Chapter 19
"I'm leaving for a few days." I pat him on the ass to wake him but he doesn't budge. "Hey jerk, I'm out of here."
He moans quietly before he turns over.
"I'm leaving." The words are more firm now, their intention unmistakable. "Last night was unacceptable. I'm not staying here."
I turn to leave and I feel his hand on my elbow. "Ivy. No."
I ignore him and continue to walk towards the door. He jumps from the bed, teetering unsteadily on his feet as he jumps in my way.
I cringe when I look at him. His brown hair is a disheveled mess. His brown eyes are sunken in and empty.
"Get out of the way." I'm late for work. I need to leave before I say something that we'll both remember for far too long.
"I'm pretty sure I f*cked up last night." He runs his hand across his face. "What did I say?"
"I don't have time for this." The truth was I didn't have the time or the patience to deal with him right now.
"What did I say? What did I do?" he asks the questions so fast that they barrel over one another.
"You need a shower." I can't respond to him. I can't tell him that he brought up the suggestion of f*cking someone else. If I do it's going to unleash a surge of emotions that I'm not sure I can tame.
"Tell me." He grabs my arm and I pull it back so harshly that I almost lose my footing.
I stare at him, anger coursing through every cell in my body. "You were out until two and when you did finally drag your drunk ass home you were clear that if I didn't f*ck you, you had someone ready, willing and able to spread her legs for her so why don't you take her up on that offer today."
His mouth falls open.
"And at least have the decency to change the sheets when you're done." I push past him and stop at the bedroom door. I know I shouldn't do it but I want to sting him as much as he's done to me.
"Jax." I call to him but he doesn't turn around. "Hey, Jax," I raise my voice so it's skirting the edge of a scream.
He turns slowly, his naked body on full display.
"Mark had a daughter so you're shit out of luck with that too." I don't look back as I turn on my heel and walk away.
***
"I didn't think you had it in you." Nathan rolls his head back in laughter when I tell him what happened between Jax and me.
"I was just so pissed." I take a small bite of the garden salad I ordered. "I don't know how to talk to him anymore. He's become this different person."
"How old is he?" He bites into his cheeseburger as he cocks a brow waiting for me to answer.
"He's twenty-seven." I shrug my shoulders. I want to say that Jax is twenty-seven going on twelve but I know that's petty and unnecessary.
"He's in a weird place right now."
"No kidding." I take another piece of tomato in my mouth and chew it slowly. "He's in the same place he's always been in."
He looks over the rim of the water glass he's sipping from. "Most of us are pretty settled by the time we're twenty-seven. We have a clear path. We know what we're after. That's not the case with Jax."
I shake my head in disagreement. "He knows exactly what he wants. He's back to wanting that company his father owned and he can't control that. I thought he grew up the last few months. I was wrong. "
"I don't think so." Nathan motions for the waiter. "I think he's chasing after that because he still feels obligated. I don't think it's coming out of a place that's based in need."
I furrow my brow. "I don't get it. You're saying that Jax is only after the company because he feels he should do that but internally he actually wants something else?"
"That's it. You've hit the nail on the head." He orders a glass of bourbon. "Do you want anything, Ivy?"
I shake my head. "I'm still not sure." I need to change the subject. Talking about Jax's immaturity is making me wish I didn't have to talk to him later today. "What else do you know about Bailey's mom?"
"Ah, Bailey." A wide smile covers his full lips. "Her mom is a woman Mark met in Tulsa when he was there on business. It took her months to track him down and when she did, Mark flew out to meet his daughter."
The idea of Mark spending any time with his little girl brings me a small amount of comfort. "How long did he know about her before he…"
"Not more than three months." Nathan rolls his finger along the edge of his glass. "He was set to take off the next day to spend a week with them when the accident happened."
"That's sad." The words sound hollow and empty compared to the tragedy of the situation. Mark didn't really have a chance to be a dad, but maybe his estate could provide a better life for his daughter.
"Garrett needs to see you in the next few days." He reaches into his wallet to pull out a credit card. "We can get things moving right away so a trust can be set up in Bailey's name."
I nod in agreement. That's exactly what I want. I want Mark's estate to go to his daughter and I want him to be a distant memory as soon as possible.