I feel like I waited all my life for Jax to ask me to be his girlfriend and I let both of us down by saying no. I had my reasons but now sitting next to him on the bed as we awkwardly put our shoes on, I couldn't find any reason.

We hadn't uttered a word since I said no and the tension had begun to rise between us. Standing up, I brush my sweaty hands on my sweatpants and clear my throat.

"Uhm," I begin to say.

"Don't," Jax avoids looking up at me as he ties his shoes. "Just don't."

"Jax, let me explain." I say. "I have my reasons."

"I just don't understand why we did this." He points between us.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean..." He sighs. "Why go through all this trouble hiding from Hunter and me confessing my feelings for you and then I ask you to be my girlfriend and you say no. Why? You not only wasted my time but yours."

"There's just so much going on in my life already. I didn't need...I don't know I guess-"

"You didn't need me as a problem in your life either." He interrupts me. "I get it."

"What? No, gosh no. I don't know it all sounded better in my head."

"Then say yes." He gets off the bed and walks over to me. Cupping my cheek, he looks between my eyes and lips.

"Jax," I let out a breath.

"Just say yes."

Just as I was about to give him an answer, my phone rings from my pocket, jolting us away from each other. Jax glares at my phone as I take it out of my pocket and look down at it.

Hunter: Come home.

Why? I quickly reply.

He answers back within seconds.

Hunter: Dad and I talked about Joyce. You should come so we could talk.

On my way. I answer back.

"I have to go." I put my phone back in my pocket and look up at Jax.

"Awesome." He mutters. "Come on, I'll take you."

"No, it's okay." I shake my head. "I'll take the bus."

"It's fine," He grabs his phone and keys from the top of his drawer and walks out of his room.

Following close behind, we walk down the stairs in silence. As we see Amanda on the couch eating popcorn while watching a movie Jax gives her a kiss on the forehead.

"I'll be back," He tells her. "Don't open the door for anyone I have my keys."

She waves us goodbye and we leave the house, quickly get into his car and making our way to my house.

"Jax," I start. "I want to be with you."

"Here comes the but." He says.

"I'm scared." I respond in a low voice.

"Of what?" He glances at me. "Of me? Because you know I'd never do anything to hurt you."

"Not of you just of your actions. I don't want it to be another Alex situation where you cheat and I take you back because I'm blinded by my feelings. I don't want to be mistreated."

Jax slowly presses down on the break and pulls over onto the side of the street. He looks over at me and shakes his head.

"Alex cheated on you?"

I nod. "Yeah, a couple months in. It doesn't matter anymore but I guess that messed with my head a lot."

"You deserve to be treated like a fucking queen," I hide a giggle as those words come out of his mouth and I look at him. "I am not Alex and I'm sorry that I've showed you this side of me where I take advantage of relationships like for example, Rebecca. I tried finding you in all of those girls and I couldn't. I would never hurt you in any way."

"I guess it's true what they say," I chuckle. "Love makes you crazy."

"Who said anything about love?" Jax jokes. "Now look who's throwing themselves at me."

"Oh, shut it." I playfully roll my eyes. "Now, how about that date on Friday?"

"You're still up for it?" His eyes light up.

"Well, if you're going to be my boyfriend don't you think I at least deserve a proper meal?"

- -

When I got home that night Hunter and my dad were just starting to serve themselves dinner. My dad looked up at me as I walked in to the kitchen and waved me over to grab a plate.

"How was Marissa's?" My dad asks.

"Huh?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Marissa's? You were there weren't you?" My dad questions.

"Right, it was fun. We watched TV and you know, did girl stuff."

"Right," He says, "Well, serve what you're going to eat and put away any leftovers."

My dad grabs his plate, a glass of water and walks out of the kitchen and in to the dining room.

"So," Hunter clears his throat. "Dad and I talked about Joyce."

"Oh," I nervously say as I fill my plate with beans. "What did he tell you?"

"Not much," He shrug. "Just that he met her at work."

"Mhmm." I mumble.

"He really likes her, Em."

I continue serving myself food and once I finish I place my plate down and start cleaning up any mess there was.

