Chapter 2

Vanessa's POV

I didn’t know whether to cry or throw up, so I did the only thing that kept my dignity intact—I took a few stumbling steps backward, slipped through the side door of an empty beach villa close by, and leaned against the wall.

My lungs hurt as I forced a deep breath inside, trying to steady my heartbeat. Just breathe, I told myself. Get it together, Vanessa.

But just as I was about to force a fake smile onto my face and step back outside into the sun, a movement by the driveway caught my eye.

A sleek car had pulled up.

I stood behind the glass of the window as I watched a girl step out onto the gravel… She was gorgeous.

She had the kind of effortless, golden-hour tan paired with perfect blonde beach waves that bounced on her shoulders as she moved. She was beautiful, of course. Flawless even.

I looked down with realization. Yeah, right. Anyone with eyes would pick a statuesque, model-looking goddess over a curvy, red-headed potato.

Through the glass, I watched her come across the sand, She walked right around the perimeter of the volleyball net, leaving a trail of turning heads as the team boys openly gazed at her.

"Holy crap," one of the sophomores muttered, completely dropping his water bottle into the sand. "Is that Brielle?"

"Man, she looks insane," another guy said, nudging Leo.

Leo wiped his hands on his shorts, calling out with a wide grin, "Brielle! Look who finally made it down from the city!"

"Hey, guys," she called back with a soft, musical voice, waving a manicured hand at them. The boys practically tripped over their own feet to clear a path for her, throwing out casual greetings and wide smiles just to get her attention.

She walked straight to where Jax stood.

I swallowed a huge lump in my throat as she reached out, casually looping her slender arms completely around his neck. Jax caught her by the waist as he murmured something directly into her hair.

I pulled away from the window, my back sliding down the drywall until I was sitting on the floor, burying my face in my knees.

I had no choice. I just needed to avoid Jax for the whole of this remaining summer camp. I stayed inside the villa as long as I could, only creeping out when I was sure they were occupied.

"If you stare at that blender any harder, V, it’s going to combust," Addison said, leaning her shoulder on the counter later that afternoon. "Are you going to tell me why you're suddenly treating Jax like he’s patient zero of a zombie apocalypse, or do I have to beat it out of you?"

I squeezed my eyes shut, letting out a sigh. "Brielle is here, Addie. That’s why."

The teasing smirk instantly dropped from Addison's face, replaced by a sympathetic look. "Oh, honey..."

"I feel like a total idiot," I mumbled. "For a split second on the beach, when his hands were on my waist... I actually thought…" I let out another big sigh before I continued. "I am such a desperate dork for even letting my mind go there."

"You are not a dork," Addison countered fiercely, her fingers holding onto my forearm. "Vanessa, the way he was looking at you—"

"It doesn’t matter," I interrupted, forcing a brittle smile onto my face to stop the threat of tears. "He has a girlfriend. And she’s a perfect, statuesque girlfriend. I just need to swallow it and get over it."

By the time the campfire started, everyone was already sitting together around the flames. I walked over and squeezed myself into a tiny, tight gap on a log between Addison and a massive sophomore defenseman. I had to sit uncomfortably squished, but it was worth it just to make sure there wasn't a single millimeter of space left for Jax to sit next to me.

But as always, even the universe hated me, and the same person I was avoiding came to sit right in front of my log, creating just enough space for himself.

I got up immediately like someone who had just been jolted by lightning.

"Actually, I'm freezing. I need to grab a hoodie from inside," I announced. "Addie, slide over so I can take your spot when I get back."

Jax froze mid-motion, his chair hovering an inch off the ground, looking utterly confused as he watched me practically sprint away.

Coming back inside, I saw Leo still preparing to join the others at the campfire.

"Man, Brielle’s family is absolute hockey royalty," Leo mused to me. "Her dad and Jax's old man played together back in their NHL prime. Those two have basically been packaged together since they were in diapers."

"Oh—I never knew that. Happy for them, by the way," I said.

Even their relationship was already approved by their parents. Great.

"Yeah," Leo agreed. "Their families have been orchestrating the whole thing for years. By the way, have you seen her new spread in the fitness mag?"

"I need to go stretch my legs and walk around for a bit, Leo," I said, standing up quickly. I just couldn't sit there and listen to it anymore. Everywhere I went, it was all about Jax and Brielle. First outside on the beach, and now inside the house too. I just desperately needed a quiet space where they weren't the center of every single conversation.

