“Warmer?” he asked, pulling the blanket up higher, letting his knuckles graze my chin.
“Jackson…”
He pressed two fingers to my lips, silencing me. “Helen, when you think about me, do you think about me as Jax or Jackson?”
“You’re Jackson,” I replied.
His eyes narrowed, his fingers running over my jaw again. “I’m not him. I need you to stop. I’m a thirty-one-year-old man. I’m not the kid you remember; I’m not Jackson. I meant it when I said I stopped being him when I moved. I fought really hard to become who I am, so please, drop the Jackson… even in your head.”
The truth was, if I stopped thinking of him as my son’s best friend, I would get lost in these feelings I was having.
“But—”
“You’re saying yes, remember, so today I need you to leave Jackson in the past. Iwasyour son’s best friend… a lifetime ago and now I’m a grown-ass man and I’d really like you to notice that.”
I swallowed. “Oh, I’ve noticed you’ve grown up, Jax.”
Jax
“Helen?”
She poked her head out of the windbreaker cave Tor had built before we arrived. I texted him last night after she got the crappy messages from Colin. I wanted to give her a magical day and Tor helped me make it happen.
I wanted to show her that she was worth someone making an effort and spoiling her with things that made her smile. I also wanted to help her relax, because this woman never stopped.
“This is my friend, Tor.”
She stood, offering him that smile that seemed to warm the air, no matter where we were. “Hi, nice to meet you.”
He leaned in and hugged her and I had to try not to throat punch him for touching her.
“Helen. Nice to meet you too. It seems you’ve made quite the impression on my boy here.”
“I’m not a boy,” I muttered. “Well, thanks, mate, for all your help.” I nudged him in the ribs. “You can go now.”
“M'lady.” He reached round me, taking Helen’s hand in his and kissing her knuckles, making her giggle in a way I didn’tthink I’d heard from her before. “I’ll bring lunch down later, but there are drinks and snacks in the cool bag,” he told me before trekking back across the sand.
Helen looked down at the things Tor and I had just carried down from the car park, her mouth falling open. “What the hell, Jax?”
“If you’re getting me in the sea, then we’re doing it my way.” On the floor were two paddle boards and wetsuits as well as dry robes and our things from the car.
“That wetsuit won’t fit me. I’m too big.”
I tilted my head. “Yeap, I brought you all the way here to embarrass you and make you feel shit about yourself.” Frustrated and a little annoyed, I turned to face the sea, trying to focus on the sun glinting off the waves while I filled my lungs with air. Suddenly, her hand pressed against my chest.
“Sorry. I’m used to being on the defensive… my ex—”
“Is your ex for a reason. I would never do anything to make you feel less than you deserve.” I leaned into her touch, letting out a sigh. “Trust me?”
She dropped her hand and bent to reach for the black and pink wetsuit. “I trust you.”
Picking up mine, I turned to her. “There are jellyfish out there, so these and the gloves are to make sure we don’t get stung. You want to go paddle boarding?”
“Yes.”
“Ah, I see you’re finally obeying the rules. I like it.”
“Oh, my god,” I cried as I wiped the salty water from my eyes. “Whose stupid idea was this again?”
