Jax

I grip the door handle as Raegan speeds down the road. “Where are we going?” I ask, my eyes moving to her to distract myself from the traffic she is weaving in and out of.

She doesn’t answer me, and I appraise her tense body. Her knuckles are white as she holds the steering wheel in a death grip, and her jaw is clenched tight. She makes a sharp left turn, and the side of my body hits the door.

“Do you want me to drive?” I don’t know where we’re going, but I’m more concerned about her driving us into another car than the destination.

She keeps her eyes on the road, ignoring me. Her nostrils flare each time she breathes in and out, her eyes burning with fire.

I have no idea what’s going on. One minute, we were working on our paper, and the next, she was hauling me out of her house. I could have said I wasn’t leaving until she told me where we were going, but I wasn’t going to argue with her when she looked ready to drop-kick someone.

The car jerks to a stop in a driveway, causing my body to tense. She turns off the ignition and jumps out of the car. Do I follow her or stay in the car? When she whips around and glares at me through the windshield with one hand on her hip, I rush out of the car, not wanting to piss her off further.

She latches on to my hand, pulling me behind her. She pushes open the front door of a house without bothering to knock.

What is she thinking, storming into someone’s house?

“Red,” I grit out, tugging on her hand.

The door bangs into the wall, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a hole in the wall behind it since I didn’t hear it hit a doorstopper.

She jerks my hand, ignoring my protest, as she stalks in the house, stopping just inside the door.

“What the fuck?” a guy with red hair asks, holding an empty plate in his hand, frozen next to a dining room table.

He looks like a tool with his hair gelled back and a polo shirt tucked into his khaki slacks. Then, recognition lights my eyes as I remember him. The jackass ex who treated her like shit at the restaurant.

I press my lips together and keep my feet rooted in place, fighting the urge to lunge at him and giving him exactly what he deserves.

“Where’s Stella?” Raegan yells, gripping my hand harder.

I struggle not to wince from the pain.

Who is Stella? Does she have a kid I don’t know about?

He scoffs, placing the plate on the table next to him, walking toward us. “You can’t have her if I can’t have you.”

Playing the whole if-I-can’t-have-you-no-one-can thing is a little petty. I would never let Raegan entertain the idea of being alone in the same room as him, much less let her date the asshole.

Barking comes from somewhere in the house, and Raegan takes a step, seeming to move toward the noise. She pulls me with her, but Travis blocks her path, not allowing her to move further into the house.

“Travis, if you don’t let me walk out the door with my dog, then you’ll be sorry.”

Dog?

It all makes sense now. The way she is with Walker. I can only imagine how she feels because, if someone kept my dog from me, I’d feel like I’d lost my right arm.

Travis stops two feet in front of us, towering over Raegan, but I have a good four inches on the guy. There’s no way I’m going to let him scare her.

His laugh is maniacal, causing me to step in front of Raegan to protect her from the lunatic.

“The fake boyfriend,” he says, sizing me up, wondering if he can take me on. “How much did she have to pay you to try to intimidate me?”

“She doesn’t have to pay me for that. I’d gladly beat the shit out of you even if she didn’t want me to,” I say, my voice tight. “You should give her what she wants; otherwise, you’ll have to deal with me.”

He glances around me to Raegan. “Really, this is your boyfriend? A hothead?”

He steps closer, and my body goes rigid, my fist clenching at my side.

“You are an idiot, Travis. Give me Stella, or I’ll make sure you never have kids,” Raegan says, dropping my hand.

I frown, disappointed she won’t let me protect her.

She steps toward Travis. “It’s your choice.”

“Please, like you could hurt me. I’m not threatened by you or the guy you forced to come over here to rattle me,” he sneers.

“I’m her boyfriend.” I drop my hand to her waist, my thumb slipping under the hem of her shirt. I tell myself I said it because this guy is a complete dick, but I find myself wishing it were true. “She didn’t force me to do anything, so back off.”

