Page 43 of Fighting Temptation (Men of Honor 1)
Kayla chuckles, “Sorry, I couldn’t resist. I wanted to make sure he knew you weren’t just kickin’ around waiting for his sorry ass. Believe me I regretted it when he came storming over later like the Incredible Hulk.” We both burst out laughing.
My smile fades and I take a deep breath, “I don’t know Kayla. We haven’t had a chance to talk about it too much. He says he’s going to make things right but he also said he doesn’t regret sending me away. A part of me wants to forgive him, it feels so good to be around him again but that’s what’s scaring me the most. He still affects me so strongly. I’ve worked really hard trying to get over him and all of it just crumbled the moment I laid eyes on him again. What if I forgive him and he leaves again?”
“Well I guess that’s what you need to find out. I don’t know what the right thing is to tell you Jules. I do believe that in his fucked-up head he thinks he did the right thing and believes he was protecting you. See what he says about what his plans are for the future. If it’s something that includes you then maybe make him work at your friendship, don’t let him off the hook too easily.”
We get interrupted when Kayla’s cell starts ringing. I hold my breath praying it’s news about Jaxson.
“Hello. What? I’m supposed to have today off, can’t someone else take them?” Kayla asks with frustration.
Darn! What’s taking Cooper and Jaxson so long?
“Fine, I’m on my way,” Kayla hangs up then looks at me, “I’m sorry Jules I gotta go, someone called in sick and I need to take her appointments. It’s only for a few hours.”
“It’s ok, thanks for staying as long as you did. Come on, I’ll drive you over.”
“Are you sure? I can ask Coop to come get me?”
“No it’s fine. I want the fresh air.”
After I drop Kayla off I decide to go visit my mom for a while. I sit and talk to her about Jaxson being back and ask her for guidance.
Afterwards I find myself pulling up to the beach. Getting out, I walk to the one place I haven’t stepped foot in since Germany: our spot. I came here often over the years, especially when I was missing Jaxson. After Germany I tried to rid myself of any reminders of him, it was too painful.
I sit down and lean back against the log and take a deep breath of the ocean filled air. The crash of the waves soothe me and I close my eyes while I try to clear my head. The next thing I know I’m being startled awake.
“Where the fuck have you been!?”
My eyes shoot open and I sit up in a panic. Jaxson is standing over me with an expression that looks like he’s ready to commit murder. I put my hand over my pounding heart, “Jesus, you scared me to death.”
The sun has started to set and I realize it’s visibly cooler out. How long have I been here?
“I scared you!?” he asks in outrage, “Do you have any idea how long I have been looking for you?”
I shake my head, a little scared to ask.
“Almost 2 fucking hours Julia! I checked here before and never saw you.”
“I visited my mom for a bit then I came here. Geez! Calm down Jaxson.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? I find you sleeping on the beach and you tell me to calm down. What the hell is the matter with you?”
That’s it! I stand up and grab my shoes. “Screw you Jaxson! I don’t need to listen to this shit!” I start stomping away.
He lets out a frustrated breath, “Shit! Julia wait!” I ignore him and keep walking. He shoots his hand out and grabs my arm, stopping me. “I’m sorry alright. You scared the hell out of me when I couldn’t find you. All this shit with Wyatt has me going crazy. I thought something happened to you.”
I soften a bit when I realize how scared he is, “Why didn’t you just call me? My number is still the same, although, I imagine you forgot after all this time,” I couldn’t resist adding in that last part.
He looks at me like I’ve lost my mind, “Julia! I called it about 100 fucking times.”
“What?” I look into my purse and grab my phone to see 27 missed calls and 18 voice mails, all from Jaxson. There’s also a text from Kayla that says: Hulk Alert! Jaxson’s going crazy looking for you. I turn my phone to the side and see it’s on silent. Oops… I clear my throat nervously, “Sorry, I guess my phone is on silent.”
He lets out a frustrated breath, “Jesus!”
I try breaking the tension by changing the subject, “So, how did it go at the station with Cooper?”
Jaxson is staring at me with a mixture of outrage and disbelief. He shakes his head, “Damn it woman!” he lets out an exasperated breath and pulls me against him, wrapping me in his arms. His heart pounds against my cheek, showing me just how scared he was. “You shouldn’t have fallen asleep on the beach Julia, it’s dangerous. Promise me you won’t do that again.”
“I know, I didn’t mean too. I’m sorry I scared you,” I step back and look at him, “So… how did it go?”
He nods his head over to our spot and we go sit by each other. It feels almost like it used to and it makes me panic a bit so I move a little away from him. He notices but doesn’t say anything.
“Well, you were right. Wyatt dropped the charges when Cooper told him you were going to press them if he didn’t.”
I let out a relieved breath, “Good!”
Jaxson gets annoyed, “I still don’t agree with it Julia, that fucker should have some consequence for what he did to you.”
“I think you smashing his face in was repercussion enough.”
