Page 30 of The Compass Series

KENNEDY

“ C hocolate chip cookies? Now you’re speaking my language.” I smiled as I looked at the newest greeter standing at my door.

Eddie held the plate of freshly baked goods in front of me. “I have to admit that Marie cooked them—I’m just the deliveryman.”

“The gesture is appreciated,” I said. For a few moments, an awkward silence filled the space as Eddie swayed back and forth in his shoes, brushing his thumb across his nose. I arched an eyebrow. “Why do I feel like there’s something you’re not saying?”

“Because there’s something I’m not saying?” he replied, his statement coming out as a question.

“What’s going on, Eddie?”

“It’s Jax. He came to me the other day and asked if I would stop by to check in on you, to see how things are going—from a neighborly perspective, not as a therapist.”

My stomach knotted up. “Of course he did. I’m not sure what Jax has told you, but I’m okay. Truly. I’ve been through some things, but I’m working my way through my issues one day at a time.”

“Right, of course. And it is completely up to you if you choose to seek out professional help or not. Truthfully, that’s not why I’m here.”

Even more confusion stirred inside me. “Then what is it?”

“It’s Jax,” he repeated, this time with his lips turning down. “I just worry about him—as a neighborly human, not as a therapist. I worry he’s not coping with his father’s ill health. I feel as if he’s deflecting his personal struggles by focusing on yours. Do you think he’s coping well?”

I shook my head. “I’m sorry, I’m not sure. Truthfully, we just began to speak. We were friends way back in the day, but I haven’t had a chance to really see Jax as a grown man.”

“Really?” he asked. “That’s strange because he speaks about you as if you two are close…

which also confused me, seeing how Jax doesn’t get close to anyone.

” He scratched at his beard. “Anyway, I’ll stop digging for clues.

I just wanted to drop those cookies off because Jax pretty much hammered it down my throat that I need to check to see if you were okay. ”

I smiled. “I’m thankful for the check-in.”

“It’s not like him, you know—to care. You mean something to him, even if you think this is all new.

For him to come to me and ask for help…that’s a big deal for him.

From the outside looking in, it might seem small, but for Jax that’s massive progress in his growth.

I don’t know what you’re doing to him, Kennedy, but please, keep doing it.

” He turned and walked down the stairs. “And if you ever need a listening ear from a neighbor, my couch is always open.”

I bit into one of the cookies as Eddie walked away, my mind filled with lingering thoughts of what it meant that Jax had gone searching for someone to help me. I simply hoped he was reaching out for help for himself, too.

I’d never known landscaping could be extremely sexy before the day I watched Jax pick up a shovel.

Each day he and Connor came over, I found reasons to be outside, and each time I caught Jax looking my way, I’d get a brand-new case of butterflies filling my stomach.

He didn’t really talk to me much, and when he did, the conversation was pretty much about the landscaping.

Late one Monday afternoon, the Kentucky sun was beating down on us as if it had no care in the world for darkening our skin fifty shades.

I kept refreshing the guys’ water as they were hard at work throughout the day.

When I came out with a pitcher of ice water to fill up their glasses once more, I almost tripped over my feet upon seeing Jax.

There he was, shirtless and kneeling in the dirt as he was planting a rose bush. His body was rock hard, and his tan skin glistened in the sunlight. His white T-shirt was tucked into the back pocket of his Levi jeans, and I was officially back to my Joe-from- You stalking vibes.

Had his butt always been that magical and plump? Geez, all I wanted to do was walk over to him, place my two hands against his butt cheeks, and squeeze.

Look away, look away, look ? —

“Is that for us?” Connor’s voice said from behind me, making me jump out of my skin, and the pitcher of water in my hand went flying forward, crashing right into Jax’s body.

“Fuck!” he said, rising to his feet from the chill that engulfed him. He jumped in place, shaking off the water.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” I exclaimed, rushing over to him. “I got spooked, I’m so sorry,” I said, reaching for the first thing I could think of to dry him off: the T-shirt in his back pocket. And now I was rubbing my hands up and down Jax’s chest.

Up and down his abs.

His abs…

So. Many. Abs.

Is that a six-pack party going on there? Or did I just count eight? And why, oh why can’t I stop rubbing him down?

“Uh, I think we’re good, Kennedy.” Jax smirked.

“Good, good, yes, we’re good,” I muttered, still rubbing.

He laughed and placed his hands on my arms, halting my movements. “It’s okay, really.”

Oh, Jax, if only you knew how more than okay we are right now.

“Right, of course.” I stepped back, his shirt still in my hand. “Sorry, I was just…I lost my focus for a minute.”

