“That’s just how I am, baby.”
She laughs and takes another drink of coffee. “Why did you leave?”
“It’s a long story,” I say softly. “And you’re already running late.”
“I am? Shit. I didn’t feed the cats yet.”
“I’ll get it. I’m slowly trying to win them over anyway.”
Sierra chuckles. “I think you already are.”
“Whoever said no news is good news is a fucking cunt,” Jax huffs, pacing in front of the large window that overlooks the river. “I knew Mason was a useless twat. Fucking unreliable piece of shit.”
I sit back, waiting for Jax to end his rant. This is what he does when he’s pissed, and it’s best to stay out of his way and let the obscenities flow. Though this time, I want to join in with him.
“I said I wanted to stay out of it. Keep my hands clean.” Jax balls his fingers into fists. He whips around to face me. “Once you’re healed and your guts won’t spill out, I say we get out of here and get there first. Beat them at their own game. I can get the paperwork by then too. Show everyone what fucking loser cocksuckers they are.”
There was a time in my life, not long ago in fact, that I would have jumped at the chance to right a wrong and to bring not just one, but two, assholes to justice. I jumped because it didn’t matter where I landed or if I stuck the landing. I had nothing. No one. I lived my life for me, and it wasn’t until I met Sierra that I realized how fucking lonely I was.
“I think I’m done with that shit,” I tell him.
Jax falls silent. He blinks, slowly shaking his head. “So you’re going to stay here and fucking bartend the rest of your life?”
“Maybe. I don’t know, but I’m not leaving Sierra.”
“You’re in love with her.”
“I am,” I admit right away.
Jax looks out the window, and I expect him to let out another string of swear words. Instead he smiles. “I never thought I’d see the day when Chase fucking Henson is pussy-whipped this hard.”
“It’s good pussy.”
“Jesus fuck, man. I’m happy for you. She’s a good woman.”
“She is.” I press my hand to my stomach, putting a bit of pressure on the incision site when I sit. If I’d gone to the hospital earlier, the surgery would have been simpler with less healing time. Screw up and learn shit, right? Next time I’m sick, I’ll listen to Sierra from the start. “Are you leaving then?”
“Yeah. I’ll get ahold of Mason and start the paper trail. I’ll be out of here in a few days.”
Jax and I have parted ways many times over the years. It was never more than a ‘see ya later’ because we’d always meet up for another job in a matter of time. This time is different. I’m not going to take another job with him. I’m done with that shit, and while a big part of me is relieved, it’s affecting me more than I thought it would knowing we might never see each other again.
“You better invite me to your wedding,” Jax heckles as if he can read my fucking mind.
“You’d be the best man.”
Jax grins. “That means I can plan a bachelor party in Vegas.”
“Definitely.”
“Don’t forget you have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow,” Sierra tells me that night during dinner. I tried cooking for her for the first time, and things turned out halfway decent. Granted, it’s just spaghetti, and the meatballs were frozen and only had to be heated in the oven. But the sauce is homemade. Kind of. I used canned tomatoes instead of fresh because that’s all Sierra had.
“I remember, and I don’t need to go. I make it one more week and I’m in the clear to do whatever I want again. Besides working out.” Sierra gives me a glare. “Fine. I’ll go.”
“I have the afternoon off so I can go with you.”
“You don’t have to. It’s far and it’ll be boring.”
Sierra twirls noodles around on her fork. “I’m kind of using it as an excuse to get Panda Express. I’ve been craving it bad since I had it like daily when you were in the hospital.”
“Then I don’t feel bad dragging you along.”
“I’m going to dream about orange chicken tonight.”
“Sounds erotic.”
“Oh, it will be. If you hear me moaning in my sleep, I’m dreaming about eating. And speaking of eating, dinner is really good. Is there parsley in the sauce?”
“There might be. I added it by accident and tried to scoop it all out. You can taste it?”
Sierra shakes her head. “I can smell it. It’s good though, don’t worry.”
“I don’t even know what parsley smells like. You must have an incredibly good sense of smell.”
“I guess so. That’s such a lame superpower to have.”
“Unless you use it to find dead bodies.”
Sierra makes a face, and then considers it. “I bet I’d get my own show on the Discovery Channel.”
I laugh. “I bet you would.”
We talk the rest of dinner, and she tells me about the new books that came into the shop. My mind keeps going back to Jax and how he’s going more or less solo on a job that has a high risk. Am I a shitty friend? Going with him would make me a shitty boyfriend, that’s for sure.
Sierra and I clean the kitchen together, then go onto the screened-in porch and relax in the hammock. I’ve never been in a long-term relationship like this. I never stayed anywhere long enough to even give it a go. Sierra and I joke about being one of those couples that stop having sex, falling into the stereotype of a boring, married couple. Sierra’s insists on waiting at least until tomorrow to see what the doctor says, not wanting me to get hurt. But all it takes is one kiss to get her hot and bothered enough to throw caution to the wind.
Still, she won’t have sex with me. Instead, she pleasures herself while I watch and then she gives me a blow job. If this is what it takes to get through the next week or so of no sex, I think I’ll make it.
“Oh my God,” Sierra sighs. “This is so fucking good.”
I shake my head, smiling. “It’s all right.”
Sierra stabs a piece of orange chicken with her fork and holds it up. “It’s better than all right. I could eat this all day, every day.”
“Speaking of doing something every day…” I look across the table and wiggle my eyebrows. “The doctor did say he’s impressed with how fast I’m healing.”
“I have been horny all day,” Sierra whispers with a devilish smile. “I might just let you. But you have to lay there and let me do all the work.”
“I don’t know, Sierra, that sounds pretty terrible.”
“I know, right? How will you survive?”
“It’s going to be a torturous next week.”
“Or two.”
We finish our food and hit the road. I offer to drive home since Sierra drove me here, again with the strict following of the doctor’s orders, and am surprised when she says yes. She’s tired again and dozes off by the time we get back to her place.