“About damn time you answered the door. Busy beating it off?” he grumbles. I’m already at the fridge pulling out water for both of us. He grabs his bottle, and I untwist my cap, chugging it down while he prattles on.
“You know damn well I was working out. What do I owe the pleasure of Fox Adams beating my door down?” I play dumb. He cocks his eyebrow up at me. I’m guessing there’s no getting around this conversation.
“You want to try that again? I got a girl at my house with my woman, and you know damn well Melanie is feeding her more than food. The kicker is, Sloane isn’t one to ask me for coverage. It’s usually the other way around, if I’m being honest. Which is why Cruz and I are making her a partner. She’s there more than either of us are, plus she takes care of the inventory, the books, and deals with pesky fucking surfers. You’re a fucking idiot if you let her get away.”
I take in everything he has to say, trying to bite my tongue from lashing out. Sloane is going to be a business partner at her age. It ties her to Kelson Beach or Florida, where the other shop is.
“I guess that changes things. You know she’s in college? Fucking hell, she’s at the top of her class, working her way to get her bachelor’s degree in business and finance. I was trying to let Sloane live a little before tying her to me.”
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“Who do you think is footing that bill, dumbass? Her parents are great, love her with all their being, but it’s not like they’re swimming in money. They were able to help with her books, but her scholarship only does so much. Lab fees were a killer, so The Wet Shop set up a fund for her.” I swallow a lump in my throat. This whole time, I was trying to give her the chance to spread her wings and fly. While Fox, who is practically an older brother to Sloane, was helping her pursue what she wanted all along.
“I fucked up.” I run a hand down my face.
“Yeah, you did, but you know where she is, that is if you get your shit together. I won’t let Melanie get her too shit-faced.” I watch as Fox throws his empty bottle in the recycling bin, then leaves out the back door and walks towards the beach.
I let his words replay in my head, my mind still reeling, but I know what I need to do. I’ll take a shower and then go get my girl before she’s too sloshed from Melanie’s persuasive personality when it comes to her favorite mixed drinks. My only goal is to go after the woman I know I want by my side, even if that means I’m the one who has to do the begging.
Six
Sloane
I didn’t drink the offered mixed drink from Melanie, instead, I spilled my thoughts, my fears, and asked her what she thought I should do about them. It was plain and simple—she said to go after Jax, lay it all on the line. At first, I wanted to say, “No way,” but then I sat back, watched the sun slowly set in the distance, and I knew I had to fight for what I wanted. The fact that I cut him off before he really said anything was my fault. Jax could have had something good to say, but I cut him off at the knees.
My decision only solidifies when Fox walks onto the deck, sees my knees tucked underneath me, not drinking and staring at the ocean.
“I’m going after him. I need to, don’t I?” I ask when Fox walks closer to me.
“That’ll light a fire under his ass, for sure. The back door is unlocked.” He winks, kisses my forehead, and walks inside. That’s when I know my plan is a good one. I don’t stay a second longer but place my drink on the table, promptly forget it, and make quick tracks to Jax’s place via the beach. Another plus to living in this small community is that I make it in a matter of minutes; of course, that could be because I was practically sprinting.
My feet propel me to his back deck. I’m right at his door, about to open it, when Jax appears in the doorway. I talked myself up this big game, that I’d profess everything to him, that I would fight for us even if he didn’t want to. I’ve never been more annoyed by my age like I am right now.
“Jax,” his name escapes my lips with a sigh. He’s standing in front of me in nothing but a pair of shorts, a towel in his hand, water still dripping down his body.