Connor chuckled. “What were you staring at?” he teased.

My face heated and I was certain both of them could see the embarrassment rising high in my cheeks.

“Yeah,” Jax asked. “What caught your attention?”

All that junk in your trunk, sir.

I shook my head. “Oh, uh, a squirrel—chasing a cat,” I blurted out. What? “I mean, a cat chasing a squirrel.” They both arched an eyebrow in confusion. I waved my hands. “You know what? Doesn’t matter. Sorry about that.”

“It’s fine. We are about to stop for the day anyway,” Jax said, running his hand through his dripping wet hair. The water droplets dripped, dripped, dripped right down his chest, chest, chest, and oh my gosh, did I watch those drops slide down every inch of him.

What is wrong with me? Had it been so long since I’d seen a shirtless man that I was now fixated on Jax’s chest?

Though, to be fair, not many men had chests like his.

“Okay, I’ll start loading stuff into the truck. Jax, in the meantime, why don’t you talk to Kennedy about that thing you and I spoke about the other day,” Connor mentioned.

Jax shot Connor the dirtiest look and hissed through his clenched teeth. “Now’s probably not the right time, Connor.”

“No time like the present, big guy,” Connor sang, walking past Jax and patting his shoulder before grabbing some of their supplies and heading toward the truck.

I raised an eyebrow. “Is everything okay?”

Jax cleared his throat and scrunched up his face before scratching at his chin. “Um, yeah. It’s just, uh, well, I…” He was stumbling over his words, and in an instant, I was reminded of the boy I used to know. “It’s just, um, Connor thinks you need friends.”

I stood straighter. “What?”

He waved his hands quickly. “No, not like you need friends. I mean, I know you could get friends if you wanted. And you might have them. You might have friends, I mean I could get people wanting to be that, you know, like your friend.” He turned away from me and ran his hands through his hair again, mumbling a Fuck under his breath.

He turned back to me with a grimace on his face and narrowed eyes.

“Do you want to be my friend maybe? Like, do you want to hang out sometimes? Maybe cross some crap off that list in that notebook you got? I mean, if you want to know this town, I’m the one to show you it.

I know this place inside and out. I can show you the world… of Havenbarrow at least.”

I snickered. “Are you asking to be my Aladdin?”

“Something like that.” He swayed nervously in his shoes, and even when he was shirtless, his dorky side was coming out loud and clear. “I don’t have a magic carpet, though. Just a beat-up pickup truck.”

I bit my bottom lip and glanced to my left, where Joy was smiling to herself as she wrote away in her notebook. I was almost certain she was listening in and that smile on her face was for Jax’s shyness.

He rubbed at the back of his neck, and his hair fell over his face a little, making him look that much more rigid and handsome. “If you aren’t interested, it’s not a big deal. Yeah, no, it’s a stupid idea. Sorry I even asked. Look, let me get out of your?—”

“Can we start with Marshmallow at the coffee shop?” I cut in, making the nervous guy stop fidgeting.

“The coffee shop?”

“Yeah. I want to meet the coffee shop cat. Plus, I’ve heard they have a great chai latte.”

“Right. Yeah, okay.” The light that touched Jax’s eyes made my own heart light up. “Yeah, that’s a good idea. Okay. Cool. Maybe I can pick you up tomorrow morning? Unless you’re busy, because if you’re busy?—”

“Nine AM works.”

He grimaced. “I normally have coffee with Joy at nine…”

“Oh hush, boy. Go see the coffee shop cat. I’ll be here any other day,” Joy yelled, waving his comment off and making it clear that she was eavesdropping on our conversation.

I smiled. “So, see you at nine?”

“Yeah,” Jax agreed. His lips curved up, and I felt lucky to witness it.

Jax didn’t smile very often, so when he did, it felt like the sweetest dessert.

He began to back up toward his truck, where Connor was waiting.

“Cool. Awesome. It’s a date.” He paused, wiggled his nose, and cringed.

“I mean, not like a date-date, but like a friend-date. You know like?—”

“Aaand okay, this has been cringeworthy enough for all of us, so I’m going to pull this guy away.

Have a good night, Kennedy. Jax will see you in the morning,” Connor said, dragging his boss away.

I snickered as he scolded Jax. “Dude! I told you to play it cool, and that was the complete opposite of cool! Could you be any more awkward?”

Jax told Connor to shut the hell up, making me laugh to myself.

Connor didn’t know it, but seeing awkward Jax made me a million times happier than I’d been in a while. For the first time in a long time, things felt…normal.