Page 27

JAXON

"J ax, come here and hold these handlebars. I can't get them straight," Dad called.

I put down the tire I was holding and walked over to the Triumph motorcycle. The owner had taken a spill, not a bad one but one that'd scratched up his bike and bent a few important parts like the handlebars. I threw my leg over the bike to hold it steady while Dad wrenched the bars into place.

"Slade texted that the group he was taking out on the boat had to cancel because they all ate some bad shrimp at a restaurant in Oceanview," Dad said.

"Theo and Crusoe were going to work that trip. Guess they're both going to be short on rent again."

Dad yanked the bars when I wasn't ready and the whole bike moved. He looked up at me. "You're no better than your mom at this."

"Uh, a little warning before you wrench the thing sideways." I braced myself on the bike to hold it steady. "Go ahead."

He yanked the bars again and leaned back. "See how that feels."

I leaned forward and took hold of the bars. "Seems good but I can take it on a spin around the parking lot after I replace that tire."

Mom walked out of the office. "I'm having a terrible craving for a chili burger from the burger stand. And for some reason, I want one with pickles," she said.

Dad straightened abruptly. "What the hell are you talking about? Why are you having cravings?"

Mom tapped her chin and turned up her eyes. "Uh-oh, maybe it was that night last month when you wanted me to pretend I was a French maid."

"Oh my god, no wonder I'm so fucking messed up," I said. "Stop bringing up parental sex. There's nothing more damaging to my psyche."

Dad waved his hand at me. "Shut up. Babe? What the hell are you trying to say?"

Mom stared at him for a second and then threw her head back with laughter. "Your face. Fucking classic. I'm trying to say that I want a chili burger with pickles, and no, I'm not pregnant. Jaxon, sweetie, I'll buy you lunch if you go pick up the burgers."

"I never turn down a free lunch. Just have a few things to finish. Put in an order so I don't have to wait."

"Yep, I'll do it right now." She pulled out her phone. Dad started up the compressor, so she took the call outside.

I glanced at my phone before I put the tire on a Harley. There was a text from Bridget.

I wrote her back. "I have to see you tonight.

Find a way." I put the phone down and got to work.

The compressor turned off, and mom's voice floated into the shop.

It wasn't the burger order. She was talking sharply to someone, and the man seemed to be sputtering out responses as if he wasn't sure how to answer.

I smiled to myself. My mom was good at that, making people sputter answers incoherently.

Dad finished with the Triumph and rolled it out of the service bay. "Take it out for a spin after lunch. Shit, now all I can think about is?—"

I put up my hand and shook my head. "I swear to god if you bring up anything about a French maid?—"

"Those chili burgers," Dad said wryly. "But hey, don't knock it until you've tried it."

"Nope, nope, nope." I turned away. "We're not having this conversation … ever … not even after you're dead."

"What a prim and proper—" Dad started, but he was interrupted by Mom.

"Hunter, can you come out here? There's a man outside with a tape measure. He's under the impression that this shop space will be his soon."

"What the fuck?" Dad wiped off his hands.

I froze to the spot for a second. Was this it? Walsh was making good on his threats. "Fucking hell." I followed Dad out.

The guy was wearing a dress shirt and tie. He was maybe Dad's age but scarecrow thin, and he looked completely stunned as the tape measure hung half open and draped from his hand. He saw Dad and then me come out of the shop and looked as if he might throw up.

Dad walked just close enough to make the man drop his tape measure. Dad walked calmly over, picked it up, reeled it in and handed it back to the man. "What the hell made you think this shop was for lease?"

"Uh, well, the owner called me. He knew I was looking for a place to make my custom furniture, and he told me one of his shops would be coming up for lease soon. Look, I don't want any trouble. Obviously, there's been some sort of mistake."

Dad crossed his arms. "Obviously."

The man spun around, ran to his car and took off.

"What the hell?" Dad turned back toward the shop. "I'd better call Greer and find out what the hell is going on."

"I know." I said it fast, almost hoping he wouldn't hear it.

Both Dad and Mom stopped and looked at me. "What?" Dad's jaw tightened. "Does this have to do with your latest fuck? You'd better drop her quick."

Mom smacked Dad on the arm, then rubbed her hand. "Fucking rock wall," she muttered. "Don't you talk about a woman that way—as the latest fuck . Now what the hell is going on, Jax?"

"She's not my latest fuck. I really like Bridget. I've never felt—" I shook my head. "Not going to talk about this with you guys. She's important to me. Her dad doesn't approve."

"Gee, couldn't have seen that coming," Dad said. "You're an idiot. What makes you think you could ever just slip unnoticed into the world that girl lives in? What was all that about just now?"

"Her dad is friends with Greer. Walsh told Bridget if she keeps seeing me, he's going to—" I took a deep breath. "He's going to go after my whole family."

"Shit, Greer owns the land that Lazy Daze is on, too," Mom said.

"Yeah, his plan is to get Greer to pull the leases so the businesses go down."

Dad stared unblinkingly at me. "You and that dick of yours?—"

Mom smacked his arm again and then winced. "Why the hell didn't I learn my lesson the first time? Look here, Hunter Stone—you were in your twenties once too, and talk about being led around by your dick. You didn't take a breath unless you asked your dick first."

"Okay, this conversation is getting worse by the minute," I said.

Mom rolled her eyes at me and returned her disapproving scowl to Dad. "And if Jaxon likes this woman, then what her father is doing is fucking cruel, and frankly, I'd like to go talk to Nathan Walsh myself and give him a piece of my mind."

"Yep, what guy doesn't dream of his mom going in to defend him in front of his girlfriend's dad." Fuck Walsh for being so damn persistent.

Mom's mouth dropped. "Did you just call her your girlfriend? I don't think I've ever heard that word come out of your mouth before, Jaxon Stone." She patted her chest. "My heart's all aflutter."

"Look, I'm going to take care of it," I said even though I had no idea how to deal with it.

"You'd better." Dad turned to walk inside. "And don't forget to tell them extra onions on mine. I owe your mom some kisses after those two knuckle punches."

"That's fine. I'll be eating chili and pickles, which will drown out the onion when we kiss." Mom followed him inside.

I took out my phone and sent a text to Stella. "Holy crap, our parents are so fucking weird."

She wrote right back. "That took you twenty-seven years to figure out?"