“Alright.” He chuckled, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Well, Miss Darcey, I think you have yourself a deal. I’d like to put in an offer.”
“That’s what I like to hear,” she sang as Dallas walked around, inspecting some of the fixtures. She turned her attention to me and Jax. “Now, when can I get you two in a new home?”
“Huh?” I asked.
“You’ll need room to grow, I’m sure,” she continued on. “Do y’all prefer to be in the city, or do you want a place with a little land?”
“Oh.” My face flushed as I realized what she was saying. “I have a place over in 12 South. We’re not, um, together, but Jax is considering moving here.”
“Hmm,” she said as though she didn’t really believe me. She studied us a moment, pursing her red lips. “I’m sorry, darlin.’ I just assumed because y’all look so darn cute together.” She smoothed her hands over her black pantsuit. “Let me get this offer together. Dallas, hun, you want to follow me down to the kitchen, and we’ll get these papers started?”
“Yes ma’am.” Dallas flashed us a thumbs up as he followed Darcey back down the stairs. “Let’s do this.”
“Did you hear that?” Jax nudged me with his hip as I focused my eyes on the Nashville sky. “She said we look cute together. Idonutbelieve it.”
“You’re silly.” I laughed and shook my head, turning back toward the stairs.
“And you love that about me.” Without even looking at him I could hear the grin that stretched across his face. “That’s how I know I’m wearing you down.” I turned to face him as he stepped closer to me.
“I donut know what you’re talking about,” I teased. This time he didn’t laugh.
“She’s not wrong, Liv.” His thoughtful eyes held mine, and he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “You know she’s not. We’re good together in every possible way.”
I felt my breath catch in my throat. I knew he was right, but his being right didn’t change my fears. My insecurities came bubbling back to the surface in an overwhelming wave. I hadn’t been good enough for Ben. Some days, I wasn’t even sure I was good enough for me, and I was afraid there may come a day I would no longer be good enough for Jaxon Slade.
“You guys coming?” Dallas called.
“We should… we should go downstairs,” I mumbled half-heartedly. Before Jax could say another word, I all but fled down the stairs.
“What do you think of this one?” Ella held up a bottle of navy-blue nail polish, inspecting it in the light.
“You know I think that color looks great on you.” I picked up a deep oxblood color and handed it to one of the nail technicians who waited to lead us to our pedicure stations. It was my birthday, and Ella had managed to get full coverage for the bakery and booked a full afternoon of beauty at a salon down the street. We were scheduled to get blowouts and makeup applications, but we were beginning our afternoon of pampering with manicures and pedicures.
After we selected our colors, the technicians guided us to our adjacent pedicure chairs.
“Where do you want to go for dinner tonight?” Ella asked, kicking off her heels as I pulled off my suede knee-high boots. She busied herself with rolling up her jeans while I dunked my feet into the water, pulling the sleeves of my chunky black sweater dress over my hands. “Adele’s was booked already since it’s Saturday, but what about that fancy sushi place we went to for Katie’s birthday before she became a vegetarian?”
“Sure,” I said halfheartedly. “That sounds good.”
She fixed her eyes, studying me. “Talk to me. What’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?”
I picked at my cuticle as I looked over at her. “It’s Jax. It’s just that—”
“He’s head over heels for you?” She raised her brow at me.
“He’s not—”
“Olivia,” she cut me off. “Do you really think I haven’t noticed? I’veseenthe way you look at each other. I’ve seen the way he is around you, all squishy and adorable.”
I looked down at my hands, avoiding her watchful gaze. “Jax and I have been writing music together. He wants us to start our own musical act, just the two of us.”
Ella’s eyes gaped open. “Are you serious? That’s amazing, Liv. So, when is this happening? Are you guys signing a deal or something?”
“God, no.” I shook my head. “I don’t even know if I’m going to do it.”
“What do you mean you don’t know if you’re going to do it? Obviously you’re going to do it.”
I sighed. “It’s a huge decision, Ella. This would change my entire life.”
