“I am. But it doesn’t hurt to keep an eye on the prospects.” Jax grinned and propped his chin on his hand. “So, about Summer.”
“No, let’s go back to this replacement of yours. Who is he?”
“Name’s Sterling Vance. He’s actually got sec experience, unlike us. Used to work as the muscle for a minor boy band and also worked a few clubs in the city for a while. Actually, he’d probably be perfect for Summer.”
“Forget it. If anyone’s going with her, it’s you.”
Jax gave him a sly smile and stole more toast. Hell, Chase wasn’t eating it, so why not? “Thought you’d say that.”
“If he’s so almighty skilled, why does he need a job?”
“He made a mint from good investments early on and doesn’t have to work. Plus, you know, he’s a trust fund baby.” Jax raised an eyebrow at Chase’s quizzical look. “Vance Industries? The finance people?”
“Sorry, not my bag. So you want me to work with some spoiled rich pal of yours while you’re off guarding Summer?” Chase scowled at the table. “Assuming you actually, you know, manage to guard her this time and don’t go running off after some tail like you were last night.”
“What tail was I running after? And how the hell do you know?”
“The tail was my sister. And I know because I was there at the club. I saw you two arguing or love squabbling or whatever the hell it is you two are about these days.”
“Your sister is not, has not ever been and will never be, just tail. And you’re an asshole.” After that proclamation, Jax flashed his pearly whites at the waitress and accepted his coffee and scrambled eggs. Chase got more toast and a bowl of bacon. An actual bowl of it.
Worked for him.
“Regardless, your focus is lacking. So don’t screw around with Summer.”
“Or?” Jax sounded positively gleeful.
“Don’t test me, man. I’m not in the mood.”
“Aww, upset because your girl’s leaving?”
Chase pulled off the end of his banana and crammed it his mouth. Then he gulped half his coffee. “She’s not my girl.”
“But you want her to be.”
Chase lowered his cup a little too hard and the ketchup bottle pitched to its side. Neither of them righted it. “Irrelevant.”
“Ah, so you do.” Jax leaned forward and gestured with a forkful of egg. “You could try something revolutionary. You could tell her how you feel.”
“Uh huh. I’ll just do that. Too bad I don’t know what I feel, except that I sure as shit do not want to play ‘Therapist and Patient’.”
Jax let out a windy sigh and shoveled in eggs. “You know, you could join her in a couple months. Once you’ve gotten in some of your rehab, you can get out there and spend some time together on the road.”
“She could be married in a couple months, for fuck’s sake,” Chase snapped.
Jax’s smirk returned. “Oh yeah, you don’t know what you feel. You’re a blank slate, buddy. Either you need to up your fiber intake or you’ll all knotted up over the girl. And I’ll say this…”
“Please don’t. Stop talking. Forever.”
Jax ignored him. “She’s totally worth it. She didn’t have it easy as a kid, but she’s doing great for herself. After what she saw and lived through, it’s a miracle that she came through it all sane.”
Chase set down his half eaten strip of bacon. “What are you talking about?”
“You know, what happened with her dad.”
“Her dad’s dead. That’s all I know.” The memory of holding Summer while she cried in her sleep made him fist his hands. Which, naturally, led to his little finger starting to tingle from the nerve compression. “What happened?”
Jax frowned. “It’s really not my story to tell.” He exhaled. “Fine. I know you care about her too. From what Cass told me, her mom and dad were really in love. One of those fairy tale-type couples every one hears about and no one ever knows.”