Chapter 14: Six Months Later…Keene Valley, NY

Having a wedding on Valentine’s Day was the biggest cliché ever, but after everything Abby and Isach had been through, they’d earned the right to do whatever they wanted. Who was I to judge?

“You sure you don’t mind me stealing you husband for the night?” I asked Chloe.

She stood at the sink washing bottles. “Of course not. And he was your brother long before he was my husband.” She flashed me a teasing grin.

A few months ago, that kind of look from her would’ve made my knees weak, made me long for the things I knew I could never have. But now… Now she was just my brother’s wife. My sister-in-law. My best friend. I still loved her—I always would—but I no longer desired her in ways I shouldn’t.

Not since that fateful day I met Piper and realized she was my soulmate. The brief time she’d spent here had been like living with one foot in heaven and the other in hell. And then she’d left to go back to New Orleans, and I hadn’t done a damn thing to stop her. I wasn’t even sure if she knew she was my soulmate. If she did, she never said anything. Neither had I. In my defense, though, I was fucking terrified that she’d tell me I wasn’t her soulmate. And then what?

“Jax.” Chloe’s sharp tone cut through my thoughts.

“What? Sorry.” I frowned.

She had one hand propped on the counter, the other on her hip, and she studied me. “Are you okay? You’ve been… off since getting home from New Orleans.”

“Off?” I raised a brow and smirked. “Is that your professional opinion?”

She swatted at me, but I dodged her blow. “I’m serious, Jax. You’re kinda worrying me.”

“I’m fine. I promise.”

But I wasn’t fine. Not even close. Every day away from Piper was more torturous than the last, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could resist the need to see her.

She sighed but didn’t press the issue. “I was saying I’m glad you’re taking Trent out tonight. He needs it. I think all of us need a night off. Aunt Beth and Uncle Dean are keeping the girls overnight, so don’t worry about waking them whenever you guys end up dragging yourselves home.”

I nodded. “Considering Trent wouldn’t let me throw him a proper bachelor party, I’m going all out for Isach.”

“Just make sure he’s not hungover tomorrow, okay?” Abby said as she came down the stairs.

She and Isach had been staying here since Abby had given up their apartment when she’d thought Isach was dead. And the housing options in Keene Valley weren’t exactly plentiful. They’d been having trouble finding a new place to live.

“I see you’ve already perfected the whole ball-and-chain part of being a wife,” I said.

Abby stopped, planted her hands on her hips, and glowered at me. I couldn’t help but laugh, which only made her stare harder.

“Will you knock it off?” Chloe rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t hide her laughter, either.

“I mean it. I really don’t want Isach to slur his vows,” Abby said.

“Even if I do get him fall down drunk—which I completely intend to do, by the way—he can just whip up some magic potion and voila! No more drunk witch.” I leaned against the counter and crossed my arms.

Riling up Chloe and Abby was much too easy, and one of my favorite things to do. They were both good sports about it, and neither hesitated to hurl jabs right back at me. Joking around with them helped keep my mind off Piper—something I found I needed more and more often lately. She dominated my mind every second of every day, and I was slowly going mad.

“You’re impossible.” Abby sighed.

“I’m hard to get. Completely different. Besides, nobody likes an easy vampire.” I shrugged.

Chloe snorted with barely controlled giggles, and Abby simply shook her head.

“Trust me. No one thinks Jaxon Halstead is easy.” Chloe’s eyes sparkled with humor.

“You really know how to flatter a guy, don’t you?” I pushed away from the counter, dropped a kiss on Chloe’s cheek, and winked. Her face flushed.

“Stop flirting with my wife.” Trent strode into the kitchen, his entire demeanor relaxed and carefree. He grinned at me as he stood behind Chloe and slipped his arms around her stomach.

I never imagined I’d see my brother so happy, but he was, and I vowed every single day to do whatever was necessary to make sure he stayed that way. He’d earned everything he had, and as long as I was still alive, nothing—not even me, despite some of my prior questionable behavior with Chloe—would ruin the life he’d built for himself.

“Why am I always blamed as the instigator? Maybe she started it this time,” I said.

“Only in your dreams, brother.” Trent laughed.

Not anymore. My dreams were now dominated by a fair-skinned, freckle-faced, redhead who knew exactly how to push my buttons and enjoyed every second of it. If I were being honest, I did, too. Not for the first time since she left, I found myself missing her. My entire being ached to see her again.

