Page 22 of Switch

The next hour flies by as we challenge each other to increasingly difficult climbs. I’m laughing so hard at one point—when Jax nearly slips and tries to blame the “chalk situation”—that I almost lose my grip on the wall.

By the end of it, we’re both out of breath and slightly sweaty, but it’s the most fun I’ve had in ages.

“You’re not bad,” Jax says as we sit on a bench near the entrance, sipping on water.

“Not bad?” I repeat, raising an eyebrow. “I think I held my own pretty well.”

“You did,” he admits, his tone softer now. “It’s impressive.”

I glance over at him, caught off guard by the sincerity in his voice. He’s looking at me like he’s seeing something no one else has, and it makes my chest feel tight in the best way. “Hungry?” He asks.

I nod. He stands and tosses our cups in the trash, then holds his hand out. “Well, let’s go girl,” He smirks. I take his hand and he walks us back to his bike and helps me on the back. Each time I get on the back gets easier and easier.

When Jax parks the bike outside a small brick building with a neon pizza sign buzzing in the window, I glance around, taking in the warm, inviting glow from inside. It’s not a fancy restaurant, but that’s what makes it perfect.

“A pizza place?” I ask, pulling off the helmet.

“You climb like that, you’ve earned it,” he says with a smirk, dismounting the bike and holding the door open for me.

Inside, the place smells like heaven—garlic, cheese, and fresh dough. A mix of families, couples, and groups of friends fill the tables, their laughter and chatter creating a cozy hum. Jax gestures toward a booth in the corner, and I slide in, the seat worn and familiar like it’s held a thousand good conversations.

A waitress appears almost instantly, smiling as she sets menus in front of us. “What can I get you two to drink?”

“Two beers,” Jax says without hesitation, glancing at me for confirmation. I nod, and the waitress disappears.

“Beer and pizza?” I tease, leaning back against the booth. “You really know how to impress a girl.”

“It’s not about impressing you,” he replies, smirking. “It’s about making sure you’re well-fed after climbing halfway to the ceiling tonight.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “Fair enough. But I’m choosing the toppings.”

“Oh, this I gotta hear,” he says, folding his arms and leaning forward. “Let me guess—something boring like just cheese?”

“Cheese isn’t boring,” I say defensively. “But no, I like pepperoni. And mushrooms.”

“Mushrooms?” he repeats, wrinkling his nose.

“You’re a mushroom hater?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

“They don’t belong on pizza,” he declares, shaking his head. “It’s unnatural.”

The waitress returns with our beers, setting them down with a grin. “Ready to order?”

“We’ll do a large half-and-half,” I say quickly, shooting Jax a triumphant look. “Pepperoni and mushrooms on one side, and… whatever he wants on the other.”

“Pepperoni and sausage,” he says, smirking at me. “No mushrooms.”

The waitress nods and heads off, leaving us to our little standoff.

“You’re lucky I’m willing to compromise,” I say, taking a sip of my beer.

“Lucky, huh?” he says, his grin widening. “You’re not so bad yourself, you know.”

As we wait for the pizza, the conversation flows easily. Jax asks me about my sisters, and I tell him about our Saturday night bowling tradition. He listens, nodding and occasionally throwing in a sarcastic comment that makes me laugh.

“So, what’s it like being the middle sister?” he asks, resting his elbows on the table.

“Exhausting,” I say, laughing. “Brooke’s always bossing us around, and Brianna’s constantly trying to outshine everyone. I’m just here trying to keep the peace.”

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