Southern Storms (Compass 1)

“Knowing the women in this town, I wouldn’t put it past them.”

“Well, as long as I don’t own a scale and I have a pair of yoga pants that fit, I’m A-OK with packing on the weight,” I joked as I leaned forward and stole a piece of Jax’s banana loaf. “Now, where’s this cat?”

“Probably sleeping or pissing on someone’s foot,” Jax said, glancing around. “I kid you not, three years ago that little fucker walked up to me as I was getting my coffee and peed on my shoe—like a psychopath.”

I tried my best to hold in my chuckle, but I couldn’t help it. The idea of a cat pissing on Jax killed me. “What did you do to him to make him mad?”

He sat back, baffled by my question. “What did I do? Are you joking? I was just getting coffee!”

“Maybe he was upset that you were in his territory. You know, only one asshole per coffee shop and all.”

“He’s like that to everyone.” Jax shrugged. “He’s Mr. Personality around these parts.”

I smirked at the nickname. He didn’t have a clue that that was what I’d been calling him for a solid week when I arrived in town. I’d keep that secret close to my chest.

Just then, a big, plump white cat came out from around back and yawned as he stretched his legs.

“Oh. My. Gosh!” I squealed, leaping up from my seat. He was the cutest thing I’d ever seen in my whole life. “Hi there, friend.” I beamed as I approached him.

“Uh, I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Jax said, backing his chair farther away from the approaching feline.

I grinned his way. “Come on, don’t tell me you’re afraid of a little pussy cat.”

“Trust me, I’m not afraid of pussy,” he said, and his suggestive words sent a pool of heat to my core. “But I am terrified of that beast.”

I rolled my eyes and sat down on the coffee shop floor in front of Marshmallow. I held my arms out in front of me. “Come get some loving,” I ordered.

“Sun, wait—” Before Jax could finish his sentence, Marshmallow was in my lap, purring away. He rolled over for belly rubs, and it looked to me as if he was having the time of his life. “Holy crap,” Jax muttered. “He likes you.”

“I’m a likable person.”

He smiled but didn’t say anything else. He sat back in amusement as Marshmallow and me became the best of friends.

“Maybe I read that guy wrong,” he commented, standing up and walking in our direction. As he grew closer, Marshmallow hissed and hurried away. “Fuck you too, Marsh,” Jax replied, flipping him off.

I laughed and picked myself up off the ground. “Some people and cats just don’t connect I guess.”

“It’s not shocking that he liked you. You are hard not to like,” Jax said, sipping at his drink. I sat back in my chair and stared at him, and while I stared at him, everyone—and I mean everyone—was staring at us.

“Is it just me, or are we being watched?” I asked, biting my bottom lip.

“Yeah. This town has a way of being pretty invasive in other people’s lives. Normally, I just do this,” he said as he held up both his middle fingers. A few customers gasped at his gesture, calling him a jerk.

I laughed. “First the cat and now the people.”

“I’m an equal opportunist with my hatred. I hate everything and everyone with the same amount of annoyance.”

“Even me?” I joked.

His eyes grew somber for a split second, and the small smile on his lips began to fade. “I could never hate you, Kennedy. Trust me, a long time ago, I tried.”

His words rocked me sideways as I narrowed my eyes. “Wait, what? Why would you try to hate me?”

He shook his head and cleared his throat. “Doesn’t matter, it was a long time ago.”

I reached across the table and placed my hand on his. “No, Jax. It does matter—to me at least. Why would you try to hate me?”

Before he could reply, a voice cut us off. “Seriously, Jax?”

I looked up to see a beautiful woman standing in front of us. She had wavy brown locks of hair and deep brown eyes that matched. She was wearing nursing scrubs, and the sadness in her features pained me, even though I didn’t know who she was.

“Amanda,” Jax said, his voice stern.

She didn’t say anything, but her eyes fell to my hand resting on Jax’s and then she looked back at him.

He reluctantly pulled his hand away from mine. “Listen, Amanda—”

Slap.

It took me aback watching her hand make contact with his cheek. Jax was also stunned based on the way he shook his head in shock.

“Screw you, Jax,” she said as her eyes filled with emotions. “You told me you weren’t seeing anyone.”