“What time are we leaving?” Trent asked.

“As soon as Colt and Wyatt get here.” I glanced at the clock on the microwave—5:15 P.M.

Trent nodded.

“Speaking of leaving… if we don’t go now, we’ll be late to the airport.” Abby checked her phone. “Their flight is right on schedule.”

“Who’s flight?” I asked, eyes narrowed.

“Piper and her sisters,” Abby answered, head tilted.

I shifted my weight, uncomfortable under her scrutiny. I hadn’t told anyone that Piper was my soulmate, but based on the way Abby looked at me and smiled, I had a feeling she knew. And I’d bet anything Isach did, too.

“You invited Piper?” I asked as casually as possible.

“Of course I did. She’s my friend. Not inviting her would’ve been rude.” Abby continued to study me. “Do you have a problem with her being here?”

“It’s your wedding. Do whatever you want.” My body ignited with the knowledge that Piper would be here. In this very house. Again. My flesh tingled and itched with need.

“If you say so.” But Abby’s smirk said everything I feared—she knew.

I was going to have to have a little chat with her later—privately—and warn her not to say anything to anyone. Until I knew how Piper felt about the situation, it would remain my secret to bear.

***

A few hours later, I sat inside a sports bar in Lake Placid with Trent, Colt, Isach, and Wyatt. The entire top of the table was filled with half eaten baskets of wings, fries, jalapeno poppers, and onion rings. For a bar, the food was decent. Not quite as good as I would’ve made, but I didn’t want to gag, either. Several different basketball games played across a dozen TVs, though none of us were paying much attention.

Isach was too busy checking his phone while Colt and Wyatt were scoping the bar for women. Trent was content to just sit and sip his beer. As far as bachelor parties went, this one was lamer than Trent’s, and I had no idea how that was even possible. We literally sat around drinking beer for Trent’s bachelor party. Then we watched the goriest movie we could find on TV before going hunting. No strippers. No raucous jokes. No offers to disappear to another country. Boring. And tonight was on track to be even worse.

“This blows.” I finished my beer and glanced over my shoulder.

A second later, our waitress arrived with another round. She wore jeans that looked painted onto her curvy waist and slim legs and an equally tight, red, V-neck top that showed off her very generous cleavage.

“You guys need anything else?” she asked, her gaze lingering on Colt.

She’d been eyeing him all night, and even though he tried to play it cool, I’d caught him staring at her more than once, too. I watched to see what he’d do, if he’d have the balls to actually pick her up.

“Just your phone number.” Colt tossed her a grin that was equal parts interest and nonchalance.

The waitress smiled, pulled a folded piece of paper from her bra, and handed it to Colt. “I get bored easily, so I wouldn’t wait too long to call.” She patted his shoulder, then sashayed away, and every single one of us turned to watch her.

“She’s certainly… willing.” I sliced a look at my brother. “She’s red.”

“That aura thing you do is so weird,” Isach said.

“This coming from the guy who can literally move shit with the flick of his hand.” I rolled my eyes, which earned me a laugh.

Wyatt whistled. “Well, if you don’t call her, I will.”

Colt laughed and tucked the paper in his pocket.

“Terrible line, but gotta give you credit for asking.” I punched Colt’s arm.

“Terrible or not, it worked.” Colt took a long pull of his beer. “Which is more than I can say for you. Other than Chloe, when was the last time you showed interest in a woman?”

“Haven’t you heard?” Isach grinned at me in a way that screamed I-know-a-secret-and-I’m-spilling-the-beans.

“Heard what?” Trent glanced from Isach to me. Leave it to my brother to suddenly decide to participate in this little party when, up to this point, he’d been disinterested.

I straightened in my seat, my chest clenching. “If you want to be able to stand at the altar on your own two legs tomorrow, you’d better not answer that.” I pointed at Isach.

Taking another drink, Isach narrowed his eyes at me over the rim of his glass. Before he could say anything, his phone chimed with yet another message. He snatched his phone and swiped at the screen. Even though I was beyond grateful for the momentary reprieve, I was also getting annoyed.

“You’re literally spending an eternity with her, and you can’t go one night without talking to her?” I asked.

“She’s checking in to let me know they got Piper and her sisters from the airport and are now headed out for the bachelorette party.” Isach set his phone on the table.

