"You can do that. I need a break."
"I get it. We can talk about something else. Tell me what happened with Walter and Reina."
"They had the most stirring moment of reconnection. It really touched me. Their love had gone missing for more than fifty years, but when they came back together, you could just feel it."
"That's amazing."
"They're both on their own now. They're free to explore now what they weren't able to do before. It's wonderful. And Walter is a changed man. He said he has a reason to get up in the morning now." She paused, thinking about their love story. "It was finally their time."
"It's too bad they had to wait so long to have it."
"I think they were happy in their marriages, in the families they built, but this love from their youth is now back, and it reminds them of who they used to be, who they still want to be."
"And they have you to thank for it. You made this happen, Kaia."
"Jax helped."
"Then you both made it happen. You gave those two a chance at love." Lexie gave her an appraising glance. "Are you and Jax going to give each other a chance to find that same happiness?"
"He wants that chance. I'm still trying to figure it out."
"I don't know exactly what happened in the past, but I've gotten to know him over the past few days, and I like him. I like the two of you together. You're good for each other. And I have not seen you look that happy with anyone since I've known you." Lexie got to her feet. "But you have to make that decision for yourself. And if there's one thing I know about you, Kaia, you are not afraid to make the hard decisions."
"When it comes to life and death on the job, I'm always focused, I never have doubts. Decisions come easy. But personal choices are much more difficult."
"I get it. But I still believe you'll make the right decision, and whatever it is, I'm here for you."
It was almost nine o'clock that night when Jax finally heard a knock on his door. The guitar he'd been working on flew to the ground as he jumped to his feet. He'd pretty much decided it was over with Kaia, but now his heart was hammering against his chest as he opened the door.
She'd changed into jeans and a T-shirt, her hair falling around her shoulders in flowing red waves. He drew a breath, soaking in the sight of her, wondering if this might be the last time they would be this close, because there was an expression in her gaze he couldn't read.
"Can I come in?" she asked.
"Of course," he said, realizing he'd been staring at her for too long.
She walked into his apartment but didn't head to the couch. She just stood there, and that didn't seem like a good sign.
"I wasn't sure you were going to want to talk again," he said when she remained silent.
"Now you know how I felt this morning when hours passed without a word from you."
"It's not a good feeling. Is that why you waited?"
"No. I wasn't trying to punish you. I had a lot to think about."
"Come to any conclusions?"
"Yes. I don't want this."
Her words burst the last bit of hope he had left. "Okay. I won't make it hard for you. I'll pack up. I'll move out. I'll be gone by morning."
She held up a hand, shaking her head. "That didn't come out right. That's not what I meant."
"It's not?"
"I don't want this tension between us. I don't want us to act like strangers. We spent two incredible nights together, and I don't like this weird, awkward distance that's now between us."
He gave her a wary look, still not sure he was hearing her right. "You've said what you don't want. What do you want?"
