Page 5 of Finding Our Tomorrow
“Come in,” he calls out. My hand grasps the knob to open the door when he pulls the door at the same time. My body stumbles forward, and just before I think I’m going to faceplant, Jax catches me in his strong arms.
“Jesus, you okay?” He chuckles, the sound reverberating through my body and going straight to the apex of my thighs.
“Yeah.” I laugh softly. “I didn’t realize you were opening the door.”
“Everything okay?” He looks me up and down.
“Yeah, I was just wondering if you would mind if I used your washer and dryer to do a load. I’ll have it done before we leave in the morning.”
Jax’s jaw ticks and I worry I’ve overstepped. He’s already been kind enough to offer me a bed and a shower. “You know what… never mind…” I turn to leave when he grabs my wrist, twirling me back around.
“Are you homeless?” he asks, even though he already knows the answer.
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“For about a year now.”
“Fuck,” he curses under his breath. “Why haven’t you said anything?”
“You’re my employer. It’s not your problem.”
“I’m also your friend.” His eyes bore into mine.
“Not really,” I say honestly. I’ve never been one to beat around the bush. “I mean you’re nice and I love working for you, but we aren’t friends.”
When his brows furrow, I add, “Where did I live before I became homeless?” When he doesn’t answer, I continue. “What’s my favorite color? My favorite food? Where am I from? What’s my ex-boyfriend’s name?”
Jax’s shoulders slump, and I give him a reassuring smile. “I’m not saying all that to blame you. I’m just explaining that we aren’t friends. I used to have friends… when I lived in Michigan, where I was born and raised. Then I met Henry, and after dating for a few months, he got a promotion and was transferred toNew York, so I moved with him. The friends I made here were all his, and when we broke up, they remained his.”
“Why didn’t you move back home?”
“Both of my parents died from cancer. My mom from breast cancer, and a few years later, my dad from colon cancer.”
“What about all those people at the club?”
“Those aren’t friends. They’re acquaintances. I don’t do friends, Jax.” Stepping out of his grip, I head back down the hallway to grab my dirty clothes. “Is the washer upstairs?”
“Down,” he says. I jump when his voice comes out right behind me.
“You can go to sleep.”
“Thanks for letting me know,” he replies dryly, following me down the stairs.
After I throw my clothes in, along with some detergent, I close the lid, then go straight to the kitchen to get a glass of water. When I can’t find the cups, Jax opens the correct cabinet and hands me a glass.
“Thanks.”
“Why are you homeless?” he asks, settling his back against the edge of the counter.
Not wanting his pity, I consider lying to him, but something tells me he’s not going to stop until he gets the truth out of me. He already stalked my ass ‘home.’
“Long story short, a year ago, the gynecologist found cancer cells in my uterus. I could’ve gone through chemo and all that, but instead I chose to get a hysterectomy. Henry didn’t agree with it because it meant we could never have kids. When I told him kids were no longer in my plan, and neither was marriage, he dumped me. Since the apartment was his, I had to leave.”
Jax’s eyes go wide, and his arms which are crossed over his chest, flex. “When you said you needed a couple weeks off to go on vacation you were having fucking major surgery?”
I nod.