Leo blinked up at me, checking his watch with a frown. "V, it's past midnight. Are you sure you want to trek out there alone?"

"I'm totally fine!" I snapped.

Before he could question me further, I spun on my heel and walked into the dark.

Immediately I got out, tears that I’d been holding came running. I quickened my pace, a jagged sob escaping my lips as I pushed deeper into the woods, completely blind to where my sneakers were landing. I just wanted to run until I couldn't hear them anymore.

In my blind panic, I didn't notice the terrain shifting as I went deeper.

My right foot slipped. I gasped as my body slid violently down a steep, hidden drop-off.

I tried clawing at the top of the edge to steady myself, but my hands just scooped up loose dirt. I panicked as I slid further down, until my fingers hit a tree branch sticking out. I grabbed onto it with everything I had before I could fall any deeper.

My legs dangled helplessly as I panicked.

"Help!" I shrieked. "Leo! Addie! Someone please, help!"

I screamed out, suddenly realizing I had walked way too far into the dark—nobody could hear me. I was totally on my own.

"Help me, please! Someone!"

"Vanessa!!"

I heard Jax shout as his boots came running toward me. He looked down in panic.

"Jax, please!"

Jax dropped to his knees, his hands holding tightly around my wrists, and with a low grunt, he used his entire broad upper-body strength to hoist me up over the edge, dragging my body onto the ground.

I collapsed into him instantly, sobbing so hard my entire body was shaking.

"Hey—hey, look at me. V, focus on me," Jax breathed, his palms cupping my shoulders before sliding up to cradle my face, forcing me to look up. "Are you okay? Where are you hurt? Talk to me, sweetheart. Talk to me, V."

I tried to push myself up, but my knees felt like jelly and completely buckled. Before I could hit the dirt again, Jax’s arms scooped under my thighs and back, lifting me against his chest.

We saw a small wooden house close by.

Jax kicked the door open with his boot, stepping in, and gently set me down on a wooden workbench.

"Stay with me, V. Keep your eyes right here," he murmured softly, pulling his phone out with a shaky hand. He let out a curse under his breath. "Fuck! Zero service out here. We’re going to have to wait it out until Leo realizes we’re gone."

He shoved the phone into his pocket and dropped to his knees on the floor directly between my thighs pulling up my denim shorts to view my bruises a bit better before grabbing a bottle of fresh water and a clean white rag from a shelf, pouring the water over the fabric.

"This is going to bite a little, okay?"

The second the cold, wet cloth pressed into a scratch on my shin, a whimper left my lips.

"I know. I'm sorry. I've got you. I'll go slow," he said as he resumed cleaning the wounds, and after every gentle swipe of the rag, he leaned in and blew a soft, cool breath on my skin to soothe the sting.

Being trapped this close to him inside the dark was a fucking sensory assault. Everything he did and how cool he was about it entirely erased my stupid plan to ignore him. I couldn’t help but stare at the sharp line of his jaw, the rise and fall of his broad shoulders.

I couldn't look away.

Jax must have sensed the sudden silence because he slowly and deliberately raised his head toward me.

We looked into each other’s eyes before Jax’s gaze drifted downward to my throat, then settled directly on my parted lips. He leaned in closer, and I couldn’t help but find myself leaning toward his too.

For one beautiful heartbeat, it looked like he was actually going to kiss me—

SLAM!!!

The door swung open, banging violently on the wall.

Jax ripped himself away, standing up in a single, lightning-fast motion.

Brielle stood framed in the doorway, and there was a bit of silence before Jax cleared his throat, stepping forward to shield me slightly.

"Brielle. Thank God you’re here. Vanessa fell off a cliff—she’s hurt and can't walk. I need to sprint back to the house to get Leo and the medical kit. I don't want to carry her any farther and risk messing up her leg."

Brielle didn't look away. She kept her icy gaze fixed on me the whole time.

Finally, she gave a nod. "Go. I’ll stay with her."

"I'll be right back," Jax promised, throwing one lingering look over his shoulder at me before disappearing out the door.

Brielle stood like a statue for a long time.

Then she took a step forward, stopping mere inches from where I sat, crossing her arms over her chest and looking down at me.

She tilted her head toward me.

"So… exactly what the hell is going on between you and my boyfriend?"