Page 70 of Louder Than Words

Just when I thought we might get through tonight without a single meltdown.

Jax pauses mid-scoop, tilting his head at her with a smirk.

“What ifIeat something I don’t like?” he offers, spoon still hovering over the bowl.

Charlotte giggles, wrinkling her nose. “But you eat everything.”

James practically chokes mid-bite of his biscuit from laughing. “She’s not wrong, mate.”

Jax fights a grin, eyes scanning the table before they flick back to Charlotte. He slyly drops the carrots onto her plate. “That’s not true,” he says. “I don’t like stuffing.”

“Who the hell hates stuffing?” James gapes.

I slap a hand over my mouth to hide my laugh from the fact he’s not wrong, plus Jax’s face. His eyebrows shoot halfway to his hairline, darting between Charlotte and James.

“First of all,” Jax says, “me.Second, watch your mouth.”

“Yeah!” Charlotte jumps in, leaning across the table to stick her tongue out at James who does it right back at her.

“So?” Jax says, trying to regain her attention. “What do you say?”

She rolls her eyes, still not looking so sure. “Fine.”

I’m still amazed every time he gets her to do these things. She’s as stubborn as they come—clearly from her father, not me—but somehow, Jax gets through to her.

It’s like he wasn’t just meant for me, but for them, too.

The voice of reason when things get chaotic.

The one who makes us feel safe, no matter what we’re facing.

And I just realized I said “we’re.”

Because I know he’ll keep every single one of us safe no matter what. That became abundantly clear in New York, which is why Jax can’t know about the way Trevor grabbed me the other day. He would destroy him if he found out.

When Jax loves, he loves loudly.It’s one of my favorite things about him. But the court system wouldn’t see it that way. The New Hampshire Family Court would definitely twist that into a big red flag. And I’m just hoping all of this will blow over and I won’t have to tell him about Trevor’s temper—especiallysince Ana would jump at the first chance to spill it if given the opportunity.

My eyes land on Ana, who’s trying to feed Desmond a yam like he’s a toddler. He finally accepts his fate and takes the bite of yams. Then, with a hand over his mouth, he gestures between Jax and me. “You guys make a great team. My sister’s plate would’ve been decorating the floor by now.”

I laugh, because he’s not wrong. If this were last year? Charlie’s platewouldbe on the floor.

Desmond wipes his mouth with the cloth napkin and places it gently beside his plate before lacing his fingers together and leans into the table. “Have, uh… you guys decided if you’ll have more?” he asks.

And just like that, the kitchen falls silent.

Ana presses her lips into a line. James freezes mid-chew. And Gareth is just staring at Jax.

Meanwhile my heart is dropping straight into my stomach fast enough to make me nauseous.

Nora sets her napkin down and clears her throat. “Me and Allie were in a car crash—”

I shrink back in my seat, almost forgetting she’s even here. I’ve been avoiding her as much as I can after everything at the diner, and the Gareth revelation. It feels like stress after stress has been following me wherever she goes.

Although, she goes quiet the second she catches the glare from Ana.

“That isn’t your part of the story to share, Nora,” she says coldly.

I shake my head, trying my best to put on a smile.