Page 119 of Don't Think

“But the band—”

“We can make music long-distance. We’ve done it before. I can’t live without you, Allie. I just… can’t.” He shrugs, almost helplessly. “I’ll stay in Boston to finish recording, but after that, I’m coming to you. That’s it. That’s the plan.” He leans forward and kisses my forehead, his lips warm against my skin while more tears slip free.

“I can’t be the reason your dreams fall apart,” I whisper. “I love you, Jax, but you need your music.”

He shakes his head slowly, his eyes never leaving mine. “I needyoumore,” he says. “Plus, you really think James is gonna want to be away from Ana for more than a few months?”

A soft laugh escapes me while I shake my head. “No. Definitely not.”

“We’ll figure it out. Please don’t stress about that right now,” he says gently. “You need rest. We’ll talk about everything else later.”

He draws me into his arms, and I melt into him, my eyes fluttering closed.

Thisis where I’m meant to be. The only place I feel safe enough to justbe. To breathe. To fall apart.

When I open my eyes again, I have no idea how much time has passed. The room is quiet; the kind of silence that feels like everything is on pause.

Then, a soft knock sounds and the door creaks open slowly.

I stay curled into Jax, blinking to clear my vision while a tall figure steps into the room. They move closer, their shape coming into focus when they lean over the bed.

“Allie?”

Chapter Thirty-Four

Allie

“Allie?” Trevor’s voice cuts through the room, and my spine stiffens.

He steps toward the bed slowly, then stops a few feet away, shaking his head in disbelief before rubbing his jawline. I try to sit up, but the sheets beneath me make it harder than I expected.

I gently nudge Jax’s shoulder, and his eyes fly open.

“Is everything okay?” he asks with a husky voice.

“Jax. This is Trevor,” I say, motioning toward the man standing near the door. Trevor stands there with his arms crossed, his white T-shirt stretching slightly across his chest. “Trevor, this is Jax.”

“I think I already know who it is.” Trevor’s tone is sharp, like he’s holding something back. “We were together for eight years and in the last year of it, you never stopped talking about hisband, Allie,” he adds, running a hand through his short, blond hair.

Heat floods my face, and I know it’s turning a million different shades of red. He’s making it sound like I stalked them for crying out loud. Excuse me for listening to a band I liked more than a few times.

Trevor’s gaze hardens, filled with such disdain that it almost makes me feel ashamed.

Almost.

“I got the call from the paramedics, since I’m still listed as your emergency contact,” he continues, his voice taking on an edge. “But it looks like someone else probably should be.”

His eyes lock onto mine like he’s trying to peel answers out of me, leaving me feeling guilty.

“How long has this been going on?” He gestures between Jax and me, his gaze burning with more than just curiosity.

Jax sits up in the bed, the mattress shifting under his weight, then he stands and walks over to Trevor.

He extends his hand. “Hi, Trevor. Sorry we’re, uh, meeting this way,” Jax says with an awkward chuckle.

Trevor hesitates before accepting the handshake, throwing judgmental glances back and forth between us. Then he slips his hands back into his pockets like he’s trying to keep some distance.

“Are the girls with you?” I ask, my voice tinged with hope. I try to maneuver myself into an upright position, but it’s useless. Everythinghurts.