I lifted my beer bottle to my lips and averted my gaze as if nothing Isach just said made any difference to me. But knowing Piper was back in Keene Valley had my insides twisting with a torrent of need. Impatience warred with common sense, but I sat there, refusing to give in to any of the emotions tearing through me.

“Where are they headed?” Wyatt asked.

Isach shrugged. “No idea. Abby said they were surprising her.” He glanced at Trent, who held his hands up.

“Don’t look at me. Chloe didn’t tell me anything, either.” Trent laughed.

“That means they’re going to a male strip club,” Colt said.

“Can you blame them?” I said without missing a beat. “I mean, one of them is married to our boring brother, and the other is hours away from getting hitched to witch boy over there.” I inclined my bottle at Isach. “They’re probably desperate to see a real man.”

Colt laughed so hard he nearly spit out his drink. Wyatt leaned around Colt and held out his fist, and I bumped mine to his. Trent flipped me off, and Isach gave me an evil little smirk. Shit. I was going to pay for that comment. I shifted, bracing myself.

“If any of us should be worried about them going to a strip club, it should be you, Jax.” Isach’s attention was laser focused on me.

Yup. Here comes the payback. I knew I shouldn’t ask, but I’d dug this hole, so why not jump in headfirst? “And why’s that?”

“Well, if it were me, I’d be concerned that Piper’s spending the night watching ‘real men’”—he used air quotes around those words—“only to have to come home to you.” He leaned back, grinning. “I can’t imagine her disappointment.”

“Fuck you.” I laughed. Though, I totally deserved that.

“Wait. Why would Piper be coming home to Jax?” Trent had that look on his face, the one where he was seconds away from figuring out something that I’d rather he not know.

“Do you want to tell him, or should I?” Isach raised a brow, challenging me.

I scowled. So much for keeping it a secret. Maybe letting the cat out of the bag now was better—no way would I be able to hide the truth when I’d be so close to Piper for the next few days, especially not from Trent. He knew me too well. I was convinced the only reason he hadn’t figured it out before was because we’d all been too worried about dealing with Ivy.

“Tell me what?” Trent asked.

“Your brother found his soulmate.” Isach’s tone was entirely too self-satisfied.

Trent’s eyes widened. “Piper’s your soulmate?”

I nodded and took another drink, needing the distraction.

“Does she know that?” Colt asked.

“No idea.” I shrugged. “I haven’t asked her.”

“Why the hell not?” Trent blinked as if he couldn’t believe I hadn’t had this conversation with Piper.

“Why would I?” I shot back.

“Because she’s your soulmate, Jax.” Trent shook his head. “How long have you known?”

“Since the moment I met her.” I leaned forward and rested my arms on the table, my hands clasped around the now warm beer bottle. As much as I loathed talking about this right now, having my secret out in the open was freeing. If anyone was going to understand, Trent would.

“That was six months ago.” Colt tilted his head.

“I know.” I sighed.

“You let her leave,” Trent said.

“No shit.” Like I needed to be reminded of that fact, or that I’d spent every day since then fighting the urge to jump on a plane and go back to New Orleans.

“You can’t let her leave again.” Trent leaned forward, encroaching on my personal space.

I rolled my eyes. I hated when he got like this. Leaning back, I crossed my arms. “I can’t force her to stay.”

“No, but you have to do something,” he insisted.

“Like what, Trent? Stalk her? Obsess over her? Make ridiculous moony eyes at her like you did with Chloe?”

“Yeah, if that’s what it takes.” His expression was dead serious.

“I’m not talking about this anymore.” I gave a hard shake of my head, then pointed at Isach. “And you’re a dick.”

He chuckled. “Now we’re even for you kissing Abby.”

“You kissed Abby?” Wyatt damn near shouted the question at me.

“Technically, she kissed me.” I shot Isach a grin meant to piss him off, and if his scowl was any indication, I’d succeeded. “I just didn’t see any reason to stop her.”

Colt tilted his head closer to me and in a very loud stage whisper asked, “How was it?”

“Hot,” I said, keeping my gaze on Isach. “Though not quite as hot as kissing Chloe.”

Trent lunged across the table, but I was out of my chair before he could reach me. We all laughed, Trent included, and I rested easy knowing that despite everything that went on with Chloe, Trent was over it and we could now laugh about it. I only hoped Isach would get to that point someday, too.

“All right, who’s ready to get the hell out of here?” I dropped enough cash on the table to cover the bill and give our waitress a generous tip.

“Where to now?” Isach asked.

I smirked. “The strip club.”