Page 35 of Somewhere Only We Know (Healing in Cincy #4)

JAX

I ’m putting on my black cowboy boots, yes the ones I wore when Nate and I allegedly got married, when I hear my front door open and close.

“Jaclyn Marie, are you ready?”

I slide my ring on my finger before spritzing myself with some perfume from Jo Malone and then grab my peacoat that I tossed on my bed.

It’s been colder than usual in Cincinnati so the thick, dark patterned floral maxi skirt I have on swishes around my legs as I walk down the stairs.

I have it paired with a black sweater and a black belt with a gold buckle.

My curly hair is styled to perfection as the diffuser was finally on my side today and humidity is low.

Small wins for those of us with curly hair.

I see Nate playing a soft game of tug-of-war with Sully when I hit the last step and smile.

“I’m ready.” I tell him and I pull on my coat.

We made a game plan last night. Nate will head into Sarah’s office and I’ll stroll in five minutes later. Once we leave Sarah’s office we’re planning to head to Kamryn’s office .

“You look beautiful,” Nate says as he looks up at me.

“Thank you. You look very handsome yourself.”

Nate ruffles Sully’s ears and stands up. I don’t think I’ll ever get over his height. He was tall in college but now that he’s had years in the league it’s like he’s continued to grow. And I know that’s impossible, but now I’ll get to reap the benefits of his training. Lucky me.

“Stop looking at me like that,” Nate scolds.

I shrug and head towards the front door but I’m hooked around the waist and turned into his chest with a gasp.

His patchouli scent surrounds and comforts me.

It’s the one scent I avoided after he never came back.

But now that he’s here it’s like I can bathe in it.

Last night we had a classic first date. And when I mean classic, I mean old school.

Nate didn’t touch me apart from wrapping his arm around me.

And when I confessed about not enjoying sex with my ex, I thought he would throw me over his shoulder and prove just how enjoyable sex can be with the right man.

But no. Now I’m back to waiting like I was in college and I hate it.

“I’m not looking at you in a way.” I tell him, finally finding my words.

He kisses me on the forehead and thousands of butterflies take flight. “Yes, you were. Now let’s go.”

Nate walks around me to the front door and I suck in a deep breath before moving and walking across the threshold then hearing the door lock.

I canceled work for the day, telling my manager I had personal things to do.

I’ll email her back and tell her the real reason.

The passenger door is opened for me and I climb up inside.

I look around at the clean interior and the new car smell hitting me.

“Is this new?” I ask Nate when he gets in and starts up.

“Nope. But I did get it a few years ago. I just like to keep it clean.” He tells me and pulls out onto the road with one hand on the steering wheel. Hot . “Stop looking at me like that.”

“Well, stop looking like that.” I say and wave my hand up and down.

Nate’s smile lifts his cheeks and he rests a hand on my thigh.

He has a tattoo that covers his right hand and I’m finally able to get a good look at it in the sunlight.

It’s the classic lion. But where one half is the lion, the other half is a garden.

I trace the floral ink with my pointer finger reveling in the way his forearm twitches.

“How many tattoos do you have?” I ask now very curious. The road turns open as we hop on the highway towards Sarah’s office.

“I lost count after ten.” Nate says with a shrug. “You are more than welcome to do a full body inspection.”

“I bet I am,” I say dryly.

Nate turns up the volume to the music and we sit in companionable silence the rest of the way to the office. He finds a spot and whips in with one hand and I blow out a breath.

“Nervous?” Nate asks when he parks and turns off the truck.

I shake my head slowly. “Far from it.”

Nate picks up my left hand and thumbs the ring. Who would’ve thought playing with jewelry would send my heart into overdrive? He kisses my hand and places it in my lap. Am I breathing? I quickly check my pulse and feel a heartbeat.

“Let’s go ya goof.”

I get out and take Nate’s hand and together we walk into the building that holds Sarah’s job. Nate heads to the elevator and hits the button to go up as I wait off to the side. This is the plan. But I completely forgot about the elevator and my hands get sweaty.

“Bee, it’s a quick ride up and then we’re coming back down together.”

“Yeah. Short elevator ride. Got it.”

Nate is, rightfully so, unconvinced at my act. “Let’s just scrap the plan and go in together.”

I chew on my bottom lip as I weigh my options. We tell Sarah at once or we tell her when I join them. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.” Nate says and the elevator doors open. “Besides, the sooner we tell her, the better right?”

“Right.” I say and the doors open up to It’s A Match PR.

