Page 79 of Switch

I rub my face, groaning. “Brooke—”

“I’m just worried about you, Bella,” she says gently. “Last night… you looked like you were having fun. But then thatcowboy tried to pull you close, and I saw it—the way you shut down.”

I swallow hard, staring at the ceiling.

“I didn’t shut down.”

Brooke gives me a knowing look. “It wasn’t him.”

I close my eyes. “No. It wasn’t.”

The bed is quiet for a moment, the weight of her concern filling the space between us. Then, she sighs.

“I know you love him.”

I blink up at her.

She smiles, but it’s sad. “You don’t have to say it. I just know.”

My throat tightens.

Brooke tilts her head. “So, what happened?”

I hesitate, then sit up, wrapping my arms around my knees. “I don’t know. Or maybe I do, but I don’t want to admit it.” I take a breath. “He keeps me at a distance. Says it’s club business and acts like that’s supposed to be a good enough excuse. And I tried to be okay with it, but…” I shake my head. “It feels like he wants me but doesn’t trust me. Like I’m something fragile he’s afraid to break, so instead, he just pushes me away.”

Brooke listens, her gaze soft. “That sounds exhausting.”

I let out a dry laugh. “It is.”

She shifts closer, resting a hand on my arm. “I don’t think Jax is trying to hurt you. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t hurting you.”

I look down at my hands. “I don’t know what to do.”

Brooke’s fingers tighten around mine. “I think… you don’t have to do anything.”

I frown. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, you’ve done your part, Bella. You’ve been patient. You’ve been understanding. But if he can’t figure out how to meet you halfway, that’s his problem to fix.” She gives my hand a squeeze. “You don’t have to prove you’re strong enough for him. He has to prove he’s strong enough to let you in.”

I exhale slowly, Brooke’s words settling deep.

For the first time, I wonder if I’ve been thinking about this all wrong. Maybe it’s not about whether I can handle Jax’s world.

Maybe it’s about whether Jax is willing to let me be a part of it.

Brooke nudges me. “Come on, let’s get coffee.”

I nod, but as I slip out of bed, I already know the truth.

I miss him.

And no matter how much distance I put between us, I can’t change that.

I wake up to the smell of coffee and the distant sound of the TV playing in the living room. My head feels heavy, my body sluggish from too little sleep and too many thoughts.

Jax still hasn’t called.

The realization hits like a punch to the chest, even though I should’ve expected it.

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