AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You’re off the clock here, you know.”
He laughs. “Old habits die hard.”
I put the rest of the salad in the fridge, then cut a hefty piece of brownie, top it with vanilla ice cream, and lead us both into the living room.
“So, tell me about life before Suppato’s.” I know he’s been at Suppato’s for nearly seven years, but we’ve never talked about what he did before then.
I think about Reid and his first job bartending. It was a little bar on Frenchman Street. That’s where he met the Marine who would change both of our lives forever.
Jaxon takes a bite of the freshly baked brownie. The scent of warm fudge still fills the room. “Before Suppato’s…” he gives a dramatic pause, “…I was a bartender.” He laughs. “I should probably do something more with my life, huh?” He hands me the spoon.
I take a bite of our dessert. “That’s not what I meant. I was just trying—”
“I know,” he says, interrupting me with a smile. “I’m happy doing what I do. The Suppatos are good to me.”
The way he says their name gives me such a warm feeling. It’s like they’re this tight-knit family that he’s proud to be part of. I can see him feeling that way about Carlos. Carlos is amazing. But Cal…
I give him back the spoon. “It sounds like you’ve known them a while,” I say, trying not to sound overly curious.
I’m angry. I’m hurt. I feel completely rejected, once again. But I can’t shake him. There’s this whole fog of mystery surrounding Cal, and I can’t let go until I’ve fought my way through. I know there’s a light somewhere in all of that darkness, and I’m drawn to it like a moth to a flame.
“You could say that.”
“Has Cal always been so…” I fight to find the right word. Angry. Rude. Brooding. “…distant?”
Jaxon takes a bite then hands me the spoon, leaving the last scoop for me. He huffs a laugh then stares off into the nothing at some far away memory. “Cal saved me,” he says with reverence.
I try to imagine a situation in which Jaxon would need saving. He’s always so laid back. He’s always so happy.
“He doesn’t seem like the hero type.” More like the villain.
“Not all heroes wear capes and flashy smiles.”
I stick the spoon in my mouth, devouring the last of chocolate covered heaven then set the bowl on the coffee table in front of us. “No. Some of them are dark and moody. Like Batman.”
Jaxon laughs. “You have no idea.”
Oh,I have a little bit of an idea.
He leans back against the cushions and stretches his legs out in front of him. He’s comfortable. This is comfortable.
I suddenly wish we’d done this sooner.
“So, what happened? You got caught up with the wrong crowd?” I ask, tucking one leg under my butt and settling in.
“Something like that.” The faraway look returns, as if he’s remembering a moment kept locked away in his mind—replaying it to remind him of something important. “There are people in this world,” he says, looking over at me. “People in this city.” He swallows hard. “Not everyone is always what they seem.”
It’s vague at best, cryptic and distant. But I get it. I know those people. I’ve been face to face with them. My head fills with visions of a liquor store and carjackers, and Reid lying in my arms… and men in suits carrying a lifeless body to the back of an SUV.
I visibly shiver. “Tell me about it.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“It’s okay. I know I’m green. I’m not… experienced… in a lot of things. And I’ve spent the past six years living in a Reid-covered bubble. But I know what’s out there. I know what people are capable of.”
“I’m sorry.” His tone tells me he means it.
“Don’t be. We’re good now, right?” I lean over and squeeze his hand, drawing an affectionate smile from his lips.
