Page 124 of Cadence

“Jax, this is Julian.”

Julian holds his hand out and Jax ignores him, stepping in the direction Julian indicated. With an apologetic look to my colleague, I follow.

“That was rude, Jax.” I set the paper bag on the large table and he sits on the edge, placing his feet on one of the expensive seats.

“What was?”

“I introduced you.”

“Oh. Yeah. Is thattheJulian?” He stares out of the window, arms crossed.

I sigh and sit in the chair next to the one he has his feet on. “Yes. Did you come to talk to me about your childish performance yesterday?”

“Are you going?” he asks, continuing to look at the London buildings.

“I haven’t decided.”

A muscle in his cheek twitches. “You might go to the States?”

“Yes.”

Jax looks around and he doesn’t need to say anything else. I’ve been in this situation before. Different circumstances, but the same expression. The warmth in his eyes has gone and he’s buried his emotions behind them.

“I don’t think I can do this,” he says.

I swallow the rising hurt. “This?”

“Us. You’re right, long-distance relationships won’t work. If you go, we’re over.”

The hurt is shoved aside by indignation. “If I go, this is over? You mean if I stay and do what you want, it won’t be?”

“No, I mean if you go, this is over.”

I glare at him, annoyance gathering. “Wow. I guess I mean a lot to you.”

“I’m being realistic.”

“So what was all the bullshit about loving me? Making a go of this relationship?”

“That was before you chose to move to a different country.”

“What? If we stayed together, you’d be in different countries to me some of the time!”

“I know, but I have to, you can —”

“What? Choose what to do with my life based around yours.” He doesn’t respond. “Seriously?”

“Yeah. I’ll make a lot of money soon. My girl won’t need to work.”

“Ohmigod!” I stand. “Yourgirl? If you want somebody who’s happy to do nothing apart from hang onto your arm and simper at the world dressed in expensive clothes, you’re right. This won’t work.”

“You don’t want that?”

I stare. Dumbfounded. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, Jax, but I tend to look after myself, and do what the hell I want.”

“Yeah, I like that about you.”

I rub my head at his contradiction. “Then you know if I choose to do this, I will, whether you like it or not!”

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