Page 69 of Jax

Six months to the day after spending my first night in jail, I clutch a plastic bag in my hand and walk out between two high metal fences rimmed with barbwire. I don’t see any of that though. Through this tunnel of metal, I see what I’ve always seen in my head for the last six months: Jax waiting for me.

It’s serendipitous that it’s a beautifully hot morning, and he’s lit up by the sun behind him just like I imagined.

For a moment when I get closer, I have to catch my breath because he’s all I’ve been wanting day in and day out while I spent my time there. The gate swings open in front of me, and there he is, my towering, tattooed, muscled savior.

“Sadie,” he says, voice earnest and even.

My feet move on their own accord. I pump my hands until I’m throwing myself in his arms. He hefts me up, and I wrap my legs around his torso all while nuzzling his neck. “You smell so good.”

“Mmm,” he moans. “You feel so good.”

We stay that way forever, until beads of sweat drip down my back from the sun beating down on it, and a long time after the gate beeps and closes again, signaling that I’m free. Maybe for the first time in my life, I’m free.

“Well?” I ask.

“Hmm?”

“Weren’t you going to punish me?”

Tucked into him, I feel the ease of his muscles. “I did say that, didn’t I? I should pinch you for putting me on the no visitation list.”

“I wantedthismoment,” I tell him, hugging him close. “I didn’t want you to see me like that. In there.”

He half growls, the sound emanating deep from within his chest so that I can feel it rumble through my very bones. I knew he was going to be mad when I did it, and trust me, he said so in every damn letter he sent me—nearly almost 180 of them—and every time we spoke on the phone, too.

“I wanted this,” I say again, kissing his neck.

He pulls away to stare into my soul. His and mine are the same now. At least, I feel like they are. I’m a better person than I was a year ago. Hell, I’m a better person than I was six months ago.

“Alright, are we going to get a chance to see her or what?” Finn calls out.

I tighten my hold on him, and Jax follows my lead. “Sorry. They insisted,” he whispers. Jax places me on my feet, and I glance over at the car. Finn and Leenie lean against it. I stare at my—for all practical purposes—little brother. He and I reforged our relationship through letters. We talked about the hard stuff. Betrayal. Loss. Mistrust.

Today, walking toward him now, I can say that our relationship is stronger than it’s ever been. “Finny,” I say, smiling.

He laughs. “Don’t give me that shit, sis.”

He moves forward, picking me up in the air, and spins me around. When he sets me on my feet, he crushes me to him, and I return his hug with the same ferocity. He’s the best damn little brother I always wanted.

“Alright, alright,” Leenie protests. “Get off my man.”

I push Finny off and turn toward Leenie. If it weren’t for her support from nearly moment one, I’m not sure I would’ve even made it to this moment. I’ve told her time and time again, but she’s too damn special to even allow me those words of heartfelt gratitude.

“Hey girl,” I say.

She holds her arms open, and I stride right into them. We grip each other like the best friend I never had and didn’t know I needed. There’s nothing like having a girl in your corner. I know that now, and I’ll be damned if I ever give that up now.

When I step back, Jax wraps his arms around me from behind. “You ready to—”

“Wait,” Leenie says, lifting her hand. She shakes her head and blows out a breath like she has terrible news. “You’re going to be pissed but Cole paid off your restitution bill.”

My mouth drops. “Leenie, what?”

“She made him do it,” Finn says, crossing his arms and grinning.

“But I had it all worked out with Jax. I was going to work it off at the gym.”

Leenie gives Finn a scathing look. “I merely suggested that it might help us out if he paid it off. For me,” she says, eyeing Jax. “You guys owe him nothing.”

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