Page 29 of Always You (Guardian Hall #1)
Chapter Twenty-Nine
JAZZ
Yesterday had been an intense moment that shifted something deep inside, but we hadn’t had a chance to talk since. Alex had been called away shortly after, and the space left by his sudden departure hung between us, filled with my stupid-ass nerves.
Why would he want to be with me?
Is twenty years too long?
Am I too broken?
Before he left, I asked him to go on this thing with Harper and her boyfriend. I hadn’t mentioned that she’d said it could be a double date, but I wanted it to be.
A knock on my door pulled me from my thoughts.
“Jazz, it’s me,” Alex called.
I opened the door. He seemed uncertain and hovered, but then, with a tilt of his chin and not a single word, he stepped inside, closed the door behind him, and hugged me. The closeness was immediate and grounding.
“Are we okay?” he murmured into my hair. “Is this a thing? Are we… an ‘us’?”
“Do you want it to be?” I asked, feeling so freaking vulnerable I thought I might crack.
“Yes. Do you?”
“Yes,” I managed to say, the word feeling like a key turning in a lock. “And you’re okay with people knowing?”
He nodded. “I’ve talked it over with Marcus and the team, and we’re…” he paused, “… putting things in place so that your welfare is considered and so that I…”
“What?”
“So that I don’t fuck up.”
“You’re mine, I’m yours, there’s nothing to fuck up.” I was adamant.
A sigh of relief escaped him. Then, he pulled back just enough to look at me, a smile beginning to curve his lips. “Then, let’s go get pizza,” he said, his voice steady now, imbued with a lightness that felt like a promise. “And check out Harper’s boyfriend.”
The weight that had settled on my shoulders began to lift. We were an us , and that was what mattered. The rest would work its way out.
With a nod, I grabbed my jacket, my heart lighter. As we left my room, the hallway seemed less daunting, the outside world less intimidating. Alex’s presence by my side felt right.
We walked to the pizzeria, and as we arrived for what Harper called our double Alex date, the place was buzzing with the casual din of a Saturday afternoon. Harper spotted us first, her face lighting up as she sprang from her seat and rushed over to hug me.
“Dad!” she exclaimed, her infectious enthusiasm filling the room.
Her boyfriend, Alex, rose from his seat as we approached. He was a tall—lanky—teenager with curly hair falling over his forehead, a tentative smile, and shoulders back as he extended a hand toward me. “Sir, it’s nice to meet you,” he said, his handshake firm. He met my stare with his own, and I could see his nerves and how Harper held his hand in reassurance.
“Nice to meet you, too, Alex,” I replied, evaluating him as fathers often do. He looked sharp in a button-down shirt and dark pants, with a straight posture but relaxed enough not to appear stiff. I appreciated the respect and earnestness in his eyes.
As we sat down, I leaned in a little, my voice low, but friendly. “You treat my daughter right, you hear?” It was the standard warning, half-joking, but entirely serious .
“Yes, sir,” he replied, his voice steady, and I nodded, satisfied with his response.
As I settled into the booth, I felt a spontaneous urge to connect with my own Alex, whose presence next to me was a grounding force. Without thinking, I took his hand, intertwining our fingers.
Harper caught the motion, her eyes flickering to our joined hands and her mouth dropped open.
“Dad?”
I could bluster and tell her I needed emotional support, which is why I was grasping Alex’s hand, but she deserved me to be honest with her.
“I’m with my Alex,” I said, smiling at her.
At first, she was confused, but then she returned the smile.
“I knew it!”
The waiter came by to take our order, and the conversation turned to lighter topics—school, Harper’s upcoming projects, and general small talk.
Throughout that bit, I kept a half-eye on her boyfriend, impressed by his polite attentiveness and how he seemed genuinely interested in what Harper had to say. They were sweet together.
Young love.
It turned out that Alex, or AJ, short for Alex Jason McGuire, was a good kid who smiled a lot. As we waited for our pizzas, the conversation drifted naturally to the future, something that always seemed to come up with teenagers around. Alex and I, almost in sync, began pressuring AJ about his plans after high school.
“So, AJ, what do you see yourself doing in the future?” I asked, curious about the boy who had captured my daughter’s attention.
Harper, ever protective, chimed in with a laugh. “He’s sixteen, Dad. Did you even know what you wanted to do when you were his age?”
I smiled at her, a rush of old memories flooding back. “I wanted to be a soldier.” My tone softened as I reached across the table, taking her hand in mine. “I’m sorry, Harper, for all the times that took me away from you.”
Her eyes met mine, filled with a warmth that squeezed my heart. “I love you, Dad,” she said, her grip tightening.
AJ broke the moment after everything was so emotional. “Uhm… I want to be a veterinarian, like my mom.”
“You like animals?” I asked.
AJ nodded with enthusiasm. “Yeah, I’ve grown up around them. Helping out at her clinic has always felt right.”
Alex, catching on to the interest, leaned forward with a grin. “You know, we should take you to the animal shelter we work with. They could always use more hands, and it’s a great experience if you’re going into veterinary work.”
AJ and Harper loved the idea, so we made it our plan for after dinner. As we finished our meal and went to the shelter, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of rightness about the evening. It wasn’t just about getting to know AJ better or reconnecting with Harper—it was about these small moments of connection and understanding that brought our lives closer.
It was family.
We entered the shelter, greeted by excited barks and immediate demand for affection from a dozen guests with their wagging tails. The atmosphere was perfect for ending our double date. Harper and AJ laughed and played with the dogs, and Alex stood beside me, his hand finding mine and squeezing as we watched the young couple.
“Everything is perfect when you add puppies,” I whispered to him, watching Harper throw a ball for a particularly enthusiastic spaniel.
Alex chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the edges as we sat cross-legged with the oldest dog here. Still looking for a home, Barnaby-Blue was a cross of probably a hundred breeds, fresh from the care of his elderly owner who’d passed away. The gorgeous bundle of fur and licks was desperate for affection. If I had my way, with Alex by my side and Harper only a few feet away laughing and smiling, I could sit in this corner for the rest of the night.
And for the first time in forever, I felt peace.