Ripple Effect(Sequel To MBBF)

  The past two weeks have been different from the past couple of months. The man living in my house is no longer a stranger to my son and I. I can finally read through him again and agree we are on the same page. We have our differences at times but it's nothing out of the ordinary. 

 Everyday I wait for the other shoe to drop. When will he fall apart again?

 I looked up from my cup of coffee as Jax walks in his work uniform, a sleepy Gavin to his side. Grinning, I bend down to kiss Gavin on his forehead. 

 "Are you ready to go to Aunt Marissa's?" I rub his head. 

 "I want to stay home with daddy." He rubs his eyes. 

 I look up at Jax who had a sad smile on his face. "I'll see you after I get back from work, and tell you what we'll pick mommy up from the hospital and we'll go to the park. How's that sound?"

 Gavin's eyes go wide and he nods his head repeatedly. "Okay."

 "Go put your shoes on." Jax smacks his behind as Gavin runs off to his room. 

 Moving off the stool, I place my now empty cup in the sink and begin washing the dishes. There was an awkward silence that lingered the room I could practically hear our breathing colliding with each others. 

 I was in the middle of washing a plate when I felt a pair of familiar hands go around my waist. Suddenly, all the hairs on my body stood up and an electrifying shock went through my body. 

 I missed this, but it felt so unfamiliar.

 "Jax," My voice comes out shaky. "Don't."

 He leans closer, I could feel his breath on my neck, his lips itching closer. Suddenly, his hands start moving down and I let the plate slip from my hand, crashing against the other plates. Jolting back, I push Jax away and shut off the water. 

 "I'm going to be late for work." I avoid looking at him. "Gavin, are you ready?!" 

 Leaving the kitchen, I turn the corner and lean my body against the wall. As good as things are they're too different. I have gotten way too used to the feeling of loneliness I don't know how to act around my own husband. 

 I needed to feel that comfort again. 

I needed to feel that sparkle again. 

I needed to trust him again and be sure there weren't going to be anymore new surprises with him. It was bad enough the first time around. 

Jax's Point Of View

 Things were different. I could smell it in the air every time I was around her. She didn't look at me the same, she didn't love me the same. 

As I sat next to her, driving her to work she stared out the window. I knew her too well to know she was replaying the incident in the kitchen in her head. It's been so long since I've held her in my arms I just wanted to feel the warmth of her skin again. 

 I'm afraid she'll never see me the same.

 I ruined our lives. I felt so suffocated with everything happening so fast I went crashing. A new job, a kid, marriage. Everything was too much to take in. I wasn't happy with myself. 

 It's crazy how one mistake can change your life with a blink of an eye.

 It'll take you years to build up a reputation and get your life in order and in a matter of seconds it can all be over. My one mistake was taking advantage of everything I had. 

 I had a beautiful wife sitting besides me and a son in the back seat I have let down. It was my job to make it up to them. Even if it takes all eternity. Emma and I would be always and forever.

 "Come on, buddy. Say goodbye to mommy." I speak as I pulled into Marissa and Hunter's drive way. 

 Stepping out of the car, I let them say their goodbyes before taking Gavin out of the car and walking up the porch. I saw the surprised look in Marissa's face when she saw me at the door. She gave me a weak smile, her eyes shifting over to Emma who was in the car. 

 "Hey, Jax." Gavin squeezed her into a hug before running inside. 

 "Hey." I greet her. 

 "How are you?" Her eyes stayed on my face, glued like cement.

 "I'm good, I'm great. How's Maddy, and..and Hunter?" I clear my throat.

 Before she got a chance to answer there was a honk from behind me. I turned to see Emma waving her hand at me and pointing to her watch. Breaking up the awkward tension, I say my goodbyes and walk off, my eyes catching a glimpse of Emma's through the window.

 Her eyes were stained with tears. Tears I've caused.

 "You..you okay?" I clear my throat, driving away from the house. 

 "Just tired." She replies.

 I let a couple seconds of silence pass through us before I stopped at a red light and looked at her. Reaching to grab her hand her body tenses under my touch. 

 "I am so sorry, Emma." I break the silence. 

 She looked over at me, and intertwined her fingers with mine. "You know, I think that's the first time I hear you say that and actually mean it." 

 "I don't deserve you." I keep our hands locked in as I drove towards the hospital. 

 "Don't say that." I feel her eyes on me. "I know things are just starting to get back on track and it's hard. It can't automically get back to how it used to be. For that I am sorry for how I reacted this morning."

 "I shouldn't have rushed into it." I say, pulling into the hospital parking lot. "I just miss you."

 "I know," Her eyes meet mine. "I miss you, too. I'm here, though. For better or for worse, we'll get back to how it was before. Even better, but at our own pace. I am going to love you forever, Jax."

 My hands go to her face and I squeeze her cheeks, smiling as I feel the warmth of her skin. "Always and forever."

 "Exactly." She agrees. 

- -

I know this is a short chapter but its been months since I've uploaded anything. I wanted to keep those who are still around a taste of what's to come. Although, this book is coming to an end and its soon time to say goodbye to Emma and Jax for good. I hope you enjoyed this mini chapter and hopefully I'll be able to update again this week.