Good riddance. I only hope he was the only one. How did he even find me here? I’ve been really careful about staying away from public places. Maybe someone saw me in my car? Would Mrs. Bassencherry have said something? I turn around and see that we have an audience.
“I’m sorry,” I say to Jax’s family.
Landon shrugs. “‘Suppose it’s just part of being in the limelight.”
“Wow.” Kitty crosses her arms. “They’re really bold to just come here and take pictures without asking permission.”
Preston squints at the cars retreating headlights. “You should’ve punched him, Jax.”
Jax shrugs. “He was just taking some pics, no harm done.”
“Pictures of you two?” Landon asks with raised brows. “Don’t you want the world to know about you two on your own time?”
Jaxon’s eyes widen. “Oh, yeah, I suppose you’re right. It’s a good thing Malia deleted all of the pictures.”
Landon nods his head in approval.
We all go back to the barn and finish taking care of the horses, but I can tell Jax was more bothered by the whole interaction than he lets on. He’s quiet the rest of the time and seems deep in thought.
When we get back to the main house, I grab Jax’s hand, keeping him from going in the house with the others. “Hey, I’m really sorry for all of that. I know it’s strange having a complete stranger take our pictures without us knowing. It’s an invasion of privacy. I wish I could say it’ll be the last time, but the truth is, it happens.”
“You know, the picture taking doesn’t bother me none.”
“It doesn’t?”
The corner of his mouth creeps up. “I might not be a TV star, but I’ve been kind of a celebrity here in this small town since winning the state championship. I’m used to attention.” He takes my hand in his. “The fact that he came here and took pictures without our permission, and that we can’t be the ones to choose when to let people know about our relationship, that bothers me some.”
Of course that bothers him. It would bother anyone. “Especially when I’m supposed to be in rehab.”
“Maybe you should just come out and tell the truth about Trey and the fact that you’re not in some recovery program. Wouldn’t it be easier?”
“Not the aftermath. People won’t see this as something my publicist did without really consulting me. They’ll think I lied to get attention. It could potentially ruin my career. It’d definitely sabotage my chances at getting the role I’ve been working towards for months.” I wrap my arms around his waist. “Jaxon, I’m sorry. Once I get this role, it’ll get better. I’ll be able to stop with this ridiculous ruse that JulieAnn got me into.”
“But wouldn’t it be better if the truth came from you and not some tabloid putting their own spin on it? Then you could tell your story. Today was a close call. That guy almost got away with pictures of us together.”
I give him a questioning gaze, thinking about how it seems as though there is an unspoken issue going on between his brothers. Most likely, I’m at the center of that issue. “Is there any other reason that this is bothering you so much? Anything else you want to talk to me about? I noticed things were off with you and Dillon. Does that have something to do with all of this?”
He sighs. There is something else. I’m waiting and prepared to hear him out when he shakes his head a little. “No, nothing for you to worry about. I really just hope that this will all blow over soon.”
He’s holding back. I know he is. But I decide not to push, even though a part of me is hurt at his hesitance to be open with me. Instead, I think of a compromise. “I’ve decided that once I get the role, I’ll tell everyone that the reports of me being in rehab were mistaken. I just needed some time away from the limelight and the pressures that came with it.”
“Aren’t you afraid of what kind of an impact it’ll have when the truth comes out? You said people might feel lied to. What if they do?”
“I guess I just hope everyone will be forgiving and happy for me and the new role. But for now, I just have to go with it. I’ve done so much to get this gig, and I’m really close to getting the interview I need to land it.”
I can tell by the tenseness in his shoulders and the crease between his brows that he’s not convinced. I’ll just have to show him that it will all work out, and it will all work out. It has to.
The next morning, I’m sitting with my mom, hel
ping her garden. I love that Mom and Dad moved here. They said they miss the ocean, but that they want to be the kind of grandparents that sees their grand-babies everyday. And for me, it means all of my favorite people are in the same town.
I keep thinking about what an amazing day yesterday was. Jax’s surprise was the best gift he could have given me. It was so rewarding to know I helped make a small difference in those kids’ lives. And I love that Jaxon knew how much I’d enjoy it. I didn’t even know that I was missing doing charity work so much.
“You look happy,” Mom says. She gazes at me with eyes blanketed in wrinkles of wisdom.
I shrug, unable to keep a smirk from my mouth. “I am.”
She trims some browned leaves from a chili plant. “I wasn’t so sure about Jax since he broke your heart, but now that I know everything, I like him again. And that darling girl of his, Audrey.” Her eyes light up when she says Audrey’s name. “So, what are you going to do, dear?”