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I hide a smile. I think that’s Jax speak forI miss you. “I went back to work at the bank.”
“So, everything good then? Your brother took care of everything?”
“Swooped right in and cleaned it up,” I answer with fake enthusiasm.
His eyes turn hard, and I concentrate on eating the oatmeal. At some point, he’s going to bring up Finn, and I don’t know what to tell him. If he knows his brother is avoiding me, then he’ll probably ask me what the hell I’m doing here. Or tell me he’s going to call the cops if I show up again. He could’ve just felt bad for me yesterday. Who knows?
Jax flicks his bowl out of the way and then leans back in the chair. It groans under his muscles. His face sours, and he sighs. “I’m sorry about being a jerk.” He lifts his shoulders as if it’s something he can’t avoid. “I don’t trust many people. I don’t actually like many people…” He ends the thought, but it sounds so unfinished. There has to be a reason why.
When it’s evident he’s not going to continue, I pick up the conversation. “I don’t blame you for being upset. I was thrust on you guys, so I understand. Plus, I get not wanting to be involved in gang shit.”
He runs tattooed knuckles over his chin and shakes his head. “What I’m trying to get at is that my brother is one of the only people Idolike in this world. I should’ve trusted his opinion sooner.” Cheeks flaming, he rushes out his next thought. “I guess you’re alright by me.”
My lips part. I was not expecting that. Considering Finn won’t even talk to me, I was expecting this conversation to go in a completely different direction. It’s my turn to get red. “Thanks, but um, I guess it’s a moot point considering Finn hasn’t responded to my texts in days.”
His brow furrows as he studies me. At some point, something must click because he says, “He can’t. He’s in the mountains or some shit. I thought you knew.”
My jaw practically hits the table. “You mean he’s not ignoring me?”
“Jesus Christ, no. The fucker won’t shut up about you.” I’m still trying to process everything he’s saying when he lets out a laugh that makes me jump in the chair. It’s a full-bellied guffaw that lightens all the features on his face. In that moment, he looks more like Finn than ever.
“What the fuck?” A smile breaks over my face, and I feel lighter than I have in days. “Are you serious?”
“I’m sorry,” he says, trying to calm himself down. “It’s not funny. I’m just picturing Finn getting back and having to smooth this over with you because you’re not getting each other’s texts.” He laughs again, clenching his stomach. “He’s going to lose his shit.”
“Losehisshit? I was losingmyshit.”
He presses his lips together, but the corners keep quirking up. “I guess that’s why you didn’t come back to the gym, huh?”
I squeeze the side of the table, letting myself laugh right alongside him. “So, he does like me?”
Jax runs his hands through his closely cropped hair, the tattoos on his knuckles standing out. “Listen, I’m not playing matchmaker, but yeah, he likes you.” Afterward, he goes back to shoveling more oatmeal into his mouth while intermittently shaking his head and laughing. “Ahh, this is going to be so much fun,” he says, eyes glassy as if he’s still imagining Finn getting back and having to scramble to explain why he didn’t respond to any of my texts.
And being a sibling myself, I understand the humor. I’d be laughing my ass off if this was Cole and not me. Now, I’m actually just relieved Jax isn’t going to call the cops on Finn’s stalker.
“Do you know when he’s coming home?”
Jax shakes his head. “I lost contact with him as soon as he got there. I only know he’s okay because your brother told me.”
I narrow my gaze at that bit of information. I didn’t actually ask Cole if Finn was okay, so I can’t get mad at him for keeping that from me, but damn. He knew I would want to know. “Cole’s on my shit list,” I confirm.
“It’s tough being the older sibling,” Jax muses. “I get that he wants to keep you safe. It’s the same reason why I give Finn shit.”
“But you don’t like Cole.” I don’t even pose it as a question because I already know. There’s no love lost between them.
He shrugs. “I don’t like what Cole does. There’s a difference.”
The conversation fizzles out after that. Jax seems lost in his own thoughts, and I know that feeling, so I don’t bug him.
When we finish eating, he shoves his hands into his pockets. “You want to come to the gym today? Sort things out in the shop?”
“You really want me to?”
“As long as you don’t tell my brother I think the shop is working.”
I chuckle at that. “Sure, I just—” I suck in a breath. “Oh fuck. I never told Jaz where I went last night.” I pull my phone out of my pocket, and sure enough, a slew of mixed calls and texts wait for me. The last one reads:ARE YOU FUCKING ALIVE OR NOT?!
My eyes round. Jax comes to stand next to me. “Shit. You better fix that.”