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“If I can’t convince her to go, I need to make sure there’s nothing left here for her.”
Mom’s shoulders slumped. “Be easy on her, Jax. She cares for you a hell of a lot, so if you’re going to break it off, just do it gently.”
It was the only option.
And while I knew it would hurt us both now, eventually, Stella would forgive me.
But I would never forgive myself for being the reason she never chased her dreams.
CHAPTER 9
STELLA
FOR NOW…
“We should really learn to stock the fridge the night before we drink,” Tate grumbled, tugging the refrigerator doors open for the third time as if something delicious would miraculously appear inside. “Fruit, vegetables, and a variety of cheeses and humus are not going to help my hangover.”
I chuckled, walking over to the pantry and pulling out a loaf of bread. “This’ll help,” I said, sliding it across the counter to her. “It’ll soak up all that nasty stuff so you don’t puke when we get in the pool.”
She screwed up her nose but still snatched the bread off the counter and took it over to the toaster, slotting a couple of pieces in. “I can’t believe we were home by one, and I’m still feeling like I’ve been hit by a Mack truck.”
Jaxon’s parents had been adamant that we headed home last night and didn’t stay over, even organizing for one of the sober prospects to drive us.
Tate and I were both eighteen, but I was pretty sure them sending us home was an attempt not to infuriate my parents and cause any drama—which, knowing my parents, would be exactly what would happen if they found out I was staying overnight at the clubhouse.
“I feel fine, honestly,” I said with a shrug, tucking my sundress under me as I climbed onto one of the barstools. I’d thrown it on to cover my bikini as Tate and I were about to go and lay by our pool and go for a swim. “I’m also glad my parents left early this morning, though they did leave a very passive-aggressive note about making sure I was home tonight so we could talk about college.”
Tate signed heavily, bracing her hands on the counter. “You’ve gotta decide at some point, Stell. You can’t keep putting it off and pretending like it’s not happe?—”
“I’ve decided,” I cut in, and she suddenly stood straight, her eyes wide.
All night last night, I kept thinking about Chelsea.
I couldn’t stop hearing her tell me I wasn’t ready to be Jaxon’s Old Lady.
At the time, it’d hurt.
It really freaking hurt.
But this morning, I saw it differently.
“Okay, so what?—”
The roar of a motorcycle coming up our street was a welcome distraction, and I flashed Tate a grin before I leaped off my stool and hurried down the hall and into the foyer.
I leaned into the window frame with my hip, my eyes instantly drawn to the chrome that decorated Jaxon’s Harley and the way it sparkled in the last little bit of sunshine peeking through the dark gray clouds. Clouds that seemed to be moving in rather quickly, like they were chasing him.
So much for laying in the sun.
“Jaxon’s here!” I called back over my shoulder, continuing to watch him as he pulled up in front of the house.
“Gag,” Tate sang back. “You better not be ditching me for lover boy!”
I grabbed the door handle and twisted it. “I won’t! I’ll just see what he wants.” As I stepped out, I instantly felt the chill of the incoming storm hit me, and I wrapped my arms around my waist. The spaghetti-strapped dress I had on was thin and little protection from the elements, but it wasn’t as though I could invite him in.
My parents had very strict rules when it came to having boys over while they weren’t home. And the last thing I needed right now was to push their buttons even more than I already had, especially when I had to tell them later what choice I’d made.
“Hey,” I greeted with a wide smile, jogging down our front steps to where he was parked.
