Page 85 of Tee’d Up For Trouble

The crowd clapped.

“Well, that’s true. I fell in love with Dee but also with Ballybeg. This is not just a village; it’s a community. It’s a home. And it’s worth fighting for. So that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to fight for Ballybeg, for its history, for its people. And we’re not going to stop until we win.”

The crowd erupted into cheers, and I felt a lump rise in my throat as Jax stepped back.

The day was a blur of energy and noise after that. We marched through the streets, holding signs and chanting, while Finn trotted along beside us like the world’s grumpiest mascot. People took pictures, reporters showed up with cameras, and by the time the sun set, Ballybeg had made its mark.

Photos were posted on social media with the hashtag #SaveBallybeg. I was stunned to see that people around the world were talking about our little village.

By the end of the night, as we all gathered back at the pub for a celebratory pint, I felt something that I hadn’t felt in a long time when it came to Ballybeg. It washope.

As Jax and I lay in bed that night, my head resting on his chest and his arm around me, I felt the rightness of my life. I wasn’t a cuddler, even on my best day. I was the kiss goodnight and claim my space kind of person, but I didn’t feel that need with Jax. I loved being close to him. I loved falling asleep with his breath next to mine, his heartbeat steady under my cheek.

“How do you feel about renovating the farmhouse?” Jax asked out of nowhere as he idly made circles on my arm.

“What?”

“Darlin’, we can’t live here…not in the long term.”

I rose on my elbows to look at him. “What are you on about, Jax Caldwell?”

“I love how you say my full name when you’re annoyed.”

I rolled my eyes. “Jax,” I warned.

“Just sayin’ that if we’re living together, which we are, we need a place, and since you love your farmhouse, let’s work on it and get it fixed up.”

It was a mess and needed a whole lot of TLC.

“It’s going to be expensive and?—”

“And we have the money,” he interrupted.

I sighed. “Jax, we’re not even?—”

“We can’t keep having this same discussion, Dee,” he cut me off. “And you’re seriously pissing me off by bringing it up all the time. If you don’t want to live on the farm, that’s fine; we’ll find another place. But what’s not negotiable is us living together, and I want a big enough place so that when you get pregnant, we’ll be able to set up a nursery.”

I felt tears fill my eyes.

“Christ, what’s wrong?” Jax sat up and hauled me up with him. “Hey, look, you can keep arguing about the money thing, okay? Don’t cry.” A tear rolled down my cheek. “Fuck. No, no. There’s no crying after monkey sex.”

I sniffled. “You’re like the best thing that ever happened to me; you know that?”

“Of course I do. I’m usually the best thing that happens to all the people I meet,” he replied arrogantly.

“I’m still gonna cry,” I told him, “I’m feeling all…emotional.”

“No,” he said emphatically. “Don’t make me tickle you, Dee, ‘cause I’ll do it.”

I gaped at him, and then, when one of his hands came to my waist, I flinched and rolled away from him. “Stop it.”

“You stop crying then.”

“I can’t believe….” He had his fingers crawling around my waist, and I squealed. “Jax, cut it out.”

He didn’t listen, obviously, and soon I was laughing hard.

Right before I let sleep claim me, I told Jax, “Sure, let’s renovate the farmhouse.”

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