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“Why wouldn’t I? Is that why you’re conflicted? Because you found those photos?”
“That’s not the only reason.”
“What are the others?”
“Everything about you is conflicting. Your voice, your dirty mouth, your touch, when you kiss me, when you hold me like you are right now. I’m trying my best to not fall for it again, but you’re making it so damn hard.”
“Why are you fighting it? I don’t know what more I can do to prove to you I’m all in this time.”
“You always know the right things to say. It’s part of your charm. The only reason you want me is because of the chase. You’re a lion, but the second you sink your teeth into me, I won’t be enough anymore. I wasn’t enough the first time, and that won’t change now. It’s who you are.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Bullshit. How quickly you forget that I was there that night before you moved to Miami. I found you with her, remember? Just tell me one thing: how many were there, huh? How many women did you cheat on me with?”
I pushed off the table, reeling in my temper. It was only a matter of time before she asked that question. And still, after all these years, I didn’t know how to answer.
“You want me to just forgive and forget, and the truth is, I have forgiven you, but that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten. I don’t trust you not to hurt me again. You’re Jax Colton, women throw themselves at you. You’re at away games every month, and there’s temptation all around you.”
“I don’t want anyone but you. I never have, and I never will.”
“Yeah, now. That will change once you have me. It didn’t stop you then, so why would it stop you now?”
I inhaled a deep breath, feeling the weight of her words.
The only truth I could reply was, “I’ll never hurt you again.”
Chapter Twenty-One
—Jax—
She opened her mouth to respond, but my mom interrupted. “Jaxey!” she exclaimed, making us gaze in her direction.
“It’s been too long!” she greeted, drawing me into a tight hug. “I’ve missed my boy so much!”
I hugged her back. “Hi, Mom.”
“Look at you.” She pulled away, grabbing onto my arms. “I swear the older you get, the more handsome you become. Look at my boy, he’s so big and strong.”
I smiled, trying to focus on the fact that my parents were here and not the conversation I was just having with Sophie. It tore at my insides, this feeling of regret. There was so much I wanted to say, so much I needed to tell her, yet I didn’t know where to begin.
My mom spun, gazing over at Sophie who was standing by the table, waiting for I didn’t know what.
“Sophie!” she announced with a huge smile on her face. “Oh my God! I haven’t seen you since your mom stopped working for me. When was that? Like nine, ten years ago?”
“Something like that.”
“You look gorgeous. You were always a beautiful girl, but now you’re simply stunning.”
“Thank you.” She smiled. “You look great as well.”
Mom walked toward her. “I can’t tell you how excited I am to meet my grandson. Thank you so much for allowing us to come over today to spend some time with him.”
“Of course.”
Surprising us both, Mom embraced her. At first, Sophie stiffened, staring at me with wide eyes and not knowing what to make of it.
My mother wasn’t a bad woman by any means, she was just selfish. At the end of the day, she was still the woman who’d given me life, and I loved her. She wasn’t as strong as she portrayed. My father was the love of her life, and she’d lost herself in him. I couldn’t imagine what she’d do if she didn’t have him.
