Page 134 of Don't Think

Ana lets out a groan and opens her door, swinging her legs out. “Yeah, isn’t it the biggest mansion you’ve ever seen?” she teases and hops out of the car.

Jax laughs, hitting the button to pop the trunk for Ana before stepping out himself.

I unbuckle my seatbelt and toss my phone into my purse, but before I can get out, Jax is there, opening the door for me. His hand is extended, and I take it, stepping out of the car into the cool,freshair.

It’s lighter here, easier to breathe in—unlike in the city.

“It’s beautiful up here,” he says, walking toward the back of the car. “The mountains were incredible on the way up.”

“Yeah,” I reply, leaning against the tailgate. “It’s so quiet. I could sit on my back porch and just think for hours.”

He grabs my suitcase and one of Ana’s from the trunk, stepping back so I can close it. We head up the few steps, and I pause before reaching for the door handle.

“Just a heads up, it’s not exactly like my aunt’s house,” I say nervously.

We step inside, flicking on the light switch, and the living room comes to life. I’m glad I cleaned up before we left for vacation.

If the girls were here, there’d be toys everywhere, and I’d have to warn him away from plopping on the couch before feeling around first. But right now, it’s actually sparkling clean. Straight pillows line my navy-blue couch and plants that thankfully didn’t perish in my absence.

“It’s better,” he says, stepping farther in while he looks around.

I smile and take his hand, leading him into my bedroom. I flop down on the soft, wine-colored comforter I’ve missed so much.

He sits beside me, carefully wrapping his arm around my waist.

“We should probably talk about what’s next, huh?” I say quietly.

He presses his lips together, forming a straight line, then nods.

“I’m not sure how we can make this work,” I continue, shaking my head. “Trevor would never let me move away with the girls. And that’s not really fair to him.”

He shakes his head slowly. “I wouldn’t expect you to take them away from their dad, Allie,” he says, his voice soft.

My chest tightens while I desperately try to come up with a solution—one that works for everyone, and not just us. There really should be a guidebook for this:Falling in Love with a Rock Star while being a Single Mom.

“Let’s just take it one step at a time,” I suggest, forcing a small smile. “We can video chat, make plans. There’s no need to rush into any big decisions right now.”

He cups my face in his hands before pulling me toward him. Our lips meet, and my heart swells with so much love and hope, it almost hurts knowing that soon he’ll be gone.

Jax glides his thumbs over my cheeks, holding me gently. Our kiss deepens, and before I can stop them, tears start falling. He catches them right away, wiping them away with his thumbs.

He pulls back just enough to look me in the eyes, and I see all the emotion building there. His voice cracks as he whispers, “I love you, Allie.”

A sob catches in my throat, and he pulls me close, resting my head against his chest while he rocks me gently on the bed. I cry softly into his shirt, and he smooths my hair, murmuring, “It’s okay,” and “I know,” over and over.

After what feels like forever, my breathing slows. Jax rubs my back, keeping me close. I blink a few times, trying to pull myself together, and finally glance at the clock. It’s already one o’clock. He’s got a four-hour drive ahead of him.

“I don’t want you to leave,” I whisper, my voice muffled against his chest.

He lays his cheek on top of my head and takes a deep breath. “I don’t want to either,” he admits quietly.

Just then, Jax’s phone dings, breaking the moment. He sighs, pulls it out, glances at the screen, then tucks it back into his pocket.

“Don might’ve found us a fill-in drummer for now,” Jax says with a soft chuckle. “I guess we’re meeting him when I get back.”

I get up from the bed, offering my hand to him. He smirks, and before I know it, he pulls me onto his lap.

He holds me there for a moment, his breath warm against my ear while he whispers, “You’re my everything, Allie. When I can’tsee past the storm, when everything feels like it’s falling apart, I think of you—and suddenly, everything makes sense again.”