She caught him by the arm just before they entered the courtyard. "Jax."
"What?" he asked.
She stared into his eyes, knowing she probably couldn't convince him of anything, but she had to try. "Can you stay for another day? Take a breath. Think about it."
Their gazes clung together for a long moment. "I don't know why it's so important to you that I stay, Kaia."
"Maybe I'd like to get to know you better. And because you helped Walter and me, I want to return the favor."
"I didn't help you. Today was all about Walter."
"Well, I might need your help in the next day or two if his granddaughter complains about me again. I might need a witness for what actually happened. And you could also help me find Reina. I know you think Walter got his happy ending today, but wouldn't it be even happier if he could see her again?"
"You're playing with fire. Reunions are not always good."
"I know relationships are complicated. But sometimes there's a connection, and when there is, it seems better to lean in than to lean out. Aren't you tired of being solely on your own?" When he didn't answer, she let go of his arm and added, "Just take a day; that's all I'm saying."
"You should go take your nap."
She doubted she'd be able to sleep after everything that had happened, but she would try. "I'm going to do that. And whatever happens, thanks again for today." As she left, she wondered if she'd ever see him again.
Jax entered his apartment and locked the door behind him, blowing out a breath that was filled with emotion. Seeing that photographer taking pictures of them, had shot him immediately back in time. He'd reacted the way he always had; he'd run. Thankfully, Kaia had shown him the way out.
Now, she wanted to help him find another way out of his life, but she didn't know the entire story, and he couldn't tell her. Which was why he had to go. He'd let Kaia get too far into his life. She might not know everything, but she still knew too much. And her impassioned plea to stay, to feel the protection of this community, had hit him harder than she might think.
He was tired of being alone. He was exhausted from trying to keep everyone at arm's length. That was why Walter's story had captured him so completely. It had broken through the icy shell of numbness that had encompassed him for months. And Kaia's stubborn beauty had also given him a much-needed jolt.
She'd implied that they had a connection, and he couldn't deny that he was attracted to her, that he found her fascinating, not just because she was pretty and fiery, but also because she had depth. She stood on her own two feet. She fought for what she believed in. She had a strongly defined sense of what was right and what was wrong, and those were traits he hadn't seen in many people in his former life.
But their connection had nowhere to go. How could he ever get involved with someone when he had secrets that he couldn't share? When he had to protect someone else, even if they didn't deserve it?
Flopping down on the couch, he stared at the ceiling for a long minute. Then he grabbed his laptop off the coffee table and opened it up. He went to his email and saw the massive string of unopened messages. Clay's email was on the third page in, and his fingers hesitated one last time before he opened it.
The email from Clay was short: Wren wrote this last week. She has some of the words, but she needs you for the rest.
His gut clenched as he clicked on the attachment and read the beginning of the song:
How can you ask for forgiveness when you're the one who is wrong?
How can you ask someone to forget when the memories are so strong?
How can you make them remember the good and not just the bad?
How can you get them to talk when they're still so mad?
You're the only one who has ever really known me, and I'm the only one who has ever really known you…
How can this be the end?
He drew in another shaky, emotion-filled breath because he could hear the melody, he could hear her voice, he could feel her desperation. Wren had never been able to accept not getting what she wanted…
Now she wanted to know how this could be the end?
And he wanted to know, how could it not be?
Chapter Twelve
Kaia got off work Wednesday morning at seven and headed back to Ocean Shores. Jax's car was still in the lot, which gave her a measure of relief. He hadn't taken off yet. Instead of going to her apartment, she knocked on his door.
