Chapter 7

Teyara Moon

Following my pointed jab, Jax transformed into the absolute portrait of docility. By docile, I meant he completely refrained from launching any further snarky remarks in my direction.

I diverted my entire attention to his parents, whom I had desperately missed. We had six years of catching up to do, though I had to carefully navigate the conversation to ensure they never discovered I was Teyara.

“So, Sandra… what line of work are you in?” his father inquired with genuine curiosity.

I offered him a polite, reserved smile before answering.

“Well, at the moment, I’m operating as an independent entrepreneur, aggressively saving capital to launch my own business label.”

His father smiled warmly at my straightforward response.

“That’s truly commendable,” he noted.

“You know, Sandra, typically when our son introduces a woman to us, we deliberately make things uncomfortable so they'll leave,” his mother confessed, her expression softening completely. “We always envisioned him with someone else—a girl he deeply wounded in the past. But for some reason I can't quite articulate, I feel an instant connection to you. I just want to welcome you into our family.”

Her vulnerability sent a wave of warmth straight to my chest.

“I feel the exact same connection, ma’am,” I murmured with a genuine smile as we continued our meal.

Suddenly, the evening sky shifted dramatically, turning an ominous, deep shadow as a storm threatened to break.

“Oh, goodness, Rhoda, please secure the windows immediately,” his mother directed as a sharp gust of wind began to rattle the glass.

“It appears we are in for an absolute downpour,” his father observed, and I couldn't help but silently agree.

Right on cue, thick droplets of rain began to splatter against the windowpane.

We finished the remainder of our dinner in relative silence until a low rumble of thunder vibrated through the floorboards. The scattered drops instantly escalated into a severe celestial deluge, accompanied by sharp flashes of lightning and deafening thunderclaps.

The ambient temperature dropped rapidly, bringing a sudden chill into the room. I rubbed my arms to generate some friction for warmth just as I set my fork down.

“We should probably get moving. I want to ensure I drop her back at her apartment before the local roads become completely flooded,” Jax finally intervened, using his cloth napkin to touch his lips.

“Have you completely lost your mind!” his mother exploded, and I had to physically bite my lip to suppress a chuckle. “I am well aware that you and your father prefer to pretend the elements don't affect you, but Sandra is a woman, not a machine. You cannot seriously intend to drag her out into a flash flood, and even if you are that reckless, I absolutely will not permit it.”

“But mother, she has an incredibly demanding schedule early tomorrow morning.”

“I am certain her enterprise can survive a single morning delay. Furthermore, I will personally ensure the two of you are awake early enough to beat the traffic. But you are spending the night under this roof, and that is the end of the discussion.”

She stood up from the table, a triumphant smile returning to her face.

“I’ll head upstairs to ensure the quarters are fully prepared.”

“Let me assist you with clearing the table,” I offered, slowly gathering the porcelain plates.

I could feel her analytical gaze anchoring to my movements the entire time.

“Is something amiss, ma'am?” I asked gently.

“No, dear. You simply mirror the exact habits of someone from our past, but it's quite all right.”

She let out a soft exhale.

A pang of anxiety struck me. I realized I was instinctively slipping back into the exact domestic habits I had practiced when I was Teyara.

I have to completely dismantle my old behavior patterns, I reminded myself sharply.

She vanished up the grand staircase, and his father politely excused himself to retire for the evening, offering me a final compliment and his full endorsement, expressing how much he looked forward to our next encounter.

The moment we were isolated, I turned toward Jax and flashed a deeply satisfied smirk.

“You’re thoroughly enjoying my misery, aren't you?” he muttered, his jaw clenching.

“You have absolutely no idea,” I countered, the corners of my mouth twitching upward.

“Well, maximize the entertainment while it lasts. Don’t let my presence be the sole source of your unhappiness.”

“But you already are my baseline for unhappiness,” I replied smoothly, leaning in to fake an affectionate gesture while delivering a sharp, agonizing pinch to his cheek.

“Well, you two lovebirds, your quarters are officially ready,” his mother’s voice suddenly echoed from the landing.

I instantly ripped my hands away from his face, clearing my throat in sudden embarrassment.

“Wait… our quarters?” I stammered, forcing a fragile smile.

“Oh, don’t be silly, dear. I am entirely modern; I'm not going to play the role of the puritanical mother and banish you to separate wings of the house. The two of you can share the master suite.”

I nearly choked on my own breath at her words.

“Actually, ma'am, I would feel much more comfortable occupying a guest room.”

“Absolute nonsense, darling. There is no need to be modesty-stricken around me, it's perfectly fine. Come along now, the temperature is dropping rapidly. You require a hot bath and an exceptional night of rest.”

She gestured for us to follow.

