Page 7 of Fighting for His Life

I drop my head against his chest. “I am mad at you, Jay,” I whispered.

He wraps his arms around me and hugs me tight. “I know, Beautiful. I’m sorry.”

The sound of Maddox groaning draws my attention away from Jax back to him on the ground. I move to go to him, but Jax only tightens his grip. “Let me go, Jax,” I say firmly.

The muscles in his jaw begin to pop. “I can’t, Zoey. If you go back over there, I’m going to want to finish what I started.”

“No, you’re not. You are going to let me go check on him. He only came here to apologize, and you beat the hell out of him.”

“You think he didn’t know that would happen if I saw him?” he whisper yells. “You are the only reason I stopped. Don’t push me, Zoey. Please.”

“If I’m the reason you stopped, then I’ll be the reason you stand here and let me check on him. I know you’re in best friend protection mode right now, but I don’t need protection.”

Something flickers in his face. An argument and even regret. He loosens his grip on me, allowing me to take a tentative step back. I keep eye contact with him as I move slowly toward Maddox. I can see the difficulty he is having letting me do this. I can feel Zane’s eyes on me as well. A quick glance his way tells me that he’s in a fight with himself, as well.

What happen with Maddox was bad. I know it scared them because I could’ve died. ‘I’m sorry’ doesn’t change anything that happen, but it does allow for some closure and healing if we let it.

I know Jax and Zane will never accept his apology. I will, though, because why would I want to hang on to that kind of thing. It’s poisonous and toxic to me. I never even realized how much so until the moment that Maddox explained and apologized how much toxicity I was holding on to. I don’t want it anymore.

I kneel beside Maddox as he opens his eyes. He smiles at me sadly. “I’m sorry, Zoey. I deserved what I got.”

I shrug. “Maybe, but you know if you’d just kept your mouth shut it wouldn’t have escalated like that.

“Couldn’t help myself,” he smirks. “McCabe makes it to easy. He loves you, you know.”

“I know. He’s my best friends and fiercest protector.”

He shakes his head with a grin. “Damn, Zoey. Still blind as ever.”

He moves to get up. I reach to help him, but I’m pulled away before I can. I turn to glare at Jax. His jaw muscles are still locked, and his eyes are dark and tight. “I was just trying to help him up,” I huff.

“And I am hanging on by a goddamn thread. Don’t touch him, Zoey. Please.”

Everything in me is screaming 'don’t tell me what to do' but I can see the battle in his eyes. I can feel his slipping restraint pour off his body.

I don’t want Jax to finish what he started. I don’t want Maddox to get hurt anymore. So I don’t help him up or give him the hug I’m sure he needs.

Maddox cast quick glances to Jax and Zane before settling his eyes on me with a smile and a nod. Jax’s arm slides around my shoulders, possessively. It irritates me some more because I don’t know exactly what he’s trying to prove.

I return Maddox’s smile before he turns away. Then he pauses. “Hey, McCabe, you really need to do something before someone else does, and it’s too late.”

I wonder what he meant by that?

Jax

I lean against the brick wall letting what Masters said roll around in my head. It wasn’t a new idea. I’ve struggled with the idea of Zoey with someone besides me. The few dates I’ve watched her go on over the years have been torture. Those few months she hung out with Masters was like dying a slow death. Over and over again.

Zoey is too damn smart and beautiful to stay available for too long. She could make anyone happy just with that smile of hers. She’s perfect.

I rub the center of my chest hoping to soothe the building ache and turn up the bottle of Jack I’m holding hoping it will burn it away.

Zane walks up and takes the spot by the wall. He grabs the bottle from me, bringing it to his mouth for a long swig. “Why are you back over here hiding?” he asks me with a knowing look.

“Cooling off,” I grunt.

“Cooling off or avoiding?”

I look at him questioningly. I always thought I was hiding my feelings pretty damn well. God knows I didn’t exactly stay a celibate monk. How the hell Zane knew how I felt for Zoey but never said anything is a little weird. What’s even weirder – “You’ve known how I feel about Zoey all this time? Not only have you never said a word, you’re okay with it?”

Source: www.allfreenovel.com