Page 12 of Love is a Drum Beat
For Dax, the only people in his corner were his mom and stepdad. People who had to love him.
Maybe he deserved Jo’s pity.
She pursed her lips as she studied him. What did she see?
“Noah sent me.” The blurted words were only partially true. He’d have come to check on her whether Noah was worried or not, but Noah was his shield, protecting Jo from the knowledge he wanted to be there for her.
Jo lifted one dark brow. “Well, we all do whatever Noah wants, right? You can go report that I’m doing well, thank you. I don’t need him sticking his nose into my business when he isn’t even here.”
“You’re not doing well.” He pulled at the back of his neck. “Jo… I found you on the floor.”
“I was napping.” She shrugged. “You know… yoga napping. It’s all the rage right now. You do awkward poses on the ground and see which one lets you sleep. Then, you wake up feeling sore, and it clears your mind of all your other troubles because you’re in so much pain.”
Dax didn’t know what to say to that. Was she joking or lying? Yoga napping, was that a thing? He was out of touch with pretty much every other famous person. He loved yoga, but good, old-fashioned yoga with no naps.
A laugh burst out of Jo. “Dude! Did you actually believe me? You’re kind of hopeless. And yes, I appreciate you showing up like a weird stalker and helping me up off the floor.”
“Why wasn’t your door locked?” He cringed as he realized how like his stepdad he sounded.
“It’s fine,Dad.” She shook her head. “This building is secure. Though, they let you up, so I’ll have to chat with security. You sort of scream stalker.”
His brow furrowed as he looked down at his clothing and ran a hand through his dark hair. “Really?”
“Gah, you’re too easy. I can’t even take pleasure in razzing you. It’s like taking candy from Noah.”
“Isn’t it supposed to be taking candy from a baby?”
“Yes.” She crossed her arms. “But Noah is an easier target, and he usually has more candy. I would kill for some Milk Duds right about now.”
“Do you… should I go get you some?” He’d do anything in that moment to make the awkwardness stop. It was entirely his fault. Jo didn’t care enough to be awkward around anyone.
“Dax.” She laughed. “That wasn’t me asking you to go to the store. I have food here. I do understand why people want to get married before the baby though.”
“Because they’re in love?”
She scoffed at that. “No. Cravings, Dax. Cravings. If you’re married, you have someone to order around when you’re pregnant.”
“I don’t think that’s how marriage works.” He’d seen it with his parents. They respected and loved each other. Sure, they both took care of the other, but they never demanded anything. He always hoped someday, he’d find a relationship like theirs.
“Well, it should. Last night, I wanted a cheeseburger, so I had to order it to be delivered. They took almost an hour, and it was cold by the time it got to me. If I had a husband, I’d have warm cheeseburgers.” Her eyes glassed over, and she covered them with her hand. “Oh my gosh, don’t look at me. I can’t control it. Jo Jackson doesn’t cry. Ugh! You need to go.”
He couldn’t leave her like this, not even when she wanted him to. Gathering the bit of courage he rarely found around Jo, he sat on the arm of the couch. “I don’t think I will.”
“We aren’t friends, Dax.”
Her words pained him, even if he knew they were true. Jo was the enigma of the group, the girl no one other than Noah quite knew. “You’re allowed to cry, Jo. I’m sure you were very disappointed in the cheeseburger.”
She chucked a pillow at him. “I’m not crying about a stupid cheeseburger, weirdo.”
“But you…” He didn’t understand women at all.
“The cheeseburger was a metaphor.”
“So, you didn’t have one?” He didn’t get it.
“No, I did. You know what? Never mind. Seriously, Dax. You should go.”
He couldn’t get the image of her on the video chat out of his mind. She looked slightly better now, but something must have happened before the call.
