Twisted Truths: The Regretful Lies Duet Book 2
Page 19
Still, I follow him inside and perch on the edge of a stiff chair. Folding my hands in my lap, I clench my fingers together to keep them from shaking.
"Are you okay?" I ask, beseeching him with my eyes to look at me.
Finally, he turns toward me and nods, taking a seat across from me.
"Yeah. I, um, I just need to talk to you."
"Okay."
He blows out a deep breath, his cheeks puffing the air out in a long stream that ends on a near whistle. He leans forward in his chair, his elbows resting on his knees. Rocking forward, he moves as if to grab my hand but thinks better of it at the last second, letting his hand fall to his side. "Evie." A wry grin twists the corners of his mouth in a cross between a smile and a grimace. "I can't tell you how much this year, getting to know you, hell, falling in love with you, has changed my life. I want you to know how much you mean to me, how much your believing in me has given me a future I never could have imagined. I'll always be grateful to you, my Maywood, and I'll never forget what you and your family taught me, showed me." He chuckles but it sounds forced. "All of this," he says, gesturing around the great room with his hand, "was inconceivable to me before I knew you."
“You’ve changed my life too.” My voice is quiet but steady, and I’m grateful that the shaking of my hands hasn’t yet taken hold of my tongue.
An awkward silence I’ve never experienced with Jax stretches between us.
“I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.” I admit.
Jax sighs, rubbing his hands together. "You've made me dream, Evie. You've made me realize my future could be full of so many opportunities and chances and, and things I never thought about since my mom passed,” he swallows, offering me a sad smile.
"I'm glad." I smile back. "You're so smart and talented, Jax. You could do anything you want. I'm happy we're going to New York together. West Point has been my dream for forever and you’re going to love John Jay College. I know you haven’t heard back from their financial aid department yet but I’m sure you’ll get a scholarship. Even if you have to defer and do a few courses at a community college first; it will all work out.”
He nods, his hand tugging the back of his neck again. "I want to do something I could be proud of. Be someone you could be proud of."
"I am proud of you."
He holds my eyes for a beat and in that pause, a flood of emotions flows between us—a torrent of shared moments and unspoken words. And I know whatever comes next is going to level me.
"I've enlisted. I report to Fort Bragg in two weeks." His voice is even and measured, his words belying his calm tone. His eyes are clear and focused. He watches intently for my reaction, waits for me to give him a piece of my mind like I normally do.
But I’m too shocked to think clearly. I sit in silence, my heart breaking, my world crumbling. Are we breaking up? I stand shakily, my mind jumping from one thought to the next. My face and neck heat with embarrassment, with rejection. A burn behind my eyelids and nose signals that I'm about to cry.
"Evie," he says gently, reaching for me.
But I escape his grasp, flee past him, and leave the stupid great room.
I bound up the stairs, my steps quickening the closer I get to the top, to the safety of my bedroom. Locking my bedroom door behind me, my back slides down the door until I'm a puddle on the floor, a torrent of tears melting with the sorrow and pain I carry.
Jax is leaving me.
He's enlisted.
He's Army now.
Letting my tears dry on my cheeks, I manage to calm my breathing as my embarrassment morphs into anger.
Today is the last day I will ever think about Jaxon Kane.
No, that's not true.
But today is the last day that I'll see him.
That much I know is certain.
Except it wasn't certain. Because I never left. And now he returned.
"You're going to give yourself a headache." Denver's gravelly voice cuts through the quiet, and I swing around to look at him. "Thinking that hard." He smirks, leaning back against the old brick of Raf's, one foot kicked up behind him, resting against the building. "You want?" He holds out a pack of cigarettes.
I shake my head, briefly alarmed that I didn't hear him approach. He must have exited through the kitchen after heckling the two cooks who work here.
"Haven't seen you around lately," he comments, lighting up a cigarette and taking a long pull.
"I haven't been around."
He exhales a cloud of smoke. "Yeah. You surprised to see him?"
"Yes."
"Eventually, y'all are going to have to talk, y'know? Clear the air."
"Guess so."
Denver chuckles. "I always appreciated this about you, Evie." He gestures toward me with the lit tip of his cigarette.
"What's that?"
"You're a woman of few words." He drops his head back against the brick, looking up at the dark sky. "You tell it like it is but only when you have to. The rest of the time, you give nothing away. Unless you’re giving Jax shit but it's been quite some time since I've seen you riled up like that.” He tosses the butt and grounds his heel into it.
"I think that's the most you've ever said to me."
He laughs, the sound rich and warm. "Probably. But sometimes, talkin’, really talkin’, and lettin’ go of the past and all the bullshit," he says, shrugging and kicking off the wall, "it can help."
I turn away from him, quiet for a beat, and let his words sink in. I feel him walk closer to me, stopping an arm's length away. He knows better than to touch me, even as a friend, even in a moment of comfort. "Think about it."
Then he's gone, and I'm alone with the black sky and my dark thoughts.
Read Rescuing Broken now.
Also by Gina Azzi
The Kane Brothers Series:
Rescuing Broken (Jax’s Story)
Recovering Beauty (Carter’s Story)
Reclaiming Brave (Denver’s Story)
My Christmas Wish
(A Kane Family Christmas
+ One Last Chance FREE prequel)
Finding Love in Scotland Series:
My Christmas Wish
(A Kane Family Christmas
+ One Last Chance FREE prequel)
One Last Chance (Daisy and Finn)
This Time Around (Aaron and Everly)
The College Pact Series:
The Last First Game (Lila’s Story)
Kiss Me Goodnight in Rome (Mia’s Story)
All the While (Maura’s Story)
Me + You (Emma’s Story)
Standalone
Corner of Ocean and Bay
Acknowledgments
Writing The Regretful Lies Duet was a true labor of love. I’ve never felt so connected to characters before or invested in their relationships - romantic, platonic, familial - as I have in these books! Broken Lies and Twisted Truths challenged me and pushed me out of my comfort zone, and yet, I loved every second of exploring Zoe and Eli’s love story and getting to know the characters who support them.
I am so excited for you guys to read more of this world. For everyone who voted, Charlie and Evan’s story is coming next so keep an eye out!
To Becca Mysoor - I wouldn’t have been able to complete this project without your guidance. THANK YOU!
To Patrick Hodges - All my thanks and gratitude for the extra edits and set of eyes at the last minute!
To MPP - A million thanks for everything you do for me. I appreciate you so much!
To JA Owenby - Thank you for all your support with this launch!
To Give Me Books Promotions - You are amazing! Thank you for organizing all the things and supporting this release!
Bloggers, Bookstagrammers, and Readers - THANK YOU! Thank you for your honest reviews, thank you for taking a few minutes to reach out to me, thank you for all of your support. It truly means the world!
To the Romance Author community - So much heartfelt thanks for letting me pop int
o your groups, for sharing my releases, for spreading the word about these books. Being part of this world is the absolute best!
To my Home Team - Always! XO
Love,
Gina
About the Author
Gina Azzi writes emotional and captivating contemporary romance novels with heart-warming happily-ever-afters. She is the author of The Regretful Lies Duet, The Kane Brothers Series, The College Pact Series, Finding Love in Scotland Series, and Corner of Ocean and Bay.
A Jersey girl at heart, Gina has spent her twenties traveling the world, living and working abroad, before settling down in Ontario, Canada with her husband and three children. She's a voracious reader, daydreamer, and coffee enthusiast who loves meeting new people. Say hey to her on social media or through www.ginaazzi.com.