Before You (Before You #1)(77)
“I’m not worried about that, but we’re finally together and—” Jax exhaled loudly. “I don’t want you to get back together with Cam.”
Bre stared at him in complete disbelief. “I’m not going to do that. Don’t you trust me?”
“For the most part, but you have to admit that every time we get close, you run back to him. I’m not going to stand by passively if he steals you from me again.”
“What?” Bre said, releasing a confused laugh. She had pushed Jax away a few times, but she wouldn’t do that again. He should understand that, but then she replayed his words in her head and her confusion morphed into anger. “I’m not a toy that you and Cam are fighting over on the playground. I’m a real person. I decide what I do and who I’m with. Cam can’t steal me.”
“I don’t think you’re a toy. I’m trying to explain how I feel about you, about us.”
Bre locked eyes with Jax. “Okay. Point taken, but you’re not coming with me to Cam’s house. You have to trust that I want to be with you and that should be enough.”
The waitress cleared her throat. “Here’s your food,” she said, sliding two plates with giant hamburgers in front of them. “Can I get you anything else?”
“We’re good,” Jax said.
Bre took a bite of her hamburger, hoping to end the conversation. “Mm…” she said after she swallowed, “You were right. This is really good.”
Jax smiled at her. “I know. Does it measure up to the competition?”
“It’s close, but I still think my place is better.”
“We’ll see.”
The two ate the remainder of their meal in silence. When they got back into Jax’s car, he hesitated for a moment, tapping his fingers on his leather steering wheel. “Bre, I trust you. I don’t trust Cam, and I know in spite of everything Cam said and what happened between us, he still wants you back. He’s going to fight for you, and I’m not going to walk away if that happens. That’s not true. I won’t give you up unless you want me to, and even then I’ll do everything, short of stalking, to get you to change your mind.”
“Okay,” Bre said, smiling softly. She didn’t want him to walk away. Everyone walked away from her, even Cam. He left her to follow his dream, and he didn’t ask her to come with him. He thought he could put their relationship on hold indefinitely while he hooked up with other women behind her back.
Jax pulled her next to him, wrapping his arm around her and tangling his hands in her long hair. They both were quiet for a few moments. “I love you, Bre. You might think it’s too soon to say that, but I want you to be clear about the way I feel so you have no doubts when you talk to Cam.”
Bre ran her fingers over Jax’s stubbled jaw line, then leaned her face away from him so she could see his eyes. “I love you, too.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Around five o’clock that night, Bre knocked on the door to Cam’s apartment, shoving her hands in her pocket when she noticed that they trembled. It had been a long afternoon after she texted Cam, asking if she could stop by to talk and grab her wallet. She wished she was back at Jax’s place. She’d had enough drama for one weekend, but she knew it wasn’t over yet. She still had to face Cam.
Cam answered the door and smiled faintly. “Come in.”
Bre hesitantly stepped into his apartment, taking in the usual clutter and stopped suddenly. “What’s she doing here?” Bre asked.
“Why don’t you sit down and we can talk? Katie has a few things she wants to share with you.”
“I don’t want to talk to her,” Bre said, avoiding looking at Katie’s face. She knew Katie wanted to discuss Jax, and she didn’t want to hear anything about Jax and Katie together. Katie wanted Jax. That was obvious, and she didn’t have any illusions that Katie was going to be friendly or accepting of her relationship with Jax. “I’m here to pick up my wallet and to talk to you. Not to be part of some weird confrontation.”
Cam placed his hand on the back of Bre’s neck, and she bristled at his proprietary touch. Funny how a couple days ago she would have been comforted by it, but now it felt suffocating.
“She’s part of this too, Bre. She’s doesn’t want to hurt you or yell at you. I asked her to be here so she could explain a few things to you.” Cam sighed. “I didn’t think you’d believe me, but you might believe her. I think you’re entitled to the truth, and that’s the only reason she’s here. I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable.”
Bre shrugged his hand off her neck and started walking backwards toward the door. “I don’t think I’m interested in what she has to say. If she has unfinished business with Jax, she should discuss it with him, not me.” Bre held out her hand. “Give me my wallet. I’ll call you in a couple days to talk.”
Katie stood up from the sofa, pushing her long blonde hair behind her ear. “Did Jax tell you we’re engaged?”
Bre’s hand dropped limply to her side, barely hearing anything because of the blood rushing through her ears. “Excuse me,” she said, trying to ignore the sudden dryness in her throat.
Katie smiled condescendingly. “Of course you didn’t know. Jax fought it for awhile and walked away from his family—everything—but now everything has been settled.”