“There’s no way I believe that bullshit. Raegan isn’t good for anything, not even sex, and a guy like you probably has ass lining up at your front door.”

Raegan’s body slumps forward like he’s delivered the last blow to knock her to the ground, but I’m not having that. She’s worth so much more than this jackass is trying to convince her of.

I slip my hand around her waist, spinning her around to face me. I tilt her chin up, and she stares up at me, her gorgeous face overshadowed by a frown, and I hate it.

I stare into her crystal-blue eyes, hoping she can see the truth written on my face. “He’s wrong.” I lean down, my nose a few inches from hers. “I’d give up everything for you.” Before either one of us has a chance to think about it, I crash my lips to hers, letting everything else fade into nothing. Her soft lips mold to mine, and all I can smell is vanilla.

Her body sags into mine as one of my hands grips her waist, and the other slips into her hair, tugging on it to lean her head back. Her lips part, and I slip my tongue into her warm mouth, feeling every inch of her.

My pulse pounds as she latches on to me, holding me like I’m something she needs. A low moan moves up her throat, vibrating through me, and I know she can feel my excitement as our bodies press together.

If I could, I would kiss her for hours, memorizing every inch of her body, as I held her in my arms. I could be content with having my mouth on her, fully clothed.

This kiss has ruined me for anyone else. Kissing Raegan is better than random sex, so I take my fill of her mouth and full lips while I can.

“Raegan!” Travis shouts.

Her mouth disappears from mine, and she looks up at me, her crystal-blue eyes swimming with questions, as she bites her lip, her normally pale cheeks flushed.

“Rae!” Travis yells.

Whimpering and the sound of claws scratching a door echo through the house.

She pushes away from me, throwing daggers at him.

“We’re done,” she says as she stomps past him.

Turning left down a hallway, she leaves me with the jackass. He turns around, taking a step in her direction, but I take three long strides, standing between him and the hallway Raegan ran down.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” I warn him.

He studies me for a second before he backs away from me, putting distance between us. First smart thing he’s done since we got here.

“She’ll come back to me,” he says, crossing his arms.

I shake my head, chuckling under my breath. “When I make her come, the only thing she’s thinking of is me. And I can guarantee you, when we leave here, I’ll make her forget you ever existed.”

His face twitches as he huffs, moving toward me.

If he comes any closer, I’m going to lay him out. Thankfully, Raegan steps up behind me, calming me down without even touching me.

“Let’s get out of here,” she says, maneuvering around me to the front door.

I rip my gaze away from Travis and follow behind her. Her arms are cradled in front of her chest with her head bent down as she walks out of the house and to her car.

She opens the back door on the passenger side of the car and places a small black dog inside along with a leash. She closes the door, cutting off Travis’s view of Stella.

I stop next to Raegan as Travis grabs her elbow, flipping her around to face him.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he demands as she tries to jerk away from him.

I whip around and drop my hand to his wrist, gripping it as hard as I can. “If you don’t want me to break your wrist, you will let go of her.”

He drops her elbow, and I shove him back.

She points a finger at him, her eyes narrowed, and says, “Don’t you ever touch me again.”

“You used to beg me to touch you.” He smirks, snatching a piece of her blonde hair between his fingers.

I’m about to knock his ass out, but Raegan swats his hand away and then rears her arm back, landing her fist in the asshole’s face.

Fuck yes!

I smile, full of pride, when he yells out in pain, holding the side of his face.

“You bitch!” he roars, nursing his cheek.

She moves closer to him, holding his shoulders as she knees the prick in the balls. “I’d rather be a bitch than still be with you,” she retorts as he falls in the grass next to the driveway, holding his crotch.

He rolls to his side, groaning.

I almost feel sorry for the guy. Almost.

She turns around, focusing her attention on me. “Get in the car.” She storms around the back of car and throws open the driver’s door.

I grin, knowing Raegan is the girl of every guy’s dream.

She doesn’t take shit from anyone and stands up for herself and those around her. If I didn’t know myself better, I’d think I’d just fallen in love with a girl who laid a guy twice her size out on the ground.

