"Oh, my God!" Emmalyn said with concern. "Why didn't you tell us?"
"I didn't know what I was dealing with. He's okay for now. They're running tests. He had a fall and injured his wrist, but it could have been worse. Right now, they're more concerned about what caused him to fall."
"But he's stable right now?" Lexie asked.
"Yes. And Ben will stay at his place tonight and pick him up from the hospital tomorrow and make sure everything is good before he leaves him alone."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Grayson said, sending her a sympathetic look. "It's rough when parents get older."
"It definitely is. Jax was nice enough to drive me there, so I didn't have to go alone."
"That's good," Emmalyn said. "You could have called me."
"I know, but Jax was there when I got the call." She cleared her throat as she could feel their speculation, even if they weren't coming out with their questions.
"I'm glad to run into you, Jax," Lexie said. "I stopped by your apartment earlier to let you know that there was a man asking for you today. Actually, he was asking for someone named Jason Barnes. I'm assuming that's your real name."
"What did he want?" Jax asked, ignoring her question.
"He wanted to know which apartment you lived in and if you were home. I said I didn't know you, and that there's no one named Jason in the building," Lexie said.
"And then he asked me the same question, because I was at the pool," Emmalyn said. "I also told him there was no one in the building named Jason. He described you to me, but I said I couldn't help him. He was a bald man, maybe in his forties," she added. "He said he could make it worth my while if I helped him. I told him I wished I could help him, but I didn't know who he was talking about."
"So, what's your deal?" Grayson asked. "Why are you using a different name?"
"Because I've been trying to avoid the media, but Josie knows who I am."
"That's what Lexie told me," Grayson said. "Maybe you should fill the rest of us in."
Grayson's words created a tense silence, something that was unusual in her group of friends, and Kaia felt the need to step in. "I know who he is, too, and I think you should let Jax share that information in his own time."
"I agree," Hunter cut in. "As long as you're not wanted by the law, it's not really our business."
"I'm not so sure about that," Grayson muttered.
"Josie trusts him," Lexie told Grayson. "That should be enough for all of us."
Grayson held up a hand in surrender. "Fine. I'll back off."
"Why don't you join us for some wine?" Emmalyn suggested.
"You should do that, Kaia," Jax cut in before she could respond. "I'll talk to you tomorrow. Goodnight, everyone."
She was taken aback by his abrupt departure. She'd been planning to go to his apartment to listen to Reina's song, but clearly Jax had been thrown by the press showing up at the building and also by Grayson's sharp questions.
"Kaia?" Em asked, holding up the bottle.
"I don't need any wine, thanks."
"Sorry we ran Jax off," Lexie said, giving Grayson a pointed look.
"It's fine. Thanks for protecting Jax's privacy."
"If we're going to protect him, we need to know who he is," Grayson said again. "Although I'm getting that's an unpopular opinion."
"We don't butt into people's private lives," Lexie told Grayson.
He gave her an astonished look. "What are you talking about? You're always butting into people's lives."
