Wrecked (Dirty Air 3)

“Your boyfriend here wants to fundraise in a different kind of way using Maya’s vlog.” Liam shoots me a telling look.

Yeah, I get it. After all the shit I’ve given them about their girlfriends, I’ve fallen into the same trap. Pot, meet kettle.

“No way.” Elena can’t help smiling at me.

Okay, maybe this is worth all the shit my mates will give me based on her smile.

“Yes! And he chose such a wonderful charity. He wants to raise money for Alzheimer’s Disease using the ad money on my video.” Maya checks on her camera.

Elena’s eyes soften. She walks up to me and stands between my legs. “You planned this for me?”

I tug her onto my lap. “Well, I did think my reputation could use a little help.”

She raises a brow. “And you thought a makeup challenge was the right idea?”

“Someone once told me committed wankers did this kind of thing, so I thought I’d give it a try and see what the hype is all about.” Okay, that someone was me, but screw it.

“Your mom was right.” She grins.

“What do you mean?”

“She told me you were all marshmallow fluff, and I have to agree with her.”

“Marshmallow fluff? Now I’m very curious to see how Jax acts with you when no one else is around,” Liam calls out from the other side of Noah.

I flip him off. “Call me that again and I’ll ram my boot so far up your arse, you won’t walk straight for a week.”

“Fuck marshmallow fluff. Jax is more of a Vegemite kind of guy,” Noah chimes in.

“Okay, moving onto the more important part of our prog

ramming. Makeup time!” Sophie checks out the supplies on the table. She plucks a clamping tool that looks like a small torture device and waves it at Liam. “Your lashes are going to look so pretty, I’ll be jealous.”

“Jax, you owe me a weekend stay in Ibiza after this.” Liam groans.

“Deal.”

Elena kisses my cheek. “Thank you for this. It means a lot to me that you chose a charity to honor Abuela.”

Everything inside of me warms at her approval. I’m glad I decided to do something to support people like her grandma while giving Elena her very own version of something she enjoys watching every day on her phone.

“Ladies, get to your battle stations,” Maya calls out.

Elena hops off my lap. “That’s my cue.”

“Make me look the best, love. Please show these boys who’s the sexiest of them all.”

Something within me is changing, and it’s not only because of a new medication. It’s more than that. It’s because of time with Elena, sessions with Tom, and a growing feeling of hope within me.

Hope my life will turn out differently.

Hope that I might not have Huntington’s Disease.

Hope that I can end up happy with Elena, living without worry and sadness.

“Are you ready for the Prix this week?” Tom welcomes me into his office before taking a seat in the chair opposite of me.

“As ready as I can be.” I get comfortable on the couch. “So, I’ve been thinking.”