The window of her car rolls down, barking filtering outside.

“Do you want me to leave you here?” she asks, sounding irritated.

I open the passenger door, plopping in the seat. “No fucking way.”

I want to be wherever you are.

Raegan marches inside her house with me hot on her heels. I feel the lingering anger rolling off her, and all I want to do is take it away by molding my mouth to hers again.

I push my hands in my jean pockets to keep from reaching out to her, not wanting my thoughts to encourage me to take her in my arms.

“This”—Raegan points to the black dog in her arms—“is Stella.”

Raegan places her on the couch, and I walk around to sit next to Stella.

She can’t weigh more than fifteen pounds as she sits on the couch next to me.

“Is she a French bulldog?” I ask, not taking my eyes away from Stella.

“Yeah. How’d you know?”

I shrug, petting the top of Stella’s head. She licks my arm in response.

“I can just tell.” I take Stella’s paw in my hand and shake it. “It’s nice to meet you, Stella. I can see why Raegan fought so hard to get you back.”

I hear a gasp next to me, and I look out of my peripheral vision, seeing Raegan standing there with her mouth slightly open. Her clear blue eyes shift from my face to Stella’s paw in my hand. I stare at her lips before I quickly avert my gaze back to Stella. I cannot get lost in Raegan, but I feel like I’m already failing miserably at that.

I place Stella’s paw back on the couch as I hear footsteps descending the stairs.

Arya bounces off the last stair and shrieks when she sees Stella sitting next to me. I wince from the high-pitched noise, shrinking into myself, as Stella barks, jumping around in excitement. Arya runs around the couch and sweeps Stella up into her arms.

“You got her back.” Arya beams, squishing Stella to her chest.

Stella licks her neck, clawing at her arms like she can’t get close enough.

“No thanks to you.” Raegan glares at Arya.

“I was only trying to help you last time.” She frowns.

Raegan mutters under her breath before turning her attention to me as she plops on the couch next to me. “And you,” she says, jabbing a finger in my chest, “thank you.”

Her eyes soften, and my eyes widen, as I didn’t expect her gratitude from the way her finger dug into my chest.

“But don’t you dare kiss me again. There’s no telling where that mouth of yours has been.”

There it is.

I’ve been waiting for her to say something about that. I knew she wouldn’t appreciate me kissing her, but there’s no way she didn’t feel what I did—like everything was right when our mouths collided.

“My mouth is a lot cleaner than that sleazy ex of yours,” I say, leaning back into the couch.

Arya laughs behind me. “Oh, I like you.” She leans over the couch and places Stella between me and Raegan. “If you don’t want him, Raegan, can I have him?”

She pushes Arya away. “No.” She picks Stella up and holds her like a baby.

I grin, wagging my eyebrows. “I knew I meant something to you.”

She scratches Stella’s belly, and Stella wiggles her body in Raegan’s arms as her tongue hangs out of her mouth.

Raegan grimaces at me. “Shut up.”

The black fur ball in her arms yelps, and I can’t tell if she’s agreeing with Raegan or not.

I shake my head at both of them.

Raegan is more than I can handle, but all I keep thinking is, I want nothing more than to be the one she takes along for the ride.

I left Raegan’s an hour ago and came straight to my parents’ house, feeling guilty for not seeing Sam all weekend.

I open the fridge, searching for something to cook for Sam, but when all I find is condiments and yogurt, I shut the door.

When she asked for a snack several minutes ago, I told her I would look for something, but I know she won’t eat the yogurt. She says she doesn’t like to drink her food. I chuckle to myself. Yogurt isn’t something you can drink, but to her, it is.

I turn my head when I hear footsteps coming down the stairs. When I see my mom, my shoulders stiffen.

She walks past me, not bothering to glance at me. “What are you doing?” she questions as she swipes a glass out of the kitchen cabinet.

“Looking out for my sister.” I lean against the fridge, crossing my arms.

