Page 14

Axell

I wake up to the smell of bacon and eggs, my stomach roars in appreciation.

I feel the empty bed beside me and know that Sadie has already started the day off.

I don’t know how she has so much energy after last night.

I had planned on sleeping in. Ace’s wedding isn’t until sunset, so we have most of the day.

As soon as I step outside our bedroom I run straight into Jovi.

He mumbles he’s sorry, but he looks distracted.

I wrap my arms around Sadie’s waist from behind and lean forward to press a kiss to the top of her head. “Good morning beautiful.”

“Good morning husband,” she replies.

I breathe her in while I still can. The ache in my heart intensifies with the idea of her being gone tomorrow morning with no real way of knowing for sure when she’ll be back.

We came to the decision to have Sadie quit her job then re-apply once she gets back to L.A.

I didn’t want her to have to feel as if she was on a time crunch or needs to get in a hurry to return.

I wanted her to be able to take her time even if that meant I had to be without her for a while.

It’s probably the only selfless thing I’ve done for her because when it comes to Sadie, I love her too much to care that I’m selfish with her.

“So, you know what’s going on with Jovi? ”

She sighs heavily, “Monrowe’s parents grounded her so she’s not coming to the wedding. They’re having a really hard time right now.”

I rest my chin on top of her head. “Damn, I hate to see him like this. I miss my happy go-lucky kid brother. I mean, I know not everyone gets forever with their first love, but I don’t want him hurting like this.”

“Well, changing his plans for the future last minute caused her to rethink their future. They’ll figure it out eventually, it’s all a part of life,” Sadie comments quietly.

She seems different, like something is bothering her.

Something aside from her mother. She’s been distracted a lot lately, but this is something more.

I place my hands on her hip and turn her around to face me.

“Sadie, what’s wrong?”

Her eyes widen for a moment, but it happens so quick that if I didn’t know her so well, I might not have caught it. “Why do you ask that?”

“Because you’ve seemed distracted more and more lately. I know everything with your mom has to be weighing on you, but I can’t help but feel like there’s something more to it. Something else aside from your mother,” I explain to her.

Sadie takes a deep breath, “You’re right, there is something else. I— “

“Are we ready for breakfast? I’m starving,” Jovi says as he enters the kitchen. As curious as I am to continue this conversation with Sadie and to know what’s bothering her, I can tell by her stiff posture this isn’t something she wants to discuss in front of an audience.

I lean down and press a kiss to her forward and whisper, “Later.”

After breakfast we get ready for the day.

Jovi and I are both groomsmen for Ace and Sadie is a bridesmaid for Kynlee.

Actually, we’re honorary because the wedding is so small, they aren’t actually having a wedding party to stand with them at the altar.

We will however be in the first row and in matching outfits.

I promised Ace we’d meet him at his shop.

I wasn’t sure what all the girls had planned, but I knew Ace wanted to get a haircut before the ceremony.

Jovi and I make our way outside. He starts to head for my car when I stop him. “Where are you going?”

“To the car,” he replies, with a confused look on his face.

“Wrong car, buddy. You’re driving us.”

A smile lights up his face, and he responds with a, “Hell yeah,” before jogging over to his car.

I turn around and see Sadie standing in the doorway.

I wave, and she returns it but I can see the worry on her face from here.

A part of me wants to go back inside and make her talk to me right now but today is about Ace.

I’ll make sure that Sadie and I talk about whatever this is before she leaves.

Once I’m settled into the car and Jovi picks a radio station we head for Ace’s shop, Inkredible.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of traffic on the roads but then again summer is fast approaching, and it is Saturday.

People are crawling forward, so I figure now is the best time to try and talk to Jovi. “So, you decide about the Marines?”

Jovi sighs. “I know it’s what I want to do but at what cost? Do I want mom to worry the whole time I’m gone? Do I want to lose Monrowe because of it? Do I want to leave you guys hanging?”

“First of all, how would you leave us hanging?” I ask.

“Well, if I enlist and something happens here, or you guys need help at the shop, I can’t just drop everything and be here,” he says.

I chuckle. “Jovi, it isn’t your place to drop everything here.

The shop is all of ours. It always will be.

I’m glad to have the shop and JamesTown to share with you guys.

