Her Ex: The Braxton Brothers Series Read online

  Jackson stood there, trying to process what she’d said. Even though he had choice feelings about Mr. Andrews, he never wanted to see Isabel struggle. It killed him inside that she was hurting.

  “Now she’s left to plan her wedding alone,” Layla added. Jackson could feel her stare on him.

  He glanced over at Layla and nodded. “Okay.” He wasn’t sure what else he could say.

  Isabel wasn’t his anymore. She was marrying another guy. It wasn’t his job to make her happy, even though helping her was all he could think about.

  Jackson nodded to his family. “I’m exhausted.”

  Sondra studied him for a moment before she nodded. “The apartment above the garage is cleaned and ready. I figured you’d want some space, and Josh is no longer there.” She turned and shot both Beth and Josh a look. They just shrugged.

  “I got married, Ma. I live with my wife now.”

  Sondra threw up her hands as she passed by. “You both could live there, that’s all I’m saying.”

  Josh muttered something, but Jackson and Sondra were already in the kitchen. Sondra just clicked her tongue and made her way over to a kitchen drawer. She rooted around until she pulled out a key.

  “Come on, honey,” she said, nodding toward the back door.

  Jackson followed his mom. They crossed the driveway and made their way up the stairs to the apartment door. Sondra unlocked it, pushed the door open, and then waved Jackson inside.

  She flipped on the kitchen light and turned to study him. After a moment, she reached out and pulled him into a hug. “I’m happy you’re home,” she said.

  Jackson patted his mom’s back and nodded. “Me too.”

  Sondra pulled back but kept her grip on his shoulders. “I know things went south with you and Isabel, but I really think she could use a friend right now. Promise me you’ll reach out to her?”

  Jackson stared at his mom’s earnest eyes. He knew she meant well, but she didn’t know what she was asking of him. Being around Isabel wasn’t smart. Not if he wanted his pathetically glued-together heart to remain intact.

  But he nodded. “Of course. I’ll reach out to her tomorrow.”

  Sondra smiled and patted his shoulders. “You’re such a sweetie.” Then she sighed as she dropped her arms. “All right. I should go. Have a good night?”

  Jackson nodded. “Will do.”

  Sondra gave him another smile and then made her way to the door and shut it behind her. Once she was gone, Jackson went to the kitchen sink and turned the water on. He filled up a glass and downed it. Then he set the glass next to the sink.

  He drew in his breath as he rested his hands on the countertop and tipped his head forward. His whole body was tense, and he needed to relax.

  A commotion at the door drew his attention. Jenna was dragging a suitcase into the apartment. She glared at him as she slammed the door.

  “Where have you been?” she demanded.

  Jackson held up his hands. “What?”

  Jenna growled as she blew her hair from her face. “We were going to do this together. You were supposed to help me with Mom.” She staggered over to the couch and collapsed on it with a huff.

  Jackson chuckled as he walked over to her. “Was it that bad?”

  Jenna covered her face with her elbow and let out a groan. “She reminded me that my eggs aren’t going to last forever,” she murmured.

  Jackson grimaced. That was not what he wanted to think about. His sister’s eggs. “Bleh. Don’t say that.”

  Jenna nodded as she slipped her arm down to rest next to her. “Right? You get how wrong that is. But apparently it’s fine for Mom.” She sighed as she stared off into the distance. “I mean, Beth and Layla are pregnant. Who knows how long it will be until Tiffany is having a baby? Do we all need to be pregnant at the same time?”

  She groaned as she slumped further down in her seat. Then she glared over at Jackson, who just sat there, not sure what to say. When she didn’t let up, he shrugged. “What?”

  “You’re so lucky you’re a boy.”

  Jackson dropped his jaw. “Um, then you missed our interaction in the living room. Mom basically told everyone that I’m still in love with Isabel.”

  Jenna studied him for a moment. “Are you?”

  Jackson groaned as he stood and began to pace. “No,” he said, but even he didn’t think he sounded convincing.

