My throat burned.
“I was teaching her how to drive back then—thought it’d be good practice or whatever.”His voice hardened.“But fuck, I didn’t think she’d actually drive off.She was barely sixteen, Savannah.I told her to wait in the car and I'd be back.She wasn't supposed to move.I told her to wait because I was too busy thinking about myself.About getting laid.”
I could hear the regret clawing its way through every word.
“I was about to go upstairs when the guys ran up to me.She barely made it around the block—crashed head-on into a tree.”
I pressed a hand to my chest like it might’ve kept my heart from shattering.
“I should’ve left with her,” he said flatly.“I should’ve stopped for five seconds and thought.”
“You can’t blame yourself for that.You were young.You couldn’t have known—”
He laughed, bitter and hollow.“I could’ve known.I just didn’t care enough to check.”
“Jaxon.”
Silence stretched again, thicker this time.
“That summer,” he continued, “everything changed.I moved down to Sunset Creek, and I was angry at everyone, at myself most of all.Picked fights anywhere I could find them and didn't care about the consequences.Funny enough,” he added, “that’s how I met Benji.”
“Benji?”
“Yeah.I was fighting Carter.You may remember him.I found out he was the reason my sister was so upset that night.He was my best friend, and he was screwing my sister behind my back then had the nerve to fuck someone else.Things got ugly fast, and someone called the cops.At some point, Benji stepped in and tried to break us apart.We all got arrested that night.”
I let out a soft, disbelieving breath.“So when you heard about Chase…”
“Yeah, trouble.I didn't need a reason to help you out with this.Cheating was the reason I lost my sister, and I fucking hate cheaters.I'd never do something like that.”
The conviction in his voice sent butterflies in my stomach.
“Benji bailed us out,” Jaxon said, his tone taking a lighter tone.“I was pissed at him for it, too.I didn't want any handouts, not with the guilt that was burying me alive.But Benji’s patience is unmatched.He heard everything I was shouting at Carter and practically took me in.Bastard let me crash at his place for a few months on the condition that I went to therapy,” he added with a chuckle.
My chest ached in a way that had nothing to do with desire now.It was tenderness.
Understanding.
“Which is why you said you'd do this because Benji asked, and Benji doesn't ask for anything.”
“Mhm.”
“I’m really glad you have him,” I said quietly.
“Me too,” he replied.“I'd probably be following in my sister's footsteps if it wasn't for him.”
Another pause.
“I keep the pendant,” he added softly, “because it reminds me to slow down.To think.To not be that guy anymore.”
My eyes burned.
“You’re not,” I whispered.“That guy.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do,” I said firmly.“I remember who you were back then and I’ve seen enough to know.You're not the same guy anymore.”
The line went quiet again, but this time it felt different.Lighter.Like something unburdened.
