Marybell’s eyes instantly went to her plate and the shiny, studded leather wristband she wore. “You know how I am with crowds.”
She did. She knew MB only showed up at these events because she loved Dixie, but lately, there was something.... Something else. Marybell wasn’t the open book LaDawn was; they didn’t know a lot about where she came from or really anything about her. But they’d all bonded over their love of Landon, so most times, it almost didn’t matter.
Except for right now. “I’m gonna be a Nosy Nellie, because the mother in me hears a faint alarm bell ringin’. Is there something bothering you, MB? Something I can help with? Because you know, I’m always here if there’s something you need to get off your chest.”
Marybell shook her head. “Nothing more than the usual ‘I don’t belong here’ syndrome.” Then she added on a smile to her words, one that didn’t ring true to Em.
Em wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “You do so belong here. You belong here because I say you do. Got that, MB? You. Belong.”
Marybell paused for a moment, her makeup-masked face making it hard to read her emotions. “You know what, Em. If ever there was a place I thought I belonged, it’s here. I appreciate y’all. I don’t say that much, but I mean it.”
She didn’t want gratitude, she wanted MB to talk to her, let her in. But for now, or until Marybell deemed otherwise, it would have to be enough. She gave her a tight squeeze. “You just remember we appreciate you, too. Got that?”
Marybell nodded and grinned, the uncertainty in her eyes gone for the moment. “Gotten.”
*
Jax sipped at his tumbler of whiskey, looking past Caine’s shoulder to watch Em as she made her way across the room toward Marybell, concern on her face.
The swish of her ass held his focus, swaying and shifting beneath the clingy red dress, her long legs making quick work of the distance between her and her friend.
He caught Caine’s eyes following his, catching him watching Em. He put his focus back where it belonged.
Caine thumped him on the shoulder with a cackle. “You’re showing all your cards, buddy. Every last one.”
Jax eyed him, his grin sly. “Just appreciatin’ a good-looking woman, is all.”
“That thing over in the corner was intense. I’m just wonderin’ how it happened so soon. Haven’t seen you interested in anyone in a long time. Not sure if I should be glad or worried you’re jumping in with both feet after such a dry spell.”
“You sound like Tag and Gage.”
Caine swirled the amber liquid in the glass he held, his gaze as direct as he was. “Tag and Gage are smart. How’s Tag, anyway? How is he really?”
Jax flashed back to the conversation he’d had with Tag tonight and the shitty things he’d said. Fuck. He shrugged his shoulders. He didn’t understand his brother anymore—or this journey he kept saying he was on. He only knew he wanted the old Tag back. Maybe that’s where this would all lead—the road back to the old Tag. “Healing. That’s what he says anyway.”
But was he healing or merely surviving? Tag was tough as nails, but this past couple of years had been a shitpile of crap. Some of it his fault. A fault he had to live with forever. Sometimes he felt like Tag was just using all the right catch phrases, going through the motions while he tried to convince himself he was all right.
Caine’s eyes were sympathetic. Jax knew he got it. Caine got loss. “Time. I know that’s the cliché answer, but it’s the only truth.”
Time. Everyone said time would heal Tag. Ease his guilt, pacify his broken life, comfort his lost soul, but everyone wasn’t living with what he was living with. “Heals all wounds, right?” he agreed.
“Tell him we’re probably going to have some expansion work for him over at Call Girls, would you? See if he’s interested?”
Tag could use the work. Not just for the money he refused to let Jax loan him, but for the good it would do his spirit.
Tag and rebuilding something were like mac and cheese. They went together. “I’ll do that. I’m sure he’ll appreciate the consideration.”
“How are your parents? Are they still driving around in that motor home, lighthouse hunting?”
Jax smiled. In their retirement, his mom and dad had gone off to live the life of their dreams, traveling from state to state at their leisure, visiting historic lighthouses. They’d offered to come and help with Maizy when Harper died, but as far as he was concerned, they’d done their time raising three boys. They deserved their retirement.
“I get a postcard at least once a month with a picture of a lighthouse they’ve been to.” His eyes strayed again to Em as she laughed and smiled with Marybell.
Caine used two fingers and pointed at his face. “Eyes on me, pal. You have stray dog all over your face.”