"And at least have the decency to change the sheets when you're done." I push past him and stop at the bedroom door. I know I shouldn't do it but I want to sting him as much as he's done to me.
"Jax." I call to him but he doesn't turn around. "Hey, Jax," I raise my voice so it's skirting the edge of a scream.
He turns slowly, his naked body on full display.
"Mark had a daughter so you're shit out of luck with that too." I don't look back as I turn on my heel and walk away.
***
"I didn't think you had it in you." Nathan rolls his head back in laughter when I tell him what happened between Jax and me.
"I was just so pissed." I take a small bite of the garden salad I ordered. "I don't know how to talk to him anymore. He's become this different person."
"How old is he?" He bites into his cheeseburger as he cocks a brow waiting for me to answer.
"He's twenty-seven." I shrug my shoulders. I want to say that Jax is twenty-seven going on twelve but I know that's petty and unnecessary.
"He's in a weird place right now."
"No kidding." I take another piece of tomato in my mouth and chew it slowly. "He's in the same place he's always been in."
He looks over the rim of the water glass he's sipping from. "Most of us are pretty settled by the time we're twenty-seven. We have a clear path. We know what we're after. That's not the case with Jax."
I shake my head in disagreement. "He knows exactly what he wants. He's back to wanting that company his father owned and he can't control that. I thought he grew up the last few months. I was wrong. "
"I don't think so." Nathan motions for the waiter. "I think he's chasing after that because he still feels obligated. I don't think it's coming out of a place that's based in need."
I furrow my brow. "I don't get it. You're saying that Jax is only after the company because he feels he should do that but internally he actually wants something else?"
"That's it. You've hit the nail on the head." He orders a glass of bourbon. "Do you want anything, Ivy?"
I shake my head. "I'm still not sure." I need to change the subject. Talking about Jax's immaturity is making me wish I didn't have to talk to him later today. "What else do you know about Bailey's mom?"
"Ah, Bailey." A wide smile covers his full lips. "Her mom is a woman Mark met in Tulsa when he was there on business. It took her months to track him down and when she did, Mark flew out to meet his daughter."
The idea of Mark spending any time with his little girl brings me a small amount of comfort. "How long did he know about her before he…"
"Not more than three months." Nathan rolls his finger along the edge of his glass. "He was set to take off the next day to spend a week with them when the accident happened."
"That's sad." The words sound hollow and empty compared to the tragedy of the situation. Mark didn't really have a chance to be a dad, but maybe his estate could provide a better life for his daughter.
"Garrett needs to see you in the next few days." He reaches into his wallet to pull out a credit card. "We can get things moving right away so a trust can be set up in Bailey's name."
I nod in agreement. That's exactly what I want. I want Mark's estate to go to his daughter and I want him to be a distant memory as soon as possible.
Chapter 20
"You need to see a doctor." His breath brushes over my neck. I open my eyes slowly to see him kneeling next to the couch, concerning covering his expression.
"Why?" The word leaves my lips in barely more than a whisper. After spending two nights in Mrs. Adam's guest room I was back home. Being away from Jax was pure torture. I must have drifted into sleep while I was waiting for him.
"You're sick." His voice cracks. "I've been so scared for weeks."
"Scared?" I reach to cradle his cheek in my hand. "Of what?"
"There's barely anything left to you." His hand runs down my side. "You're so pale. You sleep so much."
"It's been so stressful, Jax." It has been. He can't understand how hard it's been trying to manage everything with Mark's estate and his feelings too.