Her Ex: The Braxton Brothers Series Page 10

  Jackson blew out his breath as he mussed his hair and closed his eyes. He needed to get a grip so that he could focus on the task at hand. Surviving dinner.

  After slipping on his shoes and spritzing himself with cologne, he opened the door and made his way down the stairs and across the backyard. The rest of the family had made their way out to the back patio. The smell of hamburgers and hot dogs wafted from the grill.

  James and Jonathan were standing near the food, each with a beer in their hand. Josh was throwing a football to Jordan. And the three new Braxton women were sitting in lawn chairs, chatting.

  Not sure what to do, Jackson grabbed a beer and headed over to James and Jonathan.

  “Grip it better, Jordan. You’ll get a better spiral,” Jonathan shouted as he held up his hand like he was gripping a football.

  “Will you let me teach my son in peace?” Josh yelled back.

  Jonathan shook his head as he turned and met Jackson’s gaze. “Don’t you look fancy,” he said as he opened the grill, and steam and smoke billowed out.

  Jackson stepped back and took a sip of his beer. “Some of us still care what we look like,” Jackson said as he nodded toward Jonathan’s stomach.

  “Excuse me? What are you trying to say?” Jonathan asked. His voice was joking, but there was a serious glint in his eye.

  “Don’t you even think about it, you two,” Sondra said as she walked by. She was carrying a huge bowl of potato salad. Jenna was following behind her and caught Jackson’s eye.

  Jenna widened her eyes as she nodded toward Sondra. Her typical “help me” move.

  Jackson nodded and moved to take the bowl from Sondra. “Let me help you, Ma,” he said as he pulled the salad away. Sondra started to protest, but Jackson shook his head. “You’ve been working all day. Sit down. Put your feet up,” Jackson said as he nodded toward Tiffany, Beth, and Layla.

  Sondra glanced at her daughters-in-law and then back to Jackson. She reached up and patted his cheek. “You were always my favorite,” she said as she let out a big sigh and sat down on an empty lawn chair.

  Thankfully, Layla swept her away in conversation, allowing Jackson to escape and set the bowl down on the food table.

  “Thank you,” Jenna said as she followed him. She reached into a bag of Doritos and grabbed a handful. “Without Dean here, I have no buffer.”

  Jackson glanced over at her. “You and Dean hanging out now?”

  Jackson wasn’t sure, but he swore he saw Jenna’s cheeks flush. Which was weird. Dean was like a brother to them. It would be weird and gross for him and Jenna to have feelings for each other.

  “Yeah, well, since my big brother who swore to protect me from Mom has been MIA, who else did I have to turn to?” Jenna slipped a chip into her mouth as she turned to stare at Jackson.

  His thoughts immediately turned to Isabel and Tori and the mess he’d created for himself tonight. What the crap had he been thinking?

  “What? What did you do?” Jenna asked, leaning in.

  Jackson shook his head and turned to grab a handful of chips for himself. “Nothing. Why?”

  Jenna leaned over the table to meet his gaze. “You have that look about you. The one you got when you dyed the dog blue.” She narrowed her eyes. “Does it have to do with Isabel?”

  Jackson could see Jenna’s mind working, piecing together her version of the story. “Jackson!” she exclaimed.

  Jackson glared at her. “Will you stop it? It’s not what you think.”

  “Oh really? How is it not?” Jenna lowered her voice. “Isabel is engaged. What are you thinking?”

  Jackson stared at Jenna, trying to process what she’d just said. “Wait, what?”

  Jenna nodded at him. “You and Isabel…” She raised her eyebrows. “You know.”

  Realization hit Jackson like a ton of bricks. “What? No. I’m not that kind of guy.” He cleared his throat as he tried to redeem himself in his sister’s eyes. “I don’t steal other guys’ fiancées.”

  Jenna raised her eyebrows as she ate another chip. Jackson held her gaze, hoping she’d realize he was being serious. Finally, she sighed. “Good. ’Cause I was going to have to hurt you.” Then she fell silent. “Or tell Mom. That could be fun.”

