaxon want to abandon his fears. But she also gave him a whole slew of new ones. He wanted to protect her from everything—her nightmares, her bad days, her frustratingly slow recovery. But most of all he wanted to protect himself from losing her.

Even though Lucy wasn’t with Alex anymore, he still wasn’t completely out of her life. Jaxon knew things were complicated since Alex’s parents were her legal guardians. He’d had a hard time swallowing the surge of anger that came with learning that tidbit of information. It certainly explained why Lucy had put up with so much of Alex’s bullshit over the years. Jaxon knew there was more to the story of Lucy’s guardianship than she was ready to explain to him and he was willing to wait for her to open up when she was ready. But it didn’t stop him from hating how hard Lucy was trying to stay on good terms with Alex for the sake of his family’s legal obligations. Especially, since Alex was using every opening he could to claw his way back into Lucy’s life.

He’d come crawling back when he returned from San Diego, and despite Lucy firmly telling him they were through, the guy wasn’t giving up. Alex had been pulling out all the stops to win her back. He called repeatedly, sent roses to her dorm, which Lucy always refused. Then just last week he’d had a brand new red Jeep Wrangler delivered to campus for her. It was the spitting image of the car she’d totaled. It certainly wouldn’t have been Jaxon’s choice. He could see how just looking at the car conjured up ghosts Lucy hadn’t dealt with yet. She’d hung the shiny new set of keys by her front door and hadn’t touched them since.

Jaxon couldn’t deny that it was hard to sit back at watch another guy go after the girl of his dreams while he just stood by her side, desperately hoping she’d choose him. But he didn’t know what else to do. Alex’s family was paying Lucy’s medical bills, not to mention her room and board at Saint Andrews. Jaxon didn’t want to do anything that would jeopardize her care. But Alex’s interference was constantly on Jaxon’s mind.

He was trying not to push Lucy. He wanted her to know she could take her time. That he was there for her no matter if she wanted nothing more than friendship from him—even when he wanted so much more. He wanted to be the one for her. But he was resolved not to rush her into anything she wasn’t ready for.

Jaxon knew Lucy still felt tied to Alex and his family until she turned eighteen. And if she needed time to wait that out then he’d give it to her.

But Brooke was a completely different story. She took her jabs at Alex any chance she got, and today was no different.

Brooke

Brooke came barreling into the apartment, towing a giant teddy bear by the arm. “Okay, Lucy, I know you’ve been dealing with this at your own pace but I can’t take it anymore. Can you please end this thing with Alex? It’s getting a little too stalk-arazzi for me.”

Lucy looked up from her spot on the couch where she was cuddled next to Jaxon reading a thick textbook. “What is that?”

“The newest addition to Alex’s apology tour,” Brooke grumbled. “You need to end this.

“I have. I told him it’s over.”

Brooke dropped the teddy bear next to the breakfast bar and crossed her arms. “Well apparently he’s not getting the message.” Then she pulled a kitchen knife from the butcher block and held it to the bear’s throat. “Why don’t you let me talk to him? I’ll make sure he gets the message loud and clear.”

“Brooke!” Lucy yelled, jumping to her feet. She moved so quickly she nearly tripped over Jaxon’s long legs, but as usual he was on guard and saved Lucy from disaster by scooping her into his arms.

Jaxon shot Brooke a warning look and she put the knife down. “I wasn’t actually going to cut the bear,” she grumbled. “You know I’m a vegetarian.”

Lucy rolled her eyes.

“Seriously,” Brooke continued. “Am I the only one who thinks this is ridiculous?” She looked pointedly at Jaxon, who kept his mouth shut on the subject, as always.

Brooke blew out a frustrated breath. “The stupid thing is, if he’d shown half this much interest when you two were dating he wouldn’t be in this situation.”

Jaxon deposited Lucy back on her feet and kissed the top of her head. “I think I’m gonna let you girls have some roommate time.”

“No you don’t have to go,” Lucy objected.

“It’s fine. I’ve actually gotta get home to take care of some things. I’ll be back to take you to PT.”

Brooke watched Lucy try to hide her disappointment as Jaxon left. When the door shut behind him she glared at Brooke. “Do you really have to say things like that?”

“Someone does!” Brooke barked.

Lucy huffed and sat back down on the couch.

Brooke joined her. “I’m not trying to be a bitch, but this has gone on long enough. You can’t keep juggling two boys.”

“I’m not.”

“Sure seems like it to me.”

“You know I have to maintain a relationship with Alex. His parents control my life until I’m eighteen, and if I piss Alex off—”

“If you piss Alex off he’ll deal with it,” Brooke interrupted.

“Brooke, he can make my life difficult for me if I get on his bad side.”

“How? He cares too much about his reputation. Do you really think he’s gonna run to his mommy and daddy and tell them to cut you off? Legally they can’t do that.”

“There are other things they can keep from me.”

“Like what?”

Lucy clammed up, just like she always did whenever Brooke got too close to the truth.

Brook threw her hands up. “Fine, don’t tell me. But I think you’re being stupid!”

Lucy looked taken aback, but Brooke was over walking on eggshells. She didn’t want to hurt Lucy but maybe a little tough love was what she needed. “I’m sorry, Lucy, but it’s true. You’re obviously in love with Jaxon and he’s crazy about you. You need to stop being so freaking scared and tell him how you feel.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“It’s exactly that simple. Lucy, he’s the guy for you. Jaxon is your unicorn and it’s open season, girl. If you don’t go after him someone else will. A guy like that isn’t gonna wait around forever.” Brooke grabbed Lucy’s hand. “You know I’m right. So suck it up and tell him how you feel already, before it’s too late.”