Page 85 of Break Me Not

“Jax, I know we're not that close, but I will try and do everything I can to help. I know some of the stuff might not be my business, but if you can think of anything, even making food, I'll do it for you.”

She swallowed thickly and finally met my eyes.

“Are you mad at me?” she asked.

Shock must've been obvious across my face.

“Aren't you the one mad at me or something?”

“I could never be mad at you.” She leaned forward, her lips just brushing mine. “I was… worried you were mad at me for trying to come clean to your daughter behind your back.”

Her admission had guilt eating at my stomach.

“Jax… Could I really be mad at you if I was about to do the same?”

She chuckled as she pressed her forehead against mine. “And there I was, ready to take the bullet for you, but then I chickened out when I realized that no matter what I said, it would probably fall back on you.”

Emotion clogged my throat. She put me first. I don’t think anyone ever did that.

“I don't deserve you,” I whispered. “Or her. I chickened out when I saw you there.”

She shushed me and slowly cupped my face. “Don’t be so harsh on yourself. We will figure this out, okay? In fact, your daughter seems to be protecting you from me! She essentially told me to stop ogling you because it might be making you uncomfortable.” I gasped at that, but she smiled. “Apparently, I was never good at hiding what I felt like when I looked at you.”

“What?”

“Yeah, and then she added that you’d eat me alive. Which is true. But you already know I love that.”

In that moment, just the two of us, my heart began to swell. I held her close, afraid that if I looked away for one second, this dream might truly vanish before my very eyes.

I didn't want this to end. I didn't want her to leave.

I wanted her. And she was making me feel things I’d never felt before.

“I have to go,” she said after a long moment, letting go of me, and I think I groaned. “I know, I know, but I have to. Thank you for this. It was sweet of you.”

She took the food, one in each hand, and I stood there, watching her go, feeling forlorn until she turned around at the last second.

“Do you want to come… meet my mom?”

Excitement shot through me so fast I couldn’t contain it. “Yes! I do!”

She shook her head and laughed.

“Only you would be excited for something like this. Okay, I’ll pick you up at the gallery later?”

“Perfect. Well, if that’s the case, I will take this with me.” I chased after her and grabbed the food before leaning on my tiptoes to give her a kiss. Her eyes fluttered open as I pulled away. “Have a good day, baby girl.”

“Just for you, my wonderful, perfect, MILF.”

“You may pay for that later,” I said as I started pushing her out the door.

When it finally shut behind her, I let myself live in the light and in the joy that had spread between us.

Then I rushed back into my room to find the perfect outfit for today.

First impressions are everything.

I knew her mom was having a bad day by the look on the nurse’s face. Professionals were really good at hiding their feelings, but it was almost impossible when it was bad enough.