Sea Breeze 01 - Breathe

a guy falls for the one she can never have. Somehow my sitting here comparing my life to Shakespeare proved just how badly I’d fallen.
    Footsteps drew my attention out of my Jax-centered thoughts, and I realized Marcus must be finished. I didn’t turn around. I stayed put and waited until he stopped behind me.
    “Beautiful view, isn’t it?” he said.
    “Yeah, it is. Are you in a hurry to get home, or can we enjoy it together?”
    He shrugged and sank down beside me. I smiled to myself when I realized he wasn’t very graceful either. I was more on common ground with Marcus than with Jax. Even if he didn’t make me get goose bumps and go all warm and tingly. Those feelings were addictive, and they couldn’t be healthy.
    We watched in silence for a few minutes before Marcus turned to me. I met his gaze and smiled. My friend. That thought made me smile even bigger. He sighed and shook his head.
    “What?” I asked, confused.
    He gave me a sheepish grin. “Sadie, when you smile at me, it makes my heart do crazy things.” He blushed and flicked his gaze back toward the water. “I know I’m three years older than you, but you seem so much older than your age.” He took a deep breath. “Okay, here goes. I’m trying to prepare myself for the letdown, so bear with me.”
    This could not be happening to me. I didn’t know what I would say. Would this mess up our friendship? If I said no, would he still be my friend? I stared at him, waiting for the words I feared would change our relationship forever, while a sick knot formed in my stomach. I didn’t want this to happen. It seemed so unfair. First I’d lost Jax, whom I never really had to begin with, and now I was going to lose my friend, the guy who always made me laugh when I needed it the most.
    “Sadie.”
    A voice I only heard in my dreams these days broke the silence, and I turned around. Jax was walking toward us. I wanted to cry tears of joy. I wasn’t sure if they would be from seeing the object of my obsession or from hearing him say my name again.
    “Jax,” I said, a little too breathless as I stood up and faced him.
    His gaze brushed past Marcus. “You can go. I’ve arranged transportation for Sadie.” He dismissed Marcus as if he were angry at him.
    I glanced at Marcus. A challenge flashed in his eyes, and I realized I would have to deny myself what I wanted most, time alone with Jax, in order to save my friend his job.
    “Thank you, Jax, but I would really rather Marcus took me home.”
    Jax’s eyes left mine, and he frowned at Marcus before turning back to me. “Please, Sadie, I know I don’t deserve it, but I want to talk to you. I need to talk to you.”
    My resolve cracked at hearing him say please. I didn’t think I could tell him no again. I looked back at Marcus, his face angrier than I’d ever seen him, and it brought me back to the reason I’d said no to begin with.
    “Jax, this really isn’t necessary. Marcus takes me home every night, and we were in the middle of a conversation we need to finish. You have better things to do than take your kitchen help home.” I hadn’t meant for my words to come out sounding so harsh, and when Jax winced, I hated myself.
    He stepped aside so Marcus and I could pass. “Of course,” he said, his eyes on the water instead of on me.
    If hearts could shatter, mine just did.
    Marcus took my hand and gently pulled me away from Jax and toward his truck. I knew I should look away, but I couldn’t. As if he heard my thoughts, Jax turned toward me, a haunted expression in his eyes. I stopped walking, and Marcus dropped his hand from mine.
    I heard Marcus’s frustrated sigh before he said, “I hope you know what you’re doing, Sadie. He’s only gonna hurt you.”
    I nodded because I knew he was right. “I’m sorry,” I whispered.
    Marcus deserved an explanation, but I wouldn’t give him one. This was between Jax and me. I turned and left Marcus there and walked back to Jax. A relieved smile spread over Jax’s face. I almost laughed when he took a deep breath as if he had been holding it, waiting to see if I would come back.
    Jax squinted against the glare of the setting sun. “You were right. You should’ve left with him.”
    I shook my head. “I tried, but I couldn’t do it.”
    He reached out and took my hand in his. A warm, tingly sensation coursed up my arm and through every other limb of my body.
    “Come on, Sadie. Let’s go for a walk.”
    We held hands as we walked