He stares down at me with dark, conflicted eyes.
“I’m not okay with––” he says quietly.
“I know.”
“But I—” He stops. He closes his eyes. “Fuck.” When his eyes open, they’re not as mad. He looks at my lips and then inhales. “Fuck it.”
Then he kisses me.
It’s not gentle. Not soft. It’s desperate. Angry. Full of everything we’re not saying.
I kiss him back just as hard. I grip his shoulders and pour every confused feeling into this moment.
When we break apart, we’re both breathing hard.
“Come with me,” I whisper.
He hesitates, then follows.
I take his hand, lead him to his room, and close the door behind us.
And for tonight, we don’t talk. Don’t try to solve anything. Don’t pretend we’re okay.
We just need each other.
When he enters me, stars explode behind my eyelids. He holds me tightly, kissing me sensually. I’ve never felt so loved, so seen, so taken care of. I cling to him as I suck his bottom lip. He grindshis hips against mine, hitting the perfect spot. I moan, and he tells me to keep the noise down.
This time, he doesn’t ask me to be with him, he doesn’t tell me to choose, he doesn’t bring up Callum or Zephyr. He just gives me the best sex of my life, and I slip away to take a shower and hop into bed with Zinnia. I watch her sleep, so happy that she’s here. My eyes fill with tears, feeling like tonight was Jax’s way of saying goodbye.
I wake up the next morning in an empty bed, but I hear voices in the kitchen, and it makes me smile. I get up and pull on Jax’s shirt that I’ve held hostage. It smells like him, and I love it.
Zephyr and Jax are making breakfast. Zinnia’s at the table with a pen and paper. It looks like they’re playing Hangman.
“Morning,” Zephyr says when he sees me.
Jax looks over at me and doesn’t greet me.
“Morning,” I mutter, watching Jax’s back tense.
Zinnia looks up. “Lily! Guess a letter.” She shows me the paper. “And no, it’s notZeff makes the best pancakes.”
“Does he?” I question, looking at the half-eaten pancake on her plate.
She nods and says, “And Jax makes the best eggs.”
Zephyr grins. Jax minds his business at the stove.
We eat breakfast together. The four of us. And it feels right. It feels like Jax has loosened up, like he might not be as mad anymore. I wish Callum were here to complete the morning.
Just as I think that, Callum walks through the door.
“Zinni, is that you?” he calls out. “Again?”
Zinnia’s face turns red. She looks embarrassed. “Who is that?”
I chuckle. “It’s Callum, remember?”
She looks at him with wide eyes and shakes her head slowly, but I can tell she’s just joking.
