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Jaxson stopped in his tracks, not bothering to turn around to face the jerk who'd hurt Emma. "You don't know shit about me. I want Emma to come away with Chase and me, but she needs to do it because she chooses to. Not because she has no other choice. Twenty-four hours."
Jaxson closed the door behind him, leaving the professor to contemplate his next move.
Chapter 14
The attic was oppressivelyhot the next morning when Jaxson stirred awake. As always, they had slept curled up together after making love into the night. He was thinking about how nice it would be to get back to their king-sized beds on the road when it struck him that there might be only two of them in that bed after they left. They hadn't talked about Emma leaving with them again the night before after he'd returned from his run. Instead they had each tried to win an academy award for their ability to hide from the eight-hundred pound gorilla hanging around their necks like a noose.
Time was ticking down and they all knew it.
Emma was curled up in front of him with Chase spooning her from behind. He hadn't opened his eyes yet, but he didn't need to to know his lovers were awake too. The heavy blanket of their unknown future weighed on Jaxson. It was Friday morning. Only one day to sort out if the men would be accompanying Emma to visit her family over the weekend. As much as he'd like to, this is one area where he knew he couldn't dominate Emma's decision.
The first sound to fill the room was another cell phone.
"We should all turn our damn phones off." Chase's uncharacteristic grouse surprised Jaxson.
"At least it's not my dad again," Emma sighed, leaning up and over Jaxson to grab her phone from the nightstand. "Oh my God. It's my professor. He's kicking me out. I just know it."
Jaxson hadn't told them about his detour to visit with the slimy professor the day before and he wanted to keep it that way. "Just answer it and see what he has to say."
She answered tentatively, "Hello?"
Emma listened, her breath becoming shorter as time passed. She tried to interrupt the call several times, but wasn't successful until she finally asked, "But what about the video? You're going to keep that private?"
Jaxson could see the worry lines receding from her forehead as tears came to her eyes. It appeared the good professor had taken his threats seriously.
Emma ended the call, a huge grin on her face. "Wow. He called to tell me he had second thoughts and has rescinded my probation. He even apologized for how he treated me. Can you believe that?"
Emma was distracted by the phone call, but Jaxson felt Chase's stare from the other side of the bed. When their eyes met, Chase's grin told him at least one of his lovers had figured out why the asshole had had a change of heart.
The silent air kiss Chase playfully sent his way made Jaxson's heart contract with emotion. Chase knew him so well. He was so much more than his lover. He was his best friend. Whatever happened over the next few weeks as they sorted their relationship out, one thing was for sure—Jaxson needed to protect his friendship with Chase first and foremost.
Emma hadn't even settled back into bed when the next phone rang. This time it was Roberta's ring. And just like that, the heavy blanket was dousing them. Worry filled Chase's gaze again. Jaxson needed to deal with this. Delaying the inevitable wasn't helping any of them any more.
He reached for the phone and hit ANSWER just in the nick of time. "Hey, Roberta."
"God dammit, Jaxson. What the fuck is going on? I jumped through hoops to get you a few weeks off and how do you repay me? You drop off the fucking face of the earth, refusing to take my calls. You'd better have some damn good excuse, buddy. I've been lying my ass off to keep you two from losing the most lucrative contract I've ever gotten for you, so don't you fucking dare hang up on me."
Jaxson sighed, "We've missed you too, Roberta."
"Don't try to charm your way out of this, buddy. I'm pissed. I don't deserve this shit. You're giving me grey hair. I hate grey hair!"
Jaxson chuckled at her melodramatic rant. It was so Roberta. She was an awesome agent and she was right about one thing. She didn't deserve to be lied to any more.
"Okay, well I'll start by saying I'm sorry. How about that?"
There was a pause at the other end of the phone. "Who the hell is this and how did you get Jaxson's phone?"
"Ha, ha. Very funny. What exactly is it you need from us? We still have two more weeks off."
"Well that's just it. You only have ten more days, not two weeks."
"No. I distinctly remember us committing to being back on the first."
"Yes, well that was before I nabbed you the Abercrombie fall promotion. They had already started shooting and hated the first review enough they are changing directions completely. They are willing to sign a full years contract just to get you two specifically. When I couldn't reach you, I was able to buy you another week, but you absolutely must be in London by next weekend."
He felt Emma and Chase staring at his back as he stared out the only window to look down on the driveway. His heart was racing as he thought through their options. He expected to feel trapped, but a welcome calmness settled instead. He knew his way forward.
He spun to face his lovers before answering his agent and manager. "Alright, we'll meet you in London, but not before that Monday. That will be four days earlier than I promised. That has to be good enough."
