Part 9 (1/2)

I turn my head and glare at him. The anger stirs inside of me. ”f.u.c.k you, Blake. Stop telling me who I am or how I feel. Why is it so hard to accept the fact that I don't want to just f.u.c.k some chick. I want Kallie,” I growl.

He laughs and throws his head back, looking up at the sky. ”Honestly, Jax, I don't even feel like I know you anymore. You've become a p.u.s.s.y, just like your brother,” he says.

I stand up so fast I kick the chair out from under me. I reach over, grab a hold of his s.h.i.+rt, and get right in his face.

”What the f.u.c.k did you just say?” I hiss.

He grabs my hands and tries to pull them off, but my fury is in complete control now. I'm breathing heavily in his face, my nose practically touching his.

”Relax, brother,” he chokes out.

I pull back just enough so he can see my face clearly. ”f.u.c.k you,” I shout.

I push him, nearly knocking him backward, and kick my chair across the patio on my way to the door. I go into my room and I punch the wall over and over until my knuckles are bleeding and sheetrock is scattered on the floor.

That was last week, and I'm still p.i.s.sed at him. We talked it out the next morning, and he apologized repeatedly. The thing that gets me, the thing that made me want to rip his heart out, is that he's right. I am turning into my brother, and that's something I promised I'd never do. Having a woman string me along, not getting involved with anyone else...that's him. I don't want to be him, not in my love life. The only way to stop it is to do something about it, so I called Kallie this morning and told her I needed to talk.

I'm sitting outside trying to figure out what I'm going to say when my phone rings. I don't know the number, but it could be a photographer, so I pick up.

”Hey, is this Jax Burke?” Yep, a photographer.

”Yes,” I say and light a cigarette leaning back in my chair.

”Hi, this is Braden Gregory, Kallie's brother,” he says.

I sit up quickly with fear in my gut. ”What's wrong? Did something happen to Kallie?” I rush out.

”No, no, nothing is wrong. Kallie is fine. I just got off the phone with her,” he rea.s.sures me.

I blow out a sigh of relief. ”Thank G.o.d. So, what's up, man?” I ask, curious as h.e.l.l as to why he's calling me.

”You really do like her, don't you?” he questions.

Holy s.h.i.+t, is this like the big brother talk or something? I'm not ready for that...not yet.

”Yeah, I really do,” I say.

I hear a little voice and I smile, knowing it's Kallie's niece. She adores her brother and his family, and hearing that little voice, I start to understand.

”I'm glad to hear that. So listen, Kallie's birthday is next week, and I want to throw her a party. My family and I are going to be leaving for a while, and I want to do something for her that will make her smile,” he says.

He's leaving? Why the h.e.l.l didn't Kallie say anything? Maybe that's why she's been so distant.

”She'd love that. So what's the plan?” I ask.

We talk for the better part of an hour about the party. He wanted to do it at her place, but I told him I would do it here. It will be more fun for everyone. We make a list of people, and we are each going to contact half. The night of the party, I'm going to work it so we do a shoot at her place. I'm going to have Shannon, her old boss, call her saying she needs a photo of me and Brinley for a book cover. Together, we'll be able to keep her busy until everything is ready here.

After Braden and I hang up, I smile. He seems like the great guy Kallie told me he was, and the way he talks about his sister is sweet. I'm actually excited for this whole thing.

”Hey, you,” Kallie says behind me.

I stand up, turn around, and see Kallie for the first time since the shoot. f.u.c.k, she looks stunning in her short shorts and white strapless top. Her hair is up in a ponytail, and d.a.m.n it, her bare skin is calling me. f.u.c.k, I need to focus.

”Hey. You look beautiful,” I say.

She shakes her head but smiles at the compliment. She sits in the chair by me, so I sit back down.

”So what's up?” she asks.

I smile at her and reach for her hand. ”I just want to make sure everything is good with us. The way things went the last time we saw each other, well, it wasn't a stellar moment. We good?” I ask.

She squeezes my hand and gets that amazing smile on her face. ”We're good,” she says.

f.u.c.k, what a relief. We sit and talk for a few minutes about the weather, of all things. I know she doesn't want to talk about what is happening with us, but s.h.i.+t, the weather?

”Besides the weather, what's been going on?” I ask.

She looks away from me and stares off into the distance. ”Braden and his family are going to North Carolina for a while,” she whispers.

There it is. I reach for her hand and just like before, she lets me take it.

”I'm sorry. Why are they going?” I question.

He told me they were, but I didn't ask why. Not my place.

”He said Sarah needs help with the kids; it's been overwhelming since Tiffany was born. I'm really going to miss them. I hate that they need to leave,” she says with so much sadness.

I blow out a breath and lean back in the chair, still holding her hand.

”Listen, sometimes things just need to happen. We might not understand them or even like them, but they are meant to happen. Maybe they'll only be gone for a short while,” I say.

She looks at me with a forced smile. ”Maybe. Can I be honest?” she asks.

s.h.i.+t, that's all I ever want from her.

”Of course.”

She looks away again, pulls her hand from mine, and crosses her arms. ”I'm p.i.s.sed at Sarah. I feel like she's taking my brother from me. I f.u.c.king hate saying it because that is so selfish, but d.a.m.n it, I can't help it,” she says.

s.h.i.+t, what the h.e.l.l do I say here? I know if I don't agree with her, she'll be p.i.s.sed at me, but I don't know the circ.u.mstances.

”You're ent.i.tled to feel that way. It's a big change,” I say, playing it safe.

She slowly turns her head to me and smiles before she starts laughing. What the h.e.l.l?

”I'm sorry, but who the f.u.c.k knew you were this sensitive guy ready to dish out advice?” she asks still laughing.

I lift one eyebrow before giving her a grin and wink. ”Kallie, you have no idea what I can dish out,” I joke, well kind of.