I stood up with immense reluctance, and Jax trailed closely behind my steps.

“Like I previously stated, I would hate to be the root cause of your unhappiness,” he whispered mockingly near my ear, and I knew without looking that a smug smirk was plastered across his face.

She unlocked the heavy wooden door, and the moment I stepped across the threshold, a lump formed in my throat.

This was Jax’s childhood bedroom.

Years ago, whenever I visited, strict family rules dictated we sleep in completely separate rooms, and this had been his private sanctuary.

The layout brought a suffocating avalanche of memories, and I aggressively shook my head to banish them.

“That life belongs entirely to the past,” I muttered under my breath, dropping onto the edge of the mattress.

“The master bath has hot running water, so feel free to freshen up. I'll return in a moment with a selection of fresh loungewear for you,” his mother instructed before closing the door behind her.

I immediately collapsed backward onto the pillows, closing my eyes in sheer exhaustion.

“This feels remarkably nostalgic. The only detail missing is you curling up in one of my oversized shirts,” Jax remarked from across the room.

“And the detail where you weren't completely repulsive,” I shot back, rolling my eyes.

“Teyara…”

His voice suddenly dropped, carrying a heavy, melancholy undertone.

“I am going to utilize the shower,” I announced, cutting him off as I stood up. “Turn your back completely, please.”

He complied without an argument, rising to face the far wall.

I retrieved a plush towel from the built-in wardrobe. It carried the faint, distinct scent of sandalwood that had always defined him.

Realizing I had absolutely no alternative, I swiftly stepped out of my tailored attire and secured the fabric tightly around my frame.

Damn it, I cursed internally, my eyes darting to my head.

I had completely forgotten about the wig.

I’ll just have to complete my shower, return to the bedroom, and swiftly secure it back in place before his mother walks back in, I reasoned.

I quietly slipped the wig off, tucking it securely beneath one of the pillows before slipping into the adjoining bathroom.

“You are free to turn around now,” I called out, slamming the heavy bathroom door shut and turning the lock from the inside.

After a thorough, scalping shower, I meticulously washed my natural hair, which felt damp and heavy after being compressed beneath the synthetic cap for hours.

I dried off and applied a layer of moisturizer while still inside the privacy of the bathroom.

Then, I took extra care to wrap the towel around my body, tucking the edge in with absolute precision. I had witnessed enough cinematic wardrobe malfunctions to ensure I wouldn't be the victim of one tonight.

Unlocking the door, I stepped back into the bedroom, gently shaking out my damp strands.

Jax was standing by the dresser, his gaze anchored to a framed photograph.

Moving closer, my chest tightened as I recognized the picture.

It was a snapshot of us from our sophomore year of college.

We looked radiantly, effortlessly happy.

And then he had burned it all to the ground.

“You really ought to incinerate that,” I initiated coldly, letting my hair drape over my shoulder.

He turned around slowly, letting out a heavy sigh.

“I prefer to keep it.”

“For what earthly reason?”

“I don't have a rational answer. I just want to keep it,” he replied simply.

I let out a harsh scoff, marching over to the vanity mirror to inspect my complexion, checking if my current skincare regimen was effectively combating the stress-induced blemishes on my face.

“Teyara…”

“Sandra,” I corrected with absolute finality, my teeth grinding together.

“I simply wanted to express—”

He was interrupted as I suddenly remembered the urgency of the wig.

I needed to retrieve it from beneath the pillow and secure it before his mother made her return.

Just as my fingers brushed the edge of the fabric, the distinct click of the door handle echoed through the quiet room.

Panic seized me.

Before I could formulate a defensive maneuver, Jax lunged across the mattress, yanking me flat against his bare chest.

He threw the heavy duvet entirely over my body, completely concealing me beneath his frame just as the door swung wide open.

“Mother!” he barked loudly, his chest vibrating against mine as I tried to writhe out of his grip.

“Oh! Goodness, forgive me!”

“You literally just lectured us about how freezing the weather is. Can a man not receive a midday distraction in absolute peace?” Jax shouted, his bold declaration entirely stealing the air from my lungs.

“I am incredibly sorry, I’m leaving immediately!” she gasped.

The door clicked shut in a frantic rush.

I instantly threw the heavy blanket off my face, staring up at Jax as he broke out into a fit of genuine, unbridled laughter.

“She left a fresh wardrobe selection right there on the armchair for you,” he pointed out, still chuckling softly while I glared up at him with pure, murderous intent.

“Come on, Teyara, I literally just preserved your entire secret identity.”

“And that crude, explicit lie was the absolute best narrative your brain could manufacture?” I hissed, my voice tight with rage.

“I had to settle the score for the dinner table interrogation somehow,” he flashed a brilliant, wicked grin, shifting his weight to slide off the mattress.