  “She’s engaged, you know.”

  Jackson shot his sister a glare. “I know. And I don’t care.”

  Jenna looked skeptical, but after a few seconds she sighed and rested her head on the back of the couch. “What are we going to do? How are we going to survive an entire weekend with them?” She waved her hand toward the house.

  Jackson shoved his hands through his hair and sighed. “I don’t know. Just grin and bear it, I guess.”

  Jenna looked over at him. “Promise not to leave me hanging again?”

  Jackson chuckled as he made his way over and offered her his hand. “Promise.”

  Jenna laughed as he helped hoist her up.

  “Come on, let’s go to bed. We need to be fully rested if we are going to survive tomorrow.”

  Jenna nodded as she followed after him, dragging her suitcase. Realizing he had no clean clothes to change into, Jackson course-corrected and made his way to the front door. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  Jenna furrowed her brow.

  “I need to grab my luggage,” Jackson said, waving toward his car.

  Jenna nodded. “Right. Yeah, I’ll see you in the morning.”

  After a quick wave, Jackson shut the door and headed down the stairs. Once he got to the driveway, he made his way over to his car. After pulling out his luggage, he slammed the trunk shut and sighed.

  If what everyone was saying about Isabel was true, he knew what he had to do. Even though it would hurt, she needed him. And despite everything that had happened between them, Isabel was his friend.

  Even if his heart still wanted something more.

  Chapter Six

  The next morning came too quickly. The sun beat into the room and onto Isabel as she lay in bed, trying to ignore its light. She squeezed her eyes shut as tightly as possible, hoping to make the sun disappear, but it was in vain.

  Today was another day. It was happening whether she wanted it to or not.

  Sighing, she flung off her blankets and stumbled into the bathroom. She turned on the shower, and the warm water hit her, waking her up. It felt amazing, and it was just what she needed to start the day.

  After she was done, she wrapped a towel around her body and used another to pat her hair dry. Making her way back into her room, she stopped at her phone.

  One missed call.

  She swiped her phone on. Bobby had left a message.

  She pressed play and began rummaging around in her drawer as Bobby’s voice filled the air.

  “Hey, babe. Machu Picchu is amazing. We got a lot of good pictures taken. I seriously can’t believe you are missing this. I’ll be out of cell range for the next few days but thought I would give you a call. I really can’t believe you want to give this all up to stay in Honey Grove.”

  His voice grew garbled, and a few seconds later, the message ended.

  Isabel sighed as she set her phone down on her dresser and moved to get dressed.

  She loved Bobby—she did. He was perfect for her. Or, at least, when he was around. It seemed once Jackson left, no one in Honey Grove was interested in her.

  Bobby had spun into Honey Grove in a tornado of smooth talk and adventure. For a moment, he’d helped her forget the stress that clouded her life. He made her feel…fun.

  But just as chaotically as he’d entered, he left. He was never one for settling down, and perhaps for a while she’d allowed herself to believe that he might. But when he left messages like that, she knew he’d never want to stay.

  And staying was all she could do.

  Her dad was here and leaving wasn’t an option. N
o matter how much Bobby wanted to take her away.

  She called Bobby back and wasn’t surprised when she got his voicemail. She updated him on the wedding plans—not like he ever really listened, but she felt like he should be privy to what was going on. Then she told him about her car and the fact that she’d been stranded. There wasn’t anything he could do to help. It just felt good to vent to someone about it.

  She told him she loved him and that she hoped he was safe, then she hung up and set her phone down on her dresser. She’d hoped she would feel better after leaving Bobby a message, but she didn’t.

  Groaning, she flung herself onto her bed and covered her face with her arm. She took a few deep breaths as the stress of the world seemed to crush her.

  She wanted to please so many people, and yet, she was failing at all of it.

  Tears clung to her lids as she dropped her arm and stared up at the ceiling. She swallowed, trying to push her emotions deep down into her chest. She could do this. She was strong.

