Page 38 of Jax & Knox

Knox snorts into his glass. “Until it wasn’t.”

“Until it wasn’t,” Jax agrees, grinning. “We’re halfway around the house and the trailer hitch decides it’s done with life. Just snaps. Tree goes sideways. Dirt everywhere. And then, this is the best part, the guy’s wife comes running out screaming that we just killed her ‘spirit tree.’”

I laugh, covering my mouth with my napkin.

Knox’s voice is bone-dry. “She started talking to it. Apologizing. Offering it crystals.”

“She did,” Jax says, cracking up. “Full-on conversation with the tree while we’re standing there covered in mud trying not to laugh. Knox looked like he was about to walk into traffic.”

“I considered it,” Knox says, completely straight-faced.

I laugh so hard I almost choke on my water. Jax reaches across the table for the last piece of garlic bread and I don’t flinch. Knox stands, fills my glass without a word, and I don’t tense. I just… relax.

Owen babbles happily, smacking his hands against the tray of his high chair, and both brothers turn to look at him with matching expressions of affection.

“Da-da-da,” Owen says, his voice high and cheerful.

Jax grins. “You hear that, Knox? He’s talking to us.”

Knox’s expression softens in a way I’ve never seen before. “Yeah. I heard.”

I watch them with Owen, my chest tight with something I can’t quite name.

This feels like a family. For the first time in my life, this feels like home.

After dinner, I start to stand to clear the table, but Jax waves me off.

"Sit," he says. "We've got this."

"You don't have to⁠.”

"We know," Knox says, already stacking plates. "We want to."

I sink back into my chair, too surprised to argue.

And then I just... watch.

Jax and Knox move around the kitchen with the same easy rhythm they had outside. Jax washes the dishes while Knox dries and puts them away. They don't need to talk, they just know where everything goes, how the other moves, what needs to be done next.

It's mesmerizing.

At one point, Jax flicks water at Knox, and Knox retaliates by snapping the dish towel at Jax's ass.

I laugh, a real, genuine laugh that bubbles up from somewhere deep inside me.

Both of them freeze and turn to look at me.

"What?" I ask, suddenly self-conscious.

"Nothing," Jax says, his grin widening. "Just... you should laugh more often."

"It's a good sound," Knox adds quietly.

I duck my head, my cheeks warming again.

By the time they finish, Owen is starting to fuss, rubbing his eyes with his little fists.

"I should get him ready for bed," I say, standing.