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Laurel shook her head. Faith nodded and sat back without another word. The humorous atmosphere that had suffused the room earlier evaporated. Maggie and Jade sat silently on the sidelines while the rest of us had our sister moment.
My phone chimed, blessedly breaking the awkward silence.
Cocky Guy: I'm selfish and missing you tonight. How's your girls' night?
I couldn't stop the grin that snuck up when I saw his name, then his words.
Jade snickered. "It's Jax, isn't it?"
I looked up and saw that everyone's attention was now on me. I tucked my phone under my leg and shrugged.
"It is!" Angie crowed. "I can tell by your smile."
"What is it with you trying to interpret everything by our answers or looks? How do you know it's not a client from work or one of the kids from the center, or maybe even—"
I zipped my lips when I saw her smug look. I'd fallen neatly into her previous description of me. "Fine. It was."
"He's dickmatized you." Jade nodded wisely.
"He's whatatized me?"
"Dickmatized. You want him. Plain and simple. You got a taste of him, literally, and you want more. Dickmatized. By his magic penis wand." She said it so seriously that Maggie nodded at her, but Angie fell on her side laughing. All I could see of Laurel was her arm wiping her computer screen where she'd sprayed the sip she'd just taken. Even Faith was giggling.
I giggled. "That sounds about right." I grew serious. "But I want more than just his dick. Don't get me wrong, that's really amazing. But I want all of him."
Faith put her arm around my shoulders. "You're falling in love with him, aren't you?"
"Falling, fallen..."
There was a round of “aww’s.”
"Have you told him, honey?"
I shook my head. "It's too soon, too new, especially for him. He doesn't need that kind of pressure."
"But love is a wonderful thing," Maggie protested, then held my eyes. "I have to admit; Derek and I were surprised and a little anxious when we found out you and Jax had something going on between you. Don't get me wrong," she hastily added when I shot her a look. "Derek says Jax has always been a stand-up guy, but more focused on his work than anything else, intense even. Derek doesn't think he's ever had a committed relationship with a woman before. But now he says he's never seen Jax smile as much or seem as relaxed. I think that's because of you, Grace."
My heart warmed. I looked around the room at the women who I trusted more than anyone except my parents, and now Jax. "I think we're good where we are, but we had a rocky climb to get here. I think something has happened in his past that has scared Jax away from relationships, but I'm not sure what it is, and I don't want to push him for more than he's ready for. It's not a race."
"Maybe he's had some kind of bad experience with a woman in his past. Or maybe he's the stereotype rich guy who can't trust women wanting him for only his money," Maggie suggested.
"Could be," Jade said. "But what kind of guy does that make him if he makes everyone pay for someone else's mistake?"
"Someone who's been hurt," Faith answered. "Caring for someone and having that trust destroyed will do that."
I studied Faith. More and more I was becoming concerned about what was going on between her and Adam. She'd always been the picture of the happy homemaker, much like our mother, but now her eyes were always shadowed. Growing up, she'd always been the studious, quiet type, always drawing people in with her warmth and genuine caring. But now it was like she'd been silenced; like her spark had been extinguished. Now wasn't the place to confront her, but soon, my oldest sister and I were going to have a chat.
Laurel spoke up. "Maybe it's from losing his father at a young age."
Jade threw up her hands. "And maybe cannibals kidnapped him and ate his heart leaving a cold, hard shell." She rolled her eyes as we snickered. "Look, we can speculate all we want, but here's the truth." Jade's green eyes snared mine, and her seriousness captured all of our attention. "Jax cares for you, chickie. It's the real deal. Life doesn't offer promises, so if something in his past causes him to stumble, then it's up to you to catch him. Or let him fall, if that's what you want or need to do. Just remember, that once the ball hits the ground, it's harder to snatch up and make a winning play. Decide now if you're in this game or not."
I'd never know Jade to be a sports fan, but I got her message.
"Then I guess I better get my catcher's glove."
29
Grace
