Before You(92)
“Jax,” Cam replied. The noise in the background made it tough to hear his voice.
“Why are you calling?”
“I’m at a restaurant with Bre.” Cam didn’t say anything for a moment. “Do you love her?”
“Cam, what’s this about? Is Bre okay?”
“Just answer the question. Do you love her?”
“Yes,” Jax responded. “More than I could have ever imagined.”
Cam exhaled loudly. “Katie said you two are engaged.”
“What?” Jax yelled into the phone, pushing his body away from the counter.
“Is it true?”
“Fuck, no. I would never marry her.”
Cam didn’t say anything.
“What’s going on?” Jax asked, his voice alarmed.
“Even if your dad offered to back the band? Get us signed? Would you marry her then?” Cam shot back.
Jax stiffened. When his dad and Katie had stopped by to discuss taking his relationship with Katie to the next level and how he could help the band, Jax hadn’t even considered it for one moment. He loved Chasing Ruin and wanted the band to succeed, but that didn’t mean he’d ever agree to shackle himself to Katie. He knew hooking up with Katie was a mistake. It gave his dad and Katie hope that he would cave, but it would never happen. He’d rather play at every dive bar in California for the next ten years than agree to that. “Never.” He responded through clenched teeth.
“Are you sure about that, because that’s not what Katie told Bre.”
His stomach flipped. “Wait—Bre knows?”
“Yes. Katie told me about it, and I thought Bre should know.”
“Why would you believe Katie? You know she’s always twisting the truth.”
“Because she showed me the engagement ring, and I don’t exactly have a very high opinion of you right now.”
“What ring? I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about?”
“Katie had big shiny ring engraved with K&J Forever. Does that ring any bells?
Jax picked his keys up off the counter and started walking toward the door. “Where’s Bre? Does she believe this crap?”
“I’m not telling you anything until you explain the ring.”
“I didn’t get her a fucking ring. I can’t explain it. Maybe she bought it for herself. I don’t know,” Jax said through gritted teeth.
“Really?” Cam scoffed. “That’s all you have to say? Call me back when you have a better answer. She leaves tomorrow morning. Maybe you can get your shit together before then.”
“No. Wait,” Jax pleaded. “What did the ring look like?”
“I don’t know. Silver colored, big circle diamond with diamonds all over the band, too.”
“Shit,” Jax said, scrubbing his face with his hand.
“So you do know the ring.”
He couldn’t believe his dad actually gave Katie the ring. He would have had to coordinate it with his mom and they hardly talked. What a joke. After years of living with two parents incapable of communication, they finally get it together to give a girl he didn’t love an engagement ring on his behalf. “I know it, but I didn’t give it to her. It’s my mom’s ring.”
“That happens to be inscribed with K&J. No, try again.”
“K&J. As in Katrina and James—not Katie and Jax.”
Cam didn’t respond for a minute. “That’s fucked up.”
“Jesus. I can’t believe this. When he kept pushing me to marry Katie and work with his company, I just blew him off. I didn’t give a shit about him or what he wanted, but now that he’s actually fucking with my life—giving an engagement ring to a girl I would never marry—I actually hate him.” Jax ground his teeth together. “And Katie—she’s crazy. When my dad made the offer in front of Katie, I told her I’d never marry her. I thought she finally got it. Fuck! I should have never touched her.”
“Yeah. I get it. Regrets are a bitch.” Cam exhaled harshly. “I can’t believe I’m doing this, but we’re at that sushi place a couple blocks from my house. We haven’t ordered yet so we’ll probably be here for another hour or two. I’ve got to go.”
“Wait. Cam. Thanks for helping me—”
“I’m not helping you. I’m doing this for Bre. She thinks she loves you—that you can make her happy, so I’m letting her go for now.” Cam groaned. “I want, no, I need her to be happy, but if you fuck this up, if you hurt her, or if you’re just using her, I will be right there with open arms waiting to pick up the pieces.”