Page 47
“Seriously,” Naithan agrees. “You seem happier.”
And weirdly… I think I am.
Daria studies me for a long moment, arms folded. Her lips curl knowingly. “Oh wow.”
“What?”
“You’re in love.”
The others immediately erupt.
“OHHHH….” — “Who is she?” — “Wait, is it a secret?”
I scoff, waving them off. “I’m not in love.”
Daria just smirks. “That is exactly what a man in love says.”
I roll my eyes hard enough to hurt myself, but traitorously, my brain immediately supplies an image of Bri laughing, her head tipped back and eyes crinkled. I see her absently twisting her hair between her fingers deep in thought. I remember the way she looks at me sometimes—like she sees every dark corner and still wants to stay. And how somewhere along the way, without even meaning to, I’ve started looking for her in every room I walk into. Shit.
Thankfully I’m rescued by staff announcing it’s time to get to our tables before anyone can interrogate me further.
The rest of the day disappears into organised chaos—autographs, photoshoots, and fans, thousands of them. It's insane, but for the first time in years, I'm actually present for it. I talk to people properly. Ask questions. Listen to their stories. Thank them for supporting the show instead of rushing through it like a machine. Their love is actually heartwarming, sincere, and grounding in a way I took for granted before.
As evening rolls around, my face hurts from smiling and all I can think about is seeing Bri again tonight.
That is until Jason pulls me aside for a chat. He’s flanked by two security guys and is scowling in that way that says I’m not going to like what he has to say. “I’m sending these guys back to the lodge with you…”
“You absolutely are not…”
“It’s not a request, Jax,” he cuts me off. “I looked into Santiago Lopez. I don’t think he’s dangerous but I’m not taking any chances.”
“What did you find?”
“He signed his NDA as Aaron Winters,” he says, scrubbing a hand over his face.
The room suddenly feels too small, like all the air has been sucked out of it. My legs wobble as I lean against the wall for support before sliding down it and sitting on the floor. Fuck.
Chapter 32
Jax
The drive back to the lodge is uncomfortable. I’m in the back of a black SUV with two security guards sitting either side of me. Jason is riding up front with his driver, Craig, and the air feels heavy. No-one has spoken in the last twenty minutes. It’s almost a relief to arrive at the lodge, except everyone is home already. Which means a full house, an audience. Great. I groan. I don’t want them to see this. If I’m honest I don’t even want to do this. Facing my past, after spending the last year running from it, healing from it, feels… Terrifying. But I owe him this much, it’s the least I can give him.
As we step out of the car, it hits me. If I’m feeling like this, how is Craig feeling? Christ I’ve been so caught up in myself I didn’t even check if he was ok. I glance at him. He’s wringing his hands together, staring at the lodge like he might be able to see through the thick stone walls. I step closer to him and put my hand over his shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly. “You ok?”
He spares me a glance and gulps. “Yeah, let’s get this over with.”
We walk towards the door and I hesitate for a moment, turning to them before entering the code. “You let me do the talking,” I tell Jason. “You can be in the room but you’re a fly on the wall.”
I point at the security team. “You two remain just outside the room at all times, don’t let anyone else in. You don’t enter unless I tell you to.” They nod in agreement. “Craig, you don’t need to come in, if it’s too much—”
“No,” he says, cutting me off. “I owe him as much as you do. I need to do this Jax.”
I don’t argue. I can’t take this from him any more than I can rewrite the past, and take back the pain I've caused.
The lodge is quiet. Jason goes first with one of the security guys, Craig and I are behind them, with the other security guy bringing up the rear.
As the room opens up I spot him standing at the bar staring at us. “I thought we might need drinks for this,” he says quietly. “The others are all outside or in their rooms, I told them we needed a minute.”
