AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter ten
Neil Gets an Interview
Twomonthslater
I couldn’t believe my eyes as I scrolled through my email. I had a job interview. I grabbed my phone and shot Jax a text.I have an interview. Can’t believe it.
The reply came quickly.I can. You’re the bomb! Let’s talk after work.
I was excited and already nervous. It was a great company, too. It could be an amazing opportunity, but I wasn’t sure how Jax fit into that. And he meant a lot to me. Our relationship had been getting better and better. We’d have to see what happened.
**
We met at my place after I got off work. Jax was sitting on the little sidewalk that led to my door. “Sorry, I made you wait.”
Jax stood and moved in for a kiss. Every time our lips met, I felt like I was not only kissing Jax but also touching something between us that felt exceedingly important. “I haven’t been here long. Let’s go in.”
As I opened the door, I noticed Jax was carrying a small white box. “What’s that?”
“Something for you.” His face turned pink.
“For me?”
He nodded and handed me the box. I didn’t know what to expect, but from the shy expression, I knew it meant something to Jax. I sat on the couch and opened the box. I lifted the tissue that was inside. A sand dollar. But not an ordinary one. This one was large and painted. “Did you do this?”
He had to have. It was a scene of the night we’d spent on the beach when Jax had made the water come alive for our bonfire. The blues and greens were spectacular in the background, and little figures of me and Jax, one with short brownish hair and the other with wild blond locks, stood holding hands and looking out at the spectacle of color.
“Jax. This is beautiful.”
“I, uh, wanted to give you something to remember us by.”
“You say that as if I’m leaving.”
Jax got on his knees in front of me. “I don’t know if you are or not. You haven’t even had the interview yet, but…” He rubbed his hands up and down my thighs. “I want you to know I’d be willing to follow you. Go with you. Whatever.”
“I’m surprised. I don’t know what to say. But I couldn’t ask you to give up the water if I take a job away from here. Your dad. The water.” I shrugged. It wouldn’t be fair.
“I don’t want to be left behind.”
“And here I’d been thinking you’d end up leavingme.”
“I told you. You changed me. I never saw it coming, but when I think about this, about you getting a new job, it’s more important to me to be with you than to be near the water.”
I couldn’t accept that. I put the box on the couch beside me and scooted to the edge. “That’s like saying I’m more important to you than who you are—the water is a part of you, Jax. I know that much.”
“Yeah, you get me. You know me. Better than I thought anyone ever would.”
“You can’t move far from the water. That’s all. Anyway, this is only an interview.” I grabbed Jax’s arms, holding him on the elbows. “If it’s not forus, I don’t have to take it. If it’s even offered.” Maybe I was falling in love, but I was still unsure. It was too new, and I didn’t know if it was the adventurous feel of our relationship that I loved about Jax. Or was it more? Was this all real? Whatever the case, I wouldn’t let Jax sacrifice his life. I felt that down to my soul.
“Okay, but don’t go into the interview knowing you will say no. That’s self-defeating.”
“Agreed.”
We stared at each other for a beat too long.
I should tell him, wanted to, but still held back.
Chapter eleven
