Destined to Change by Harley, M. (top android ebook reader TXT) 📕

“Wanna grab a beer before we head back?”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. We have a ways to drive, and I don’t want to ride with someone who’s been drinking.”

Jaxon gave me a little grin, put his hand out to me wiggling his pinky. “I’ll only have one beer, pinky-swear.”

I laughed at him and we headed across the street. Dave’s Place was a hole-in-the-wall dive bar. It was very small with an old oak bar along the right side of the wall, a stage in the back for the band or anyone feeling brave enough to sing karaoke, and about ten small tables. The walls were plastered with neon signs from just about every alcohol brand, and an old jukebox sat back in the corner. I had been there before with Emma and Eric, but I never really noticed how small it was.

When we walked inside there was an older “cowboy” sitting at the bar, sipping on a beer, and a couple dancing on the makeshift dance floor in the back of the room by the stage. The jukebox was blasting an old Hank Williams song and I had never felt so out of place. I was standing here with a pierced, tattooed man. All eyes - granted there weren’t many - but still, shifted to us when we walked in.

Jaxon led us to a table along the wall. The waitress was an older woman who looked like she was barely surviving a hard life. She had really frizzy hair that was dyed a really unnatural shade of red. Her face was covered in deep wrinkles and she was definitely a smoker. Her long fingernails were stained yellow from the nicotine. I actually felt bad for her in the few moments that I knew her, well I did until she started ogling Jaxon. She couldn’t take her eyes off of him. I swear she looked at him like he was a lollipop she really needed to lick. I had to agree with her, he was lickable.

Jaxon ordered us both a beer, and then he asked a follow-up to his earlier question. “So, what happened to the twins’ dad?”

I was really hoping he would just let it drop, but I knew he wouldn’t, so I told him the whole story. I didn’t mince any words. I gave it to him straight.

“Basically, Declan was the love of my life.  We were born for each other.  The term ‘destiny’ was used a lot when our parents were talking about us.  When I was sixteen and Declan was seventeen, we were in an accident.  Declan didn’t make it.  Shortly after the accident, I found out I was pregnant with the twins.  They really saved me.  I don’t know how I would’ve survived losing him, if it hadn’t been for them.”  I really hoped that I hadn’t sounded too pitiful, when I was explaining what had happened.  I didn’t need the PPL (Poor Pitiful Loralei) from Jaxon. I had coined that term ten years ago when everybody gave me the look.

Jaxon reached over and placed his hand on my arm.  His eyes were so caring.  I was surprised that I felt so comfortable talking to him about this.  I was never comfortable talking about Declan, but Jaxon made me feel like it was okay, like I needed to talk about it.  He never looked at me with sadness.  I wasn’t sure what kinda look he was giving me, but it didn’t feel like he felt sorry for me.

“Seems like Declan was a really great guy.  I’m sorry that the twins won’t get to know him.” Wow, he really surprised me. Those words and his gorgeous brown eyes were melting my heart.

The waitress brought us our beers. Her hand lingered a little longer on Jaxon’s bottle than mine. Her eyes were just looking him up and down, and back again. I couldn’t believe she was blatantly flirting with him right in front of me. Sometimes I just couldn’t understand what the hell was wrong with people. It’s not like we were a couple or anything. But she didn’t know that.

We sipped our beers and talked a little. Jaxon told me he was from Richmond, California. “I needed to get away from the big city for a while. There was some shit going on, that well, it was just better for me to get away.”

“Are you running from the law, mister?” I joked.

He shot me that sexy smirk, raised an eyebrow, and shrugged his shoulders.

He could’ve been for all I knew. I didn't know anything about this guy. Since he was Jake’s nephew, and I trusted Jake with my life, I could only assume that he wouldn’t let me spend time with Jaxon if he was a bad guy.

“What do you do? You know, for a living.”

His eyes lit up as he explained, “I work on cars.  Old cars are my specialty.  I’ve always been kind of fascinated with them.  My mom says when I was little, I took everything in the house apart, just so I could see how it worked and then put it back together.  I kinda feel that way about cars.  I like to take a look under the hood and see what I can do to make her purr.”

I don’t know if he meant to make it sound that way, but I was definitely blushing.  He gave me a little grin and took a swig of his beer.

When we finished our beers, the waitress came over, and Jaxon ordered a couple more. I shot him a pissy look.

“I know, pinky- swear and all, but I’m really having a good time getting to know you. And it’ll take more than a couple of beers to get me drunk,” He said with that damn, sexy smirk of his.

I nodded as the waitress skulked away to get our order. When she got away from our table Jaxon leaned over, “Wanna dance?”

I tried to slink down in my chair. I don’t dance,