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And when people hid things, their situation usually got worse and worse until they couldn’t hide it any longer.
Denial. Such an ugly thing, and the people who lived with it clung to it with unfailing loyalty, choosing it over the people who loved them. That lesson had been burned into his soul. He couldn’t forget it. Or tolerate it. Regardless of whether that person did or did not have long black hair, big brown eyes, and soft, tanned skin that glowed with warmth.
The ones who present as harmless are the most dangerous of all. Watch your back.
And he would. For his sake and his uncle’s sake. Seyla would guard the sanctuary no matter the cost, whether it put his uncle’s life or the public’s safety at risk.
What he needed to do was abandon such distracting, pointless thoughts and focus on the plans for the new military training center. And now, more than ever, he needed to stay away from Seyla.
The basement door opened. Uncle Sam ambled past with a load of laundry, refusing his offer to help. Rock followed behind him.
Rock was the other reason he wanted to return to Michigan. A strict “No Pets” policy remained an important tenet in his life, a rule he wouldn't waver on.
“I’m perfectly capable of carrying a basket of clothes,” his uncle groused, disappearing into the laundry room.
When Jax’s phone rang again, he checked it. Matt. Somebody he actually wanted to talk to. “Hey, what’s up?”
“Not much, brother. Um, are you planning to go to the fair this afternoon?”
Why did the guy sound nervous? “Yeah, I promised my uncle I’d go for a bit. I want to keep an eye on that fence line, too. Why?”
“Uh…um…would you want to go with me?”
Jax laughed into the phone, his mouth creeping up at one corner. “I think you called the wrong number. Aren’t yousupposed to ask Jessa for a date, not me?” He waited until he could talk without laughing. “What’s the real story here? And yes, I’ll go with you,” he added, teasing him.
Matt exhaled into the phone. “I know. I sound like I’m asking you to a sixth grade dance.” He chuckled. “The truth is, I asked Jessa if we could meet at the fair. She said she already talked Seyla into going with her. I have no idea how she convinced her, but Seyla should get out more anyway.”
Jax wilted.
Oh no.
“Anyway, she said I could meet them there and suggested I ask you. That way, Seyla doesn’t feel like a third wheel and there’s no awkwardness. She’ll be more comfortable talking to you than a stranger.”
“So we’d be going with Jessa and Seyla?” His good spirits took a nosedive.
“Yep.”
Jax grimaced and squeezed his temples between his thumb and fingers.
No awkwardness? If Matt only knew. Awkwardness was an understatement. Arctic breeze would be more accurate.
“Soooo…will you do it? We can join your uncle later, too. Plus, we’ll have time to wander around for a while before we meet up with them. They have plans when they first get there.”
Trapped.
He’d already said he planned on going and that he’d go with Matt. If he changed his mind now, Matt might figure out why. Like it or not, he was going to the fair with them. With Seyla. Jax sighed. “Sure. I’ll do it.”
“Try not to act too excited,” Matt teased.
They went over the details and hung up. Jax stared at the phone, wishing he hadn’t answered it.
The sound of chuckling made him turn around.
Uncle Sam stood behind him, arms crossed, shoulders shaking with laughter. “This should be interesting.”
“What? Why?” The questions were pointless. His uncle was as attuned to the things happening around him as Jax was. He’d taught him, after all.
His uncle gave Jax a reproachful once-over. “It would be hard to miss the tension between Seyla and you. I don’t know what happened before we got to those cat shelters; I do know that it affected you a lot more than you want anyone to know.”