“Hi, Tessa,” Nate greets the receptionist. “We’re here to see Sarah.”

“Hi, Nate. You two can head back.”

We smile at her and head through the double glass doors.

The office is at half-capacity today. I’m assuming most of the agents are on vacation or traveling to their clients' games. I’m still not entirely confident I know what they do.

But it must be good work if they’re constantly traveling.

Sarah’s corner office is straight back from the entrance.

My hand starts sweating in Nate’s hold and he gives mine a reassuring squeeze.

I let go of his hold when we get closer to her office.

At least this part of the plan will work.

Nate knocks on her door and opens it when he hears her call out. “Hey.”

“Nate. Come in,” Sarah says.

Before he does he holds his hand out to me and I take it. His fingers weave through mine and together we walk into Sarah’s office.

Her face lights up and I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so happy. Well, apart from when she’s with Riley, her fiancé. Nate leads me to a chair and takes the one next to me.

“Jax, did you pull your head out of your butt? Are you two finally back together?”

Nate and I look at each with twin bemused expressions as we sit in the chairs in front of her desk. But I raise my eyebrow to let him know this is his show. “Actually, we got married. In Las Vegas.”

The air cuts out, Sarah stops moving in her chair, and it’s so quiet you could hear a pin drop. That is until she laughs like Nate told the funniest joke. I’ll admit, he’s funny when he wants to be. But this? No.

Sarah gasps when she sees us not laughing with her. “Oh, you’re serious?”

We hold up our left hands and her eyes about fall out of her head.

“Oh my God. Shit, we’re supposed to video in Mallory. Hold on.”

Is she mad? , I mouth to Nate.

He shrugs just as confused as I am. I guess I thought she would yell, try to make us cry, or try to make us claim it’s fake and then demand we get a divorce.

Nate and I have barely been married for a week and already this feels more real than my last relationship.

I already feel so solid that I’m wondering why we didn’t do this in college.

You were both broke , I tell myself as if that’s a valid reason and not that we loved each other.

But maybe Nate was right and had we stayed together, it would have ruined us.

“Mallory? Hey, I have Nate and his wife.” Sarah says and flicks her eyes up to me.

“Hey, Sarah. Hi, Nate. Um…I’m sorry. I must have forgotten to Q-tip my ears this morning,” Nate’s agent says on the other end. “Sarah, did you say Nate’s wife? ”

“I did. And she’s sitting right here.” Sarah turns the camera towards Nate and I and I mouth I hate you to her before coming face to face with Nate’s agent. She just shrugs and sits back in her chair.

“Hi, I’m Jax. Or Jaclyn if you prefer that.”

Her mouth opens and closes like a guppy. “I–you, Nate. You’re Jax. This answers so many questions.” She says and sits back in her chair.

“Huh?” I ask and see Sarah just as confused. I swing my gaze to Nate who’s glaring daggers at the screen. “What is she talking about?”

“Nothing. We wanted to tell you both before the media found out.”

“How considerate. But, yes, Nate can explain all of that to you. It’s nice meeting you, Jax. Sarah, I’ll call you later today. Congrats you, two. Oh and happy holidays.”

We sit in Sarah’s office. Me staring at the now darkened computer screen, Sarah looking utterly confused, and Nate burning a hole in the side of my face.

He breaks the silence first. “That went better than expected.”

“Yeah,” Sarah says softly. “Make sure you tell Kamryn before someone else finds out. We know how she hates being left in the dark. And if you two managed to keep this from her when y’all were in Vegas, then you know how she’s going to react.”

I wince as I remember her reaction to Emily and Adam dating after they had already been together for a couple of months.

“She’s our next stop. And I’ll text Emily since she’s teaching.”

Sarah turns her computer back around to her and leans forward on her desk. “Seems like you both have your ducks in a row.”

“We’re getting most things situated,” Nate chimes in.

My quiet husband.

“You’ve both told your families?” Sarah asks.

Nate and I turn to each other with wide eyes causing Sarah to laugh.

“I won’t say a word. Have fun you two.”

Nate stands up and holds his hand out. “Later tater.”

Hand in hand we walk back to the elevator with more excitement than we walked in here with. Nate presses the button and wraps his arms around me when we’re in the elevator car.

“What?” I ask softly as we head to the ground level.

“Just thinking that maybe we should plan trips to see our families.”

I wrap my arms tighter around him, eliminating the space between us. “I was thinking that too. I don’t want my parents to freak out.”