She scoffs. “She’s got me; she’s fine.”

My eyes harden. Does she really think that? “I beg to differ.”

Mom walks to the sink and turns on the faucet, filling her glass with water. “You don’t have anything to offer her. You’re not her parent.” She shuts off the water, taking a long gulp from her cup.

The circles under her eyes are more prominent than the last time I saw her, and the whites of her eyes are red. For the first time, I notice her face isn’t as full as it used to be.

What is happening to her?

“You aren’t either.”

She grips the glass in her hand before slamming it on the counter, her eyes as crazed as they were when she was throwing stuff out the window.

“Listen here”—she jabs her finger in my face—“I don’t know who you think you are, but I’m your mother. I expect you to treat me with respect.”

I push away from the fridge, taking a step toward her. “I expect a lot of things from you, too, but I’m not holding my breath.”

“We never should have had you. That smart mouth of yours—”

“Kate!” Dad’s voice booms through the kitchen, startling me and Mom.

The muscles in my arms flex as I fist my hand. I grit my teeth and turn on my heel to leave them before I do something I’ll regret.

“Jax, wait,” Dad calls as he grabs my arm.

I shake him off, not interested in listening to a word either one of them has to say.

I run up the stairs and walk down the hallway. I take several deep breaths, calming myself down. I don’t know what’s happening to this family, but I feel like it’s all coming to a head. We’re combusting, on the verge of turning to ash.

When I make it to Sam’s room, I softly knock on the door and push it open.

Sam turns her head from where she’s sitting on the floor, a smile lighting up her face when she sees me. “Did you bring me a snack?”

I wince. “No, Munchkin. What do you say we go out to eat?”

She bounces, her long brown hair dancing down her back. “Okay, but come play dress up with me first.”

I walk across the room and sit next to her, taking in the Barbie clothes scattered on the floor.

“Here.” She hands me a doll with short black hair. The poor doll looks like it went to the barber shop of Sam, it’s hair uneven. “You can dress Patty while I brush Maggie’s hair, then we can go.”

I laugh. Sam could convince me to do anything, including letting her put makeup on me and painting my nails.

I pick up a metallic blue dress and put it on Patty.

“Jax?” Sam asks, not taking her eyes off Maggie’s hair. “Why do Mom and Dad yell all the time?”

My stomach sinks as my hands freeze. How do I tell her our parents seem to hate each other?

I look at her, and my heart splinters. Sam’s mouth is turned down, and her eyes seem sad. I want to take it away. I want her smiles and to see her eyes twinkle every day.

I clear my throat. “Sometimes people don’t get along.”

“Like me and Aaron?” She continues to brush the dolls hair.

“Who’s Aaron?”

“A boy at school who stole my pudding.”

If I could get away with threatening a little kid, I would hunt Aaron down and tell him not to mess with Sam. I only want her to know the good in life, but I know that’s impossible. I can’t protect her from everything.

“Yeah, just like you and Aaron.” I finish dressing Patty and hold her out to Sam. “What do you think?”

“She’s beautiful.” She beams.

“Not as beautiful as you.” She blushes as I wrap my arm around her shoulders.

A door slams somewhere in the house, causing her to jump. I squeeze her tighter, kissing the top of her head. “Let’s get out here. I’m starving.” I rub my stomach.

She stands, and I do the same. “I want dessert,” she says, putting on her shoes.

I tap my chin, pretending to think about it. “Only if you can beat me to the front door.”

She runs out of the room, giggling as she bounds down the hallway. I don’t chase after her until I hear her hit the last step.

When I reach her, her hand is on the front door as she grins from ear to ear. “I win,” she announces.

“Dessert it is.” I pick her up, holding her on my hip as I open the door.

“You know I’ll always be here for you, right, Munchkin?”

She nods, her head hitting my shoulder. “I know.” She grips the sleeve of my shirt as we walk to my truck. “Love you, Jax.”

“I love you, too.”

Always.