Page 120 of Fierce-Jax

“Thank you for that,” she said, blinking her eyes. “I doubt myself all the time. It’s nice to hear that I’m not messing my kid up too much.”

“Never. Know I’m here, always.”

“How come you’re not cooking?” Gianna asked when she ran back into the room with her puzzle box.

“Well now, Ms. Bossy. I guess I better get to it.”

Hours later Gianna was in bed and Jax was sitting in the living room.

He’d brought clothes over to stay the night but didn’t normally do it if they had to go to work the next day.

Though they left at the same time, he knew her mother would be here and it’d be awkward.

“It was a good night,” she said. “I didn’t know how it’d be.”

“You thought it’d be awkward?” he asked.

“Didn’t you?”

“I wasn’t sure. I hoped not. But I also know that whatever happens, we can make it work. We just have to be there for the other and know that we are supported.”

“I know you support me,” she said. “And I’ll be there for you. Even when you’ve got a rash.”

“Very funny,” he said.

“Why don’t we lock the house up and go to bed? We can watch TV in there and relax. I know it’s early, but I’m emotionally drained and not even afraid to admit it.”

“I’m glad you feel you can say that to me,” he said.

“I’m not one for keeping secrets. I do know what it feels like to be on the other side of it. This was so personal and hard. Embarrassing too. My career could have been ruined by being tied to him. They could have been looking into me also and the hospital never did. Not once.”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” he said.

“They didn’t say a word to me,” she said. “They asked if I knew what was going on and I think my shocked reaction and denial that he could have done that was enough for them to believe me. I believe I was watched carefully while I was there, but then it lessened.”

“You’ve never told anyone that, have you?” he asked.

“No,” she said quietly. “I did my job. I gave no reason for anyone to think otherwise. I was pitied over my circumstances with a young child.”

“Pity would have been worse for you,” he said, pulling her close.

“It was,” she said.

They shut the lights off in the house, set the security system, and climbed the stairs to her room.

She checked in on Gianna while he was getting ready for bed, then joined him there after shutting and locking the door.

“Come here,” he said. “Let me just hold you.”

“No,” she said. “Or you can after, but I need to feel as one with you. It’s stupid, but I want to feel as if the past few days didn’t happen even though I know they did.”

“It’s not stupid,” he said, throwing the covers back.

She climbed in and pulled her tank top off and then pushed off her underwear with it. “I’m on the pill,” she said. “I started taking it two months ago.”

“I’ve only had unprotected sex with two women,” he said. “A long time ago and they were on birth control. I only wanted you to know that I’m clean. No worries there.”

“I wasn’t worried in the least. Jax, you are one of the most responsible people I know.”