  Jackson hushed her as he turned to check that Sondra was still engrossed in a conversation with Layla. It was kind of nice, having more Braxton family members. It meant more people to distract Mom.

  “So, if you didn’t do anything with Isabel, why do you look so guilty?” Jenna asked as she dug her hand into the chip bag again.

  Jackson sighed. “Mom invited Isabel to dinner.”

  Jenna nodded. “Yeah, Mom told me. She also told me to get you two alone as much as possible. Apparently, Isabel’s fiancé is a piece of work. Something about wanting to leave her dad in a nursing home and whisk her away to all these exotic places.”

  “She would hate that,” Jackson said before he could stop himself.

  Jenna didn’t respond, and Jackson feared what she was thinking as he studied the cupcakes in front of him. Why couldn’t he just keep his mouth shut? He was going to get himself in more trouble than he wanted to deal with right now.

  “I invited Tori to dinner,” he said, hoping to distract Jenna.

  She coughed, like she’d inhaled some chip dust. “You did what? Tori Hodges? Why?”

  Jackson shrugged. “No reason really. I ran into her at the beach, so I invited her.” Jackson downed the rest of his beer. If only he felt as confident as he sounded.

  He didn’t really want anything to do with Tori romantically. It was easy to think that all he needed to do to move on from the one girl loved with was to find another, but that wasn’t true.

  And he really didn’t like the fact that he’d turned into “that guy.” He didn’t like the out of control feeling that was coursing through his body.

  Jenna sighed as her hand landed on his shoulder. “It’ll be okay,” she said softly.

  Jackson glanced over at his little sister, grateful that she was here to help him get through this. What did he know? Maybe when he was home in New York, he would look back on this weekend fondly. He would tell himself that going back to Honey Grove was a smart decision.

  But right then, he was regretting every decision he’d made. They all seemed wrong. Both the ones that brought him closer to Isabel and the ones that pushed her away. Each brought him pain, because in the end he was never going to win Isabel back.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Isabel sat in her car, staring at the dashboard. Nancy’s words were flowing through her mind as she studied the numbers on the speedometer.

  “I think you know what you need to do. Being with Bobby isn’t bringing you happiness. Maybe it’s time you call things off for a while. I know your dad. He wouldn’t want you to be unhappy.”

  Isabel blinked a few times as tears threatened to spill. Nancy had nailed it on the head. Isabel was so unhappy. She was constantly walking around with a pit in her stomach. The feeling of dread that she was making the wrong decision.

  Why couldn’t she just figure her life out? Why couldn’t things be easy?

  She groaned as she gripped the steering wheel and tipped her head back, resting it against her seat.

  “Because I’m an idiot,” she whispered. Why had she ever thought that marrying Bobby was the solution to her problems?

  Sure, running away to an exotic place sounded like a dream come true, but when she woke up, she was still going to have to deal with her life.

  Dad was still sick, and she was still too poor to get him home. No expensive getaway was going to change that.

  After a few hard swallows to get her emotions under control, Isabel slipped the keys into the ignition and started up the engine. She pulled out of the parking lot of Humanitarian Hearts and onto the main road. Just as she stopped at a red light, her phone chimed.

  Glancing down, she read a text from Mrs. Braxton.

  Mrs. Braxton: Just making sure you’
re still coming for dinner!☺

  Isabel studied the text, her heart quickening at the thought of seeing Jackson again. But she shook her head as she responded. They were over. No need to keep breaking open that wound.

  Isabel: I’m so sorry, I won’t be able to make it. I’m not feeling well.

  She hit send and then glanced up to see the light had changed to green. She pressed her foot on the gas and made her way through the streets toward her house. Just before she pulled into the driveway, her phone chimed again.

  Mrs. Braxton: Oh no! I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I’ll send Jackson over with some food.

  Isabel’s stomach leapt into her throat. That was the last thing she wanted. In fact, the idea of sitting in her quiet house alone with Jackson sounded worse than a loud and crowded Braxton party. Maybe she should just show up for a few minutes and leave. It would appease Mrs. Braxton and allow Isabel to move on with her life.

  Isabel: No, that’s okay. I’m actually thinking I might just need some food. I’ll be there in twenty.

