Jax looks at me, head cocked. “Right,” he says. “Anyway, I really appreciate it. Next time we’re at The Pulaski, your first two rounds are on me.” He takes a sip of his coffee and salutes me with the mug.
“Sounds good,” I say with a smile.
The truth is I want Jax to leave me alone, so I can drink coffee and think about his sister while simultaneously acknowledging I can’t act on those thoughts. What have I gotten myself into?
But the lieutenant doesn’t budge. He leans back against the counter, takes another sip of coffee. “I hope she wasn’t too much of a handful.”
“Naw, man. She was cool. And I was glad to help out.”
“That’s good to hear,” Jax says. “She doesn’t usually get that drunk. She’s been through a lot this past year, you know. She dated some asswipe stockbroker who ended up cheating on her.”
“You serious?”
“Yeah. And get this — he blamed her!”
“What?”
Jax gives me with his best ‘I’m-not-bullshitting-you’ look and says, “He told her it was because she needed to lose weight.”
Volcano-hot anger shoots through me. “Get the fuck out.”
“I’m not kidding you, brother, as much as I wish I was. Her self-esteem plummeted after it went down, but I think she’s bounced back.”
I realize I’m clenching my jaw and my hands have reflexively curled up into fists.
“Jax,” I say slowly, “do not under any circumstances give me that dude’s name and address, or else I might do something extremely stupid.”
“You’re telling me, man. Bethany literally had to hold me back, so I wouldn’t go over there and open up several cans of whoop-ass. The thing is, Bethany put on a brave face and everything — I mean, she’s one tough woman — but I could tell it really hurt her.”
I shake my head. “Damn,” is all I can say. I just can’t believe there’s a man out there stupid enough to cheat on my supreme goddess. Didn’t he know how lucky he was?
I change subjects, worried Jax will notice how worked up I am about all this.
“About our conversation last night . . .” I’m about to apologize for that whole gloomy lecture I gave him about not wanting to risk putting a woman through what Rose is going through because of Sully. But Jax cuts me off, lifting a hand in the air.
“Hey, I was out of line. I know I’ve been all sunshine and rainbows lately. I just can’t help it, man. It’s Julia . . .”
“I know. You’re happy as a clam at high tide and you want the same for others.”
Jax smiles apologetically. “Pretty much. But still. You were doing your best to honor Sully’s memory. I know how much you miss him. I shouldn’t have meddled. It’s not like you won’t have plenty of other nights to get drunk and party hard.”
“Right,” I chuckle.
“Anyway, if you want to remain single, go for it. It’s not really my business.” Jax extends his hand.
I take it and give it a firm shake.
“Good talk.” He nods at me. “I’ll catch up with you later. Thanks again for being a stand-up guy.”
“That’s me,” I say.
Jax walks out, and finally, I have the kitchen to myself.
Time to sip bad coffee and think about what just happened. Did my chances with Bethany just go down the drain?
I lift the pot.
Damnit.
