“This will only work if you promise me one thing. You’ll never go near my clubhouse.” His voice is low with seriousness. “You’re safe in the main center of Logan’s Point, near the hospital, but you don’t venture further. Today was your one and only time. Understood?”
My lips press together, and I nod hurriedly.
His hand grasps my jaw. “Tell me you understand.”
I suck in a breath and utter, “I do. I understand.”
He smirks. “Good, because I want to see you again.”
My pulse intensifies. “Really?”
“Yeah, even though I’m sure you’ll wake up tomorrow morning and come to your senses.”
“Dax, I’ve never thought more clearly.”
He sniggers, running his hand down my neck and resting it on my shoulder. “We’ll see about that, Sassy.”
We huddle together, silently looking out at the ravine. If he’s worried about my life being worse with him, I want to change his mindset. I want him to think life could be better with me.
Our closeness brings back memories of earlier conversations that didn’t end well.
“I know you don’t want me to go there again, but I have to ask.” I pause, ready with the possibility of pushing him away. “Will you reconsider taking your health more seriously?”
Dax exhales hard, looking away from me. “Going to the hospital was a mistake.”
I clutch his upper arm. “Not fully,” I say with a hint of mischief. “If you hadn’t walked in there today, we never would’ve met.”
Dax smirks, turning back to me. “That must’ve been why it felt much more necessary to see a doctor.”
My gut tightens, amplifying my concern. “This necessity won’t go away.”
Dax slumps beside me, sighing. “I don’t want to think about it right now.”
Hope lights inside me. “But you will, eventually?”
Dax throws his head back with a laugh. “You really don’t quit. Okay, sure, I will.” He looks at me with an easy smile. “It’s weird having someone stick by me.”
“I saw your brother asking where you were today.” My mouth runs dry. “Although, I wouldn’t say it seemed compassionate.”
Dax shrugs it off. “It’s just part of his power-trip.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s taken over the club since Dad’s been out of the picture.”
“Oh.” It’s all I can think to say, busying myself with pulling the blanket higher on both of us.
Dax tilts his head as if trying to get a read on me. “You really haven’t heard about this?”
I shrink beside him. “Heard about what?”
“What happened to my dad?”
I grit my teeth, forcing them not to chatter out of trepidation. “Why would I have? I didn’t even know your club existed until today.”
Dax’s eyebrows raise, and he exhales with a soft laugh. “Okay then. Just, usually, the people I run into look at me like they know my whole life story.”
I nod. “Like the nursing staff today.”