  Isabel grabbed her purse and opened her door as she made her way up her walkway. Her phone chimed just as she’d unlocked her door and stepped inside.

  Mrs. Braxton: Oh, lovely. We’ll see you when you get here. There’s plenty of food.

  Isabel responded with a thumbs up and then dropped her purse and keys onto the counter as she let out a breath. Right now, she needed a hot shower and a change of clothes. Anything to make her feel more awake and more human.

  Fifteen minutes later, Isabel was standing in front of her closet with a towel wrapped around her body. She was staring at her clothes, trying to decide on something to wear.

  Reaching out, she grabbed a light floral dress and held it up to her body. As she stared at her reflection, she tried to imagine what Jackson would think…and then pushed that thought from her mind.

  What was wrong with her?

  Sighing, she tucked the dress back into the closet and then grabbed a pair of cut-off jeans and a white tank. Something that wouldn’t make it look like she was trying too hard.

  She pulled a brush through her hair and put on some mascara and lip gloss. Then she slipped on her sandals, grabbed her purse and keys, and headed back outside.

  The drive to the Braxtons’ house seemed faster than she remembered. Maybe it was because she was dreading what she was going to do once she got there. The Braxtons were a great family, but the last time she’d been to their house was when she was in a relationship with one of them.

  Now, it just felt like she was intruding on their family time.

  After parking on the street, she turned off her car and got out. She slammed the door and took in a deep breath as she walked up the driveway and toward the back. As she rounded the house, she could hear laughter and smell the meat on the grill.

  She gripped the strap of her purse. Everyone was milling around the backyard. Jonathan and James were huddled next to the grill. Beth and Layla were standing next to them. Sondra and Jimmy were sitting on some lawn chairs, laughing and talking to Josh and Beth.

  Jenna was playing a board game with Jordan. And Jackson? Her gaze fell on him, and she couldn’t help but stare.

  Jackson was leaning next to a nearby tree. He had his arms folded across his body and he was staring off into the distance as if he were in a trance.

  Not sure what to do, she forced a smile and walked over to where Sondra and Jimmy were sitting. Even though her whole body wanted her to walk over to Jackson—apparently, that’s where she felt the safest—she decided that would be a stupid decision.

  Announcing her presence to Mrs. Braxton felt like the right move. That way she’d be seen, and Sondra wouldn’t feel the need to send any of her sons to stop by the house with food.

  “Isabel!” Mrs. Braxton exclaimed as she stood and pulled Isabel into a hug. “I’m so glad you made it.” Mrs. Braxton pulled back. “How are you feeling? Better?”

  Isabel nodded. “Yes. Thanks. I’m just…tried.” And that was the truth.

  Mrs. Braxton nodded. “Of course. You poor thing. All alone in your house.” She wrapped her arm around Isabel’s shoulders and started moving her toward the food table. “Let’s fill you up. Jackson?”

  Isabel winced at the sound of his name. She should have known that within seconds of being here, Mrs. Braxton would push her and Jackson together.

  Isabel snuck a look in Jackson’s direction. He was staring at his mom and looked as uncomfortable as she felt. Not sure how to interpret that, Isabel figured it was best to just drop her gaze and focus on the grass.

  “Come help get Isabel some food,” Mrs. Braxton said, waving Jackson over.

  Isabel hesitated, not sure if she wanted to peek to see what Jackson was going to do. Part of her wanted him to come over, the other part wanted him to stay exactly where he was. If he refused to come over, at least this whole weird experience would be over faster.

  “Okay,” Jackson said, his voice sounding closer now.

  Isabel glanced up to see him standing a few feet away. His jaw muscles were clenched as he stared at his mom. If Mrs. Braxton noticed, she didn’t say anything. She handed him a plate and waved toward the food. “Fill it up for her. James?”

  James glanced in their direction.

  “Get Isabel a hamburger.”

  James nodded and opened the grill. A few seconds later, he walked over with a steaming hot hamburger patty on his spatula. Jackson had readied a bun, and before Isabel knew what was happening, Jackson was filling her plate with food.