It’s my future but that doesn’t mean it’s yours.

If you need to go out and find yourself or just do something for yourself, that’s fine.

This will always be here for you to come back to. ”

Jovi hangs his head and blows a long breath before looking back up.

“Thanks dad.” I used to hate when he called me dad.

I wasn’t his dad, we had a dad. Then I realized he never really knew our dad.

He didn’t know how amazing he had been before losing our mom.

So, I let him start calling me dad. “I’m sorry about the other night. ”

“I know you are.” I look out the window trying to decide if I should apologize for being so hard on him. Eventually, I decide against it. “So, what’s going on with you and Monrowe?”

“Hell, if I know! She’s become so hot and cold. One minute she says we’ll be able to work through anything including me joining the Marines. The next she’s crying and saying she can’t do it. She doesn’t want this anymore.”

“As in your relationship?” Jovi nods. “As in, no waiting until graduation and seeing what happens before calling it quits?”

“Yeah, it’s crap, right?” Jovi runs his hands through his hair. “I don’t know what she does or doesn’t want anymore. I’m so confused. Hell, sometimes I don’t think I even know what I want.” He pulls on his hair again causing me to chuckle. “What?” he asks.

“You know if you join the Marines, you’re going to have to cut this mop you call hair,” I say as I reach over and ruffle his hair.

He pushes my arm away. “Yeah, yeah, I know. What about mom?”

“What about her?”

“I don’t want to worry her if I join,” he says.

I sigh. “Jovi, Sadie will worry regardless. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the Marines or at college.

She took on the role of a mother and that means she will worry no matter what.

You have to do what you want, what you truly want.

Stop factoring in Sadie and Monrowe.” Jovi’s head whips in my direction.

“I know you love Monrowe but that doesn’t mean you will always be with her.

You are still young. You have a lot to learn about life and yourself.

Who knows maybe you two will go your separate ways then find a way back to one another?

Maybe, she isn’t meant to be your forever no matter how unfathomable it may seem right now. ”

I don’t even realize we are at the shop until Jovi makes the turn. “But you met mom in high school.”

I nod my head. “Yes, I did but I was different than you have been. I was wild and had learned so much before I graduated. Plus, my plan after graduation was much different. At the end of the day, you have to decide which do you love more; Monrowe or the opportunity of the Marines?”

We get out of the car and make our way inside.

I hear my brothers in one of the rooms in the back.

Once we find them, I see Ace sitting in the tattoo chair with Roscoe, one of Bowie’s best friends and Ace’s co-worker, tattooing something onto Ace’s ring finger.

“What the hell?” Jovi asks as he moves around me to get a better look.

“I’m getting Kynlee’s name tattooed on my ring finger. That way even when I don’t have my ring on, it’s like it’s still there,” Ace explains.

“Well, I guess that makes sense,” I tell him. “So, are you ready for today?”

“Yes, hell yes. I’ve been ready for a while now,” Ace tells us. I can tell by the look in his eyes that he means it too.

“So, what’s the plan for today?”

Ace smiles. “Well, after this we are going to the arcade. You know the one we used to all go to when we were younger. Then I figured we can grab lunch and I want to get my haircut before the wedding.”

“That sounds great,” I tell him.

Jagger adds, “I could use a shape up on my hair as well.

Jovi makes his way back to me. “Can I get my haircut?” he asks, leaning down so the others won’t hear.

I give him a questioning look. “You sure?” I ask.

“Yeah, I’m sure. It’s time to make a decision.”

Well, I guess it was.

****

After spending hours in the arcade playing every game imaginable, multiple times, we all head to lunch.

Ace’s best friends, Jaxx and Pierce, joined us while at the arcade.

We are all sitting around eating pizza, which is Ace’s favorite, and catching up.

I take a look around the table and just try to stop time for a moment.

A few years ago, I never thought I’d see this.

Jagger back in L.A., Bowie actually happy, Ace getting married, and Jovi making the biggest decision of his life.

I feel so proud of all of them. I’m proud for them.

Life has thrown us some major curveballs but somehow, we managed to survive.

We managed to stay together and find happiness again.

I smile to myself as my brothers and friends joke around with one another. Jagger leans toward me, “What’s with the creepy ass grin?”