  That was what she needed to tell herself to keep from crumbling into a sobbing mess.

  “Get up, Isabel,” she said as she sat up and planted her feet on the ground.

  She needed to meet with the caterer and cake decorator today.

  Then she needed to head over to Humanitarian Hearts for work.

  She had a life and crawling under her covers wasn’t going to get anything done.

  After dressing in a flowy floral shirt and dark jean shorts, she quickly dried her hair and threw on some makeup. Just so she looked human instead of the zombie she felt like.

  After a quick glance in the mirror to make sure she didn’t look like a crazy person, she pulled open her bedroom door and padded into the kitchen.

  She screamed.

  “Jackson!” She gasped, clutching her hand to her chest.

  For some reason, Jackson was sitting at her table, sipping on a coffee. He had the paper spread out in front of him and was reading it. He looked so…relaxed. So at ease.

  Like he belonged there.

  Blinking a few times to dispel that thought, she adjusted her clothes as she walked into the kitchen. Heat flushed her cheeks. What was wrong with her? Why did she have to scream like that?

  Jackson glanced over at her and then pointed to the coffee next to his. “I brought you this,” he said, dropping his gaze back to whatever article he was reading.

  Not sure what to do, Isabel just stood there. Why was he here? “I’m going to have to move that key,” she said, walking over to the table and grabbing the coffee.

  Jackson leaned back and brought his intoxicating gaze up to meet hers. There was a hint of a smile on his lips as he ran his gaze over her. If her body wasn’t already on fire from embarrassment, she was pretty sure she would have burst into flames from the way he was looking at her.

  “Mom was right,” he said as he pushed his hands through his hair. He was wearing a dark t-shirt and jeans. And when he moved his arms, his muscles rippled.

  Why the heck was she staring at him?

  Hoping to focus her attention elsewhere, Isabel moved to sit down as far away from him as she could get. “About what?”

  He shrugged and took a sip of his coffee. “She told me you’re a mess.” He nodded. “I have to agree.”

  “What? I’m not a mess.” She fiddled with her coffee cup, turning it slowly on top of the table. Blast that Mrs. Braxton. She was so nosy, and yet, so right.

  Jackson snorted. “Yeah. Sure.”

  Isabel was barely keeping her life together, and it angered her that Jackson would just come into her house and talk to her this way. Who was he to tell her this? He’d left. He didn’t have a right to say anything to her anymore.

  Feeling frustrated, she pushed away from the table and stood. Then she walked over to the cupboard and pulled out a granola bar. “Is this why you broke into my house? To scare the crap out of me and then insult my life?” She took a deep breath as she unwrapped the bar. “From what I can remember, you lost the right to talk about my life a long time ago.”

  Great. The tears she’d been keeping at bay were pushing through. She cleared her throat and distracted herself with throwing her wrapper away.

  Jackson was quiet, and the silence that fell around them thickened. Why had she said that? It was only going to prove that he was right—she was a mess.

  “I’m here to help.”

  Jackson’s voice had neared, and she turned to find him only a few feet away. At some point, he’d gotten up and followed her.

  She met his gaze and could see the pain that lived there. Was he hurting too?

  She shook her head slightly. She didn’t want to dive into that right now. Or ever. Jackson Braxton left eight years ago, and she was engaged.

  She took a deep breath. “Why are you here?”

  The cocky, joking demeanor he’d been giving off earlier was gone, and he just looked…worried. He glanced around the kitchen and then back to her, pushing his hands through his hair. “Mom was worried about you. And so am I.” He shoved both of his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. “Are you telling me you don’t need my help?”

  Isabel swallowed, her throat tingling from emotion. It touched her that he wanted to help. And she would be crazy to tell him no.

  But she couldn’t spend more time with him. She couldn’t.

  “I appreciate your concern for me. And your mom’s. But I’m fine. I swear.” She raised her hand like she was in court.

  Jackson stepped back, running his gaze over her again.

  Isabel’s skin heated, but she forced a smile, hoping he’d believe her lie.

