Breathe (Sea Breeze #1)(35)
Author: Abbi Glines

I let out a small laugh. “I’ll always love him. But I know, soon, I will have to learn to live without him and move on. Right now just isn’t the time.”

Marcus nodded.

I opened the door and got out. “Thanks for the ride.”

He smiled. “Anytime.”

I walked inside. Marcus was a great guy, and if I didn’t love Jax so much, maybe I could feel something for him. But my soul was already taken.

I didn’t want to fall asleep for fear I would miss Jax’s call. I swept the kitchen and scrubbed the bathroom before finally getting in the shower. I left the cell by the sink just in case the phone rang. When I finished, I put on my nightgown, and then I turned to my bed and fought the urge to crawl in. I knew if I did, I would fall asleep. Closing my eyes was out of the question even though they were very heavy. I sat down on the edge of the bed and thought about the likeliness of him calling me tonight. I’d just about convinced myself he wasn’t going to call when I heard Jax singing “Wanted Dead or Alive.” I hadn’t expected a one of a kind ring tone, and I laughed as I answered the phone. “Hello.”

“Hey, beautiful.”

“Do I happen to have the only recorded version of Jax Stone singing ‘Wanted Dead or Alive’ as a ringtone?” I asked, unable to get the silly grin off my face.

“Yes, you do. When I tried to think of a song to play when I called you, I realized I’d never recorded a song you liked, so I went into my studio at the house and recorded the only one I knew you would enjoy.”

I smiled and crossed my legs Indian style on the bed. “I happen to have become an obsessed fan. You could have put any of your songs on there, and I would have been happy.”

“Is that so? I wish you’d have told me you were a fan. I would have left my door unlocked so you could sneak in and squirt perfume on my pillow.”

I laughed out loud, and then covered my mouth so Jessica didn’t wake up and come in. I hadn’t discussed Jax with her again, and I hoped I didn’t have to.

“I don’t wear perfume.”

“You mean you smell that good without help?”

“I guess I do.”

“Hmm…well, how about I autograph one of your body parts…I get to pick.” He chuckled into the phone.

I blushed, and the silly grin stayed on my face. “Okay, maybe I am not that crazy of a fan, but I am a fan. I listen to your music every night while I go to sleep.”

He groaned. “Sadie, did you have to remind me? I have a hard enough time closing my eyes to go to sleep. I don’t need images of you all curled up in your bed with your hair spread out around you, listening to me sing in your ears.”

“Sorry, but I don’t want you to think I prefer Jon Bon Jovi’s work over yours.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I miss you.”

“I miss you too.”

“Go to sleep. I’ll see you soon.”

I sighed and wished I had a poster of him on my wall. “Good night, Jax.”

“Good night, Sadie.”

I pressed end and slipped under the covers with Jax playing in my ears.

* * * *

Ms. Mary stood over Henrietta, who appeared to be making bread, when I entered into the kitchen the next morning.

“Now, Mrs. Stone said she needs it to be whole wheat, but she wants it light and fluffy, not heavy.”

Henrietta nodded and continued kneading the dough in front of her. I grinned and walked past them toward the laundry room to change. Today wasn’t going to be easy with Jax gone, but at least I was at his home, near his things. It was better than nothing. I slipped into my uniform and went back out into the kitchen.

“Go ahead and get some of the fresh bread over there. Henrietta made it for lunch today, but it is really good with some butter on it while it is still warm.”

I didn’t have to be told twice. My stomach growled. I sliced off a piece and buttered it. The fresh homemade bread melted in my mouth.

“Hey, don’t eat all the good stuff.” Marcus poked me in the ribs and grabbed the knife to slice him off a piece too. I smiled up at him.

“Good morning to you too.”

He grinned and took a bite of his bread. Marcus closed his eyes and moaned loudly, and poor Henrietta jumped.

Ms. Mary rolled her eyes. “Boy, can’t you eat any quieter?”

With a chuckle, he shook his head “no.”

I wiped my hands on a paper towel and turned to Ms. Mary. “What do you have for me today?”

She smiled and pointed to the pantry. “I need you to go through and check all expiration dates for me. We need to throw out anything that is old and replace it.”

I nodded and went straight to work. With Jax singing in my ears, the morning flew by.

Marcus joined me at lunchtime. “How’s it going?” He grinned down at me and sat with his plate full of food.

“Good, thank you, and you?”

Marcus shrugged, “Same ’ol, same ’ol, I guess.” He studied me, as if waiting for me to do something.

I frowned. “What?” I asked, before taking another bite of my Reuben sandwich.

“Nothing, I just thought you might be a little upset. You didn’t talk much this morning, and I figured you knew.”

I frowned and sat my drink down. “What?”

It looked like he was trying to decide whether or not to answer me. “Well?”

“Um, why don’t we go outside and eat…and talk.”

A nervous knot formed in my stomach, but I wanted to know what Marcus knew and I didn’t. I picked up my food and followed him out to the gazebo. “All right, tell me what this is about.”

Marcus didn’t sit down. He walked over to the edge of the gazebo and leaned a hip against the railing. “Amanda has email subscriptions to several teen news websites. This morning she came running into my room before I left, asking me if you were still dating Jax. I told her ‘yes,’ and she showed me the Teen Star Follower. It has photos of Jax taken last night out on the town with actress Baily Kirk.”

My stomach quivered, but I’d been through this before with Jax, and I knew he couldn’t help the publicity photos and what the news reported.

I forced a smile. “It’s not a big deal. He has to take those photos for publicity reasons. I’m not concerned.”

Marcus sighed and reached into his back pocket to pull out some papers. “I printed it out.”

I took the papers from his hands and sank down into my seat with images of Jax holding hands with a beautiful, dark-haired girl. One photo showed him leaning down and laughing at what she was saying. The other showed him with his arm around her shoulders, pointing toward something and smiling. I didn’t want to read the words, but I found myself reading it anyway. “Last night Jax Stone was seen out for the first time in weeks on the arm of Baily Kirk (The Dream Date and Winters Way). Both appeared very interested in each other. We guess the rumors that Jax has been hiding out with a new lucky lady are untrue because he seems very interested in Miss Kirk.”