After taking my top off, I wait for Haisley to cover me with the plastic. It takes longer than I expected, but my friend knows what she’s doing. “How do you know what to do?”
“Dad fell over during a charity game eight years ago and broke his arm. He needed to wrap his arm before showering too. Mom wasn’t home during the third week of his recovery, so Ihelped him the best I could around the house—including helping him shower. But he wasn’t naked like you are right now; he wore swim trunks the entire time.”
I laugh, imagining Haisley’s dad standing in a shower in his Speedos. “Good to know.”
“Okay, you’re good. Wash your body first, and then we’ll do your hair. Take it slow to see if my handiwork helps.”
I step into the stall and turn on the shower. The moment the water touches my skin, I sigh. It feels so damn good after not showering for days. And I hate to admit it, but Haisley was right about me smelling like unwanted trash. I didn’t have the energy to shower before today. I ask Haisley to leave me alone for a few minutes. I want to enjoy the water against my skin without feeling her eyes on the back of my neck.
Squeezing my fruity body wash on a washcloth, I close my eyes and take in the moment—I haven’t felt this peaceful since the accident.
When I finish showering my body, I call for Haisley to help with my hair. My da’s shower chair sits in the corner, and I move it closer before sitting down.
While washing my hair, my friend asks me about my job opportunity. “So, you’re considering working with Jax?”
I nod and feel the shampoo sliding down toward my eye. Haisley catches it before it gets any further and continues questioning me. “Let me ask you something. What do you have against him, anyway?”
I haven’t told the story to anyone, not even her. I wanted to forget that Jax existed until he walked into my life again with those damn high cheekbones and tattoos that tell his life story.Damn, tattooed men are my weakness.
“Okay, so, um…I don’t know where to even start.”
“How about from the beginning,” Haisley proposes, and I nod again. It’s about time that I shared the story with someone.
“You remember how we first met him at Eli and Rose’s housewarming party around a year ago? Well, I had such a great time with him, talking about everything under the sun. I even thought this was it; I finally found the person I want to be with. After all my bad luck in dating, that’s a feeling I don’t get that often.”
“You sure have the skill to pick the bad apples.”
“Don’t I know it.” Haisley hums, so I continue. “We exchanged numbers and sent voice messages as he prefers them over texting.”
“And...?”
I take a deep breath. “He suggested that we go out—just the two of us. There was this gallery opening by a client of his, and as we both love art, he invited me as his plus one. But when I got there, he stood me up. I was there for two hours, alone, and his acquaintances seemed to know who I was. One of them even asked where Jax was, but I had to tell them I had no idea. It was so embarrassing.”
“Oh, Soph, honey, I’m sorry. He never got back to you?”
“No, he didn’t, even though he had my number. A few weeks later at lunch, Rose mentioned something about Jax dating someone new. That’s when I realized that he basically ghosted me to be with his new girlfriend. What a dick.”
Haisley stops massaging my scalp for a moment. “Okay, that was a tacky thing to do. But you know, based on what I have heard, those guys haven’t had it easy. I know it doesn’t give hima pass to be an asshole, but he really isn’t the bad guy you think he is.”
“You should have told me that last weekend!”
“I know what you mean, but maybe you have to let go of the past and get to know who Jax Bennett is now. He isn’t the dickhead everyone thinks he is. Sure, he has made questionable choices over the years, but haven’t we all?”
I don’t know if those are the words I would use to describe his past actions, but we will see. The only thing left is to find ways to share my space with him without it blowing up in my face again.
“Sure, but I still don’t like the guy. He reminds me of my exes too much. All the empty promises...”
“You don’t have to be besties to work with him. Like your parents keep telling you, you won’t find a better opportunity with your left arm in a sling. It might take you more than a month to find a new job and then another for all the paperwork?—”
I stop her. “I know, but how can I work with him if I want to strangle him every time I see his smug face?”
“That’s something you can figure out because you’re going to interview for the role.”
“But—”
Haisley stops washing my hair, and her light green eyes connect with mine. “Stop with all that. You’ve got to be the grownup here and do what’s right. Okay?”
“Okay,” I mumble and close my eyes before continuing, “When did life get this difficult?”