  “Are you sure?”

  Isabel nodded as she moved past him to grab her purse and shoes. After she shouldered her purse, she slipped on her sandals and shoved the rest of the granola bar into her mouth. “I promise,” she said around the food.

  Then she pulled open the front door and stepped out onto the stoop. She reached into her purse for her keys, but they weren’t there. She let out a groan as she remembered her car was broken.

  Jackson chuckled as he appeared next to her, holding her coffee in his hand. He glanced over with a wide smile.

  “Are you really sure?” he asked as he pulled out his keys and rattled them in front of her.

  His half-smile burned her up inside. She wished she could say it was from pure frustration with him, but she knew that was a lie. And despite the warning bells going off in her mind, all she could do was nod.

  “Fine. But this is the last day you play chauffeur. I’m calling the mechanic and getting my car back.”

  Jackson held up his hands and nodded. “Okay. Don’t think that I love playing chauffeur. I’m ready for you to get your wheels back, too.”

  Isabel glared at him and then shrugged. Whether or not he was playing with her, he was leaving at the end of the weekend. She just needed to hold out until then.

  She hopped down the stairs and onto the walkway as she made her way over to his car. She glanced over at him a few times as he kept pace with her.

  “Is Jonathan okay with you missing out on all the wedding stuff?”

  Jackson unlocked the passenger door and pulled it open, holding it for her as she slid into the seat. After she was situated, he shut the door and jogged around the front of the car.

  He climbed in and buckled up. “It’s a perk of being part of a big family. Lots of helping hands. With Beth, Tiffany, and Layla, they’ve got more than enough people to help.” He started the engine and pulled out of her driveway. “Plus, Mom wants me to make sure you’re okay,” he said softly as he cast a sideways glance her direction.

  Isabel dropped her gaze to her hands. She wasn’t sure how to feel about that. But she couldn’t deny the warm feeling that spread through her chest. The fact that someone out there cared enough to make sure she was taken care of…well, that was something she was sorely missing in her life.

  “Hey.” Jackson’s soft voice preceded the sudden appearance of his
hand. It just sort of hovered above her knee. She could feel his hesitation. Like he’d suddenly realized that touching her wasn’t something he was allowed to do.

  At least, not like they’d done so many years ago.

  Worried about what he was thinking, Isabel glanced over to see him staring at his hand. Then, as if something snapped him out of a trance, he cleared his throat and moved his hand back to the steering wheel. His knuckles turned white from the grip he had on the thing.

  “Sorry,” he mumbled.

  Isabel shrugged as she wrapped her arms around her chest and leaned in slightly. “It’s okay. No big deal. We’re friends, right?” She shrugged and shot him a smile, hoping that would negate the strange vibe that had suddenly taken over the car.

  Jackson nodded as he pressed on the gas. “Right. Friends.”

  Ready to move this conversation forward, Isabel waved toward the sign that read Real Sweet Treats. “Right there,” she said.

  Jackson nodded and pulled into the spot that a black SUV had just pulled out of. The only real parking in downtown Honey Grove was street parking.

  After Jackson turned off the engine, he pulled the keys from the ignition and shot her a smile. “Cake. I love cake.”

  Isabel couldn’t help the genuine smile that teased her lips. The flirty tone he’d just used was painfully familiar. To this day, she could close her eyes and hear it.

  And it was one that she missed when she closed her eyes at night.

  Swallowing hard at the lump that had formed in her throat, she shook her head slightly as she chanted, just a few more days, in her mind.

  A few more days. That was it.

  Then Jackson would be gone.

  Again.

  Chapter Seven

  This felt weird.

  This felt really weird.

  Standing in the cake shop, he watched Isabel approach the cashier to ask about her wedding cake. For two weeks from now.

  Where she was going to marry another man.

  Jackson stifled a groan as he pushed his hands through his hair and made his way over to the display cases that lined the far wall. All sorts of doughnuts and cookies were packed inside.