We made sure of it.
Or so we thought, not wanting Elijah or anyone else sticking their noses into our business. It had been exciting, all the sneaking around.
“I’m not saying you’re wrong.” She squeezes my arm again. “Just think about where your confirmation came from.”
My empty stomach rebels, the water swashing around.
“The last thing I’ll say on this is, I can’t believe Jax would have risked his friendship with Elijah, messed around with his sister if you didn’t mean anything to him.”
My chest constricts. I’d thought the same, but then, when Zach backed up what I heard. At the time, there’d been no reason to doubt him. Suddenly… the pressure behind my eyes intensifies. I close them as a wave of dizziness overwhelms me.
Pen’s grip on my arm increases. I focus on the pressure, breathing in and out. When I open my eyes, I raise my chin and square my shoulders. Pen withdraws her hand, but I can’t miss the concern radiating from her.
I smile, albeit a weak one.
“It doesn’t matter now. It’s all water under the bridge.”
Pen doesn’t call me out on my bullshit, but her expression says it all.
“After everything that’s happened, do you think maybe you should talk to Jax?”
I shake my head.
“I’m not sure what that would achieve, or even what we would say.”
Pen looks like she wants to say more, but holds her counsel, for which I’m grateful.
We spend time eating our food. She fills me in on Lottie, Darra and the latest Frazer family dramas.
When we’re done, I look at my watch.
“I better get back, especially as I’m heading out on Monday. There are a few things I need to finalise.”
Pen gets up and pulls me in for a hug. I pull back and grip her upper arms.
“Pen, please don’t say anything to Elijah. I didn’t rock the boat back then, there’s no reason to now, especially when he and Jaxson are rebuilding their friendship.”
Jaxson was always the best of friends to my brother, had his back. Elijah needs that in his life.
“I won’t say a word,” she promises. “But I think you and Jax are long overdue for a conversation.”
I shrug. “Maybe, but we’re very different people now. I’m not sure what raking up the past would achieve.”
“Sometimes it’s simply about putting your demons to rest.”
We hug goodbye, and I make my way back to the office.
Michael looksup as I approach my office and smiles.
“Any messages?” I ask.
“Your two-thirty has called to apologise and say they’ll be five minutes late. Mr Chapman called and asked for a meeting. I told him you were in back-to-back meetings for the next couple of days, but he insisted it was important.”
I nod, everything always is, with Douglas Chapman.
“I’ve scheduled him in for seven this evening?”
“That’s fine,” I say. He no doubt wants a rundown on Jaxson and the project.
