Page 122 of The Last Second Chance
Joey gave an exaggerated roll of her eyes. “Jax, you would be her hero. A fancy dress, a weekend away. Famous people.”
“It would definitely shut up Frieda Blevins about her niece’s selfie,” Jax mused.
“Or you could do everyone a favor and take Frieda so she has something else to talk about besides duck face.”
“I like that you look out for my mom,” Jax said, trapping her feet between his under the table. “She told me what you did while everyone was at my dad’s funeral.”
Joey became very interested in her burger and didn’t respond.
“You’ve always been there for my family, even when I wasn’t.”
Joey swallowed hard. “Don’t be an idiot. You were there when they needed you and you’re there now. I mean notnownow because obviously we’re in L.A. So if something horrible happens while we’re gone it’s totally your fault for not being there. But other than right now.”
“God you’re cute when you drink.”
“You’re cute like all the time,” Joey said through another bite of burger. “I really love you.”
His heart stuttered in his chest. Someday he hoped to have the words to tell Joey just what it meant to him to hear her say it.
“You realize you’ve only said those words when I’m inside you or you’re drunk, right?”
Joey shrugged. “Eh, baby steps. I’m going to read your screenplay, by the way.”
27
It wasgood to be home. Especially when home came with a woman who officially loved him, an adoring dog, and a brewery that—mercifully—hadn’t burned down while they were gone. The closing on his L.A. house had gone without a hitch and Joey had agreed to wait for a fresh draft of the script to read, buying him a little extra time.
In the meantime, Joey and the girls had enjoyed following the mentions of Joey’s dress on social media after the event. And Brigid was feeling the aftereffects of the free viral advertising with publicists literally knocking on her door.
Life was looking good enough to Jax that he paid a visit to Wilson Abramovich, Blue Moon’s jeweler and the only discrete member of the Beautification Committee. After swearing the man to secrecy and squirreling away the velvet jewelry box in his dresser at Carter’s, Jax turned his attention to finding the right moment to start pressing Joey on the future he’d waited his whole life for.
Jax spent every night with Joey and she quietly made space for him in drawers, in the closet, and shelves in the bathroom. He found he could write better in her house, tucked away in the spare room, than anywhere else. For Valentine’s Day, he’d kept it low-key and bought her every movie he’d ever written. She made him his favorite dinner for Valentine’s Day, pot roast and mashed potatoes, and together they watched movies into the late night.
In this exact moment, life was perfect.
Even when they were arguing, as they were now over pasture groups, it felt good. It felt right. It felt like home.
“You can’t put Cyrano out there with Tucker and Romeo. It’s a meltdown waiting to happen,” Joey said, moving away from Cyrano and poking Jax in the shoulder.
Jax took advantage of her proximity and dipped his fingers into the neck of her thermal shirt and tugged her into him.
“I’m not making out with you, Ace. I’m arguing with you.”
Jax was undeterred. He boxed her in against Lolly’s stall and let his mouth take what it wanted. She pretended to put up a fuss, but in seconds Joey was opening for him, surrendering. It got him straight in the chest every time she gave up her desire for control and gave in to her desire for him.
He wouldn’t do her wrong this time. He promised himself he’d spend the rest of his life making all her dreams come true.
She threaded her fingers through his hair, swiping the gray wool cap off his head.
“Get your hands off her!”
Jax turned, putting himself between Joey and the threat. Forrest Greer, larger than life, stormed down the stable aisle toward them, a freight train without brakes.
“Uh, hi, Dad.” Joey said, guiltily jumping away from Jax. “I thought you weren’t coming until next weekend.”
Jax hauled Joey back into his side.
Joey’s mother, April, hurried in behind her husband.