  Isabel watched, not sure what to say or how to say it. Jackson put everything she loved and would have served herself onto the plate. Even after all of these years, he remembered what she liked.

  When he was done, he straightened and glanced down at her. “I’ll get you a soda. Why don’t you find a seat?”

  Worried with how she might sound if she tried to speak, Isabel just nodded and made her way over to a picnic table on the far end of the lawn. She settled in just as Jackson pulled a Sprite from the cooler and headed in her direction.

  He kept his gaze turned down toward the ground, allowing Isabel some time to study him. And then the thought of Bobby entered her mind.

  If given the same opportunity, would Bobby know what to get her? Would he know what she liked and didn’t like? And if the answer to those questions was no, why did that make her so sad?

  Before she could settle on an answer, Jackson set the plate down in front of her and handed her the soda and a fork. He stood there awkwardly, as if trying to decide what he was going to do.

  “Sit,” she said, nodding toward the spot next to her.

  She could feel his hesitation before he dropped down onto the bench. He must have misjudged the space between them, because as he sat, their legs brushed one another.

  Warmth spread across her skin as she reveled in his touch.

  There was something about Jackson. There always had been. He was familiar, and he knew her like she knew him. She would be lying if she didn’t admit that that familiarity was something she missed. Wholly and completely.

  Not sure what to say, Isabel shoved her fork into the potato salad and took a bite. Jackson seemed to be just as confused. He sat there with his hands on his knees, staring hard at the tabletop in front of them.

  Feeling sad that this was what they’d come to, Isabel let out a soft sigh and turned to focus on Jackson. “Are you going to eat?” she asked.

  Jackson startled and glanced over at her. He held her gaze for a moment and then shook his head. “I’m not hungry.”

  Isabel nodded as she slipped a chip into her mouth. Silence engulfed them like fog on an autumn morning. She hated it. Hated how awkward things were between them.

  “Are you excited for the wedding?” she asked, desperate to talk about something. Anything.

  Jackson scoffed as he rested his hands on the tabletop. Then he hesitated before he glanced over at her. “You mean Jonathan’s?”

  Isabel nodde
d. “Who else would I be talking about?”

  Jackson stared at her and then dropped his gaze down to the ring on her finger.

  Realization hit her as she fiddled with the band. Right. Her wedding. Or lack thereof. She still wasn’t sure what was going to happen with that.

  Jackson cleared his throat as he shifted on his seat. “Yeah, I’m excited for Jonathan. He and Tiffany are perfect for each other. I’m happy that they’re happy.”

  Isabel nodded as she felt a soft smile form on her lips. If only her own love life was that simple. To love someone and have them love her back. That felt like the perfect ending to her story.

  And yet, that tale felt as far away as Bobby did.

  “Is there someone for you like that? You know…” Isabel swallowed as heat crept across her skin. Why was she asking this? Did she really want to know? Judging by the rock that had just sunk in her stomach, she didn’t. But she’d already started down the path, she might as well finish it. “…back in New York.”

  Jackson’s gaze drifted over to her as he studied her in silence. She pinched her lips, wondering if she’d made a big mistake. It wasn’t an unusual question to ask an ex. People were normally curious about what the other person had been up to.

  Jackson drummed his fingers on the tabletop and sighed. “No one in particular comes to mind. I’ve been busy. Not many women are okay with my work schedule.”

  Isabel took another bite of her potato salad as she studied her plate. “Your work is really important to you, isn’t it?” she asked.

  Jackson nodded. “It’s my life. I’ve worked hard and made something of myself.” The last few words were lower than the others. Almost like he was trying to prove something to himself. Or to her. But why would he need to prove anything to her? She’d never questioned his ability to be successful.

  He had been valedictorian in high school. When Jackson Braxton put his mind to something, he accomplished it.

  She gave him an encouraging smile. “I knew you would. I don’t think anyone here in Honey Grove doubted you.”

  Jackson’s gaze rose to meet hers. He looked surprised. Like he didn’t believe her. Which was silly—there wasn’t one person she knew who hadn’t thought Jackson would make something of himself. When he wanted something, he stopped at nothing to get it.