"You can't tell him who to date or not. He's a grown man." Hunter tells me.

"Sounds kind of hypocritical, don't you think?" I continue to put the food in the fridge.

"Uhm, how?"

"Oh, I don't know," I shrug. "How about when you wouldn't let me be friends with Jax?"

"That's completely different and you know it. Stop changing the subject we're talking about Dad."

"Well, we should be talking about this with dad not just us two, it's not our decision." I say.

"What made you change your mind so quickly? He told me a couple hours ago you were completely against him and this lady." He questions.

"I guess dad isn't the only one who has to share news tonight."

I grab my plate and leave Hunter in the kitchen as I go into the dining room and sit down across from my dad.

After Jax and I talked things out and made it official, we agreed on telling Hunter about us as soon as possible. I saw tonight as the perfect chance to tell them both about my new relationship.

I knew Hunter would go insane after I tell him but he couldn't hurt Jax, not if it meant hurting me.

"So, there are some things we should talk about." My dad says as Hunter sits down next to him.

"Yes, there are." I nod.

"First of all, he swallows his food. "I don't ever want to bring anyone into this house or do something that's going to make either of you uncomfortable."

"Dad," I stop him. "Before you continue, I need you to know that I understand. I was seeing things from the wrong view and judging the situation too fast. I need you to know that I know you could never forget mom."

He smiles at me widely and just as he was about to say something I cut him off.

"Let me finish," I look between him and Hunter. "You deserve to be happy and although I'm not ready to meet Joyce, I do want you to be happy even if it means being with her."

"Thank you, Emma." He reaches across the table and grabs my hand. "I love you."

"I love you, too dad." I grin.

"I agree," Hunter nods. "Dad should be happy."

After a while of small talk and laugh here and there, I clear my throat and push my plate aside as I finish eating.

"There's something I need to tell you guys." I say.

Their eyes shoot up and they stare at me with a curious look.

"Uhm, so you have to promise me not to do anything stupid." I warm Hunter.

"Not promising anything."

"Hunter," I give him a serious look.

"How am I supposed to know how to react? I can't control it." He defends.

Taking a deep breath, I clear my throat again and nervously fiddle with my fingers.

"Okay, so uhm," I begin. "Jax and I-"

Before I could even finish saying anything Hunter slams the table and pushes himself up. He stomps out of the dining room and leaves dad and I with a shocked expression.

"Hunter!" I get up and run after him. "Hunter, wait!"

"I'm going to kill him!" He yelled as he unlocks the door. Before he could get it opened, I step in front of him and block his way.

"Stop! Oh my, God you didn't even know what I was going to say."

He furrows his eyebrows. "You weren't about to tell me you and Jax are dating?"

"Uh,"

"Exactly, move." He spat.

"No." I press against the door. "You're going to hear me out and not make a scene like always."

"Don't tell me what to do." He tries moving me away from the door but I fight back. "I told him what would happen if he ever took advantage of you."

"He didn't take advantage of me, Hunter!" I defend. "It was both of us. It wasn't just him."

He shook his head in disbelief. "Don't cover for him."

"I'm not." I say. "I like him."

"Bullshit."

"It's not bullshit." I shove him. "Just like you said to let Dad date who he wants you have to respect my choices."

"That's different. You're a kid, you don't know what you want."

"Clearly, I do or you wouldn't be so offended over the fact that Jax and I are together. You're lucky I told you and didn't hide it from you."

"No, you're lucky I didn't find out." He pushes me out of the way and opens the door, walking out of the house.

"You hurt him and I'll never talk to you!" I yell out. When he didn't stop I went after him, running barefoot and letting the cold air hit my chest. "On mom, I will never forgive you for this!"

Stopping dead in his tracks, he keeps his back to me and I walk over to him. I stood in front of him and watched as he glared off into the distance.

"I'll never forgive you for this if you hit him." I warn. "He wasn't just in your life growing up, he was in mine too. I decide who I date, not you."

He scoffs and licks his lips. "You know what? Do what you want. I'm tired of trying to protect you. Don't come crying to me when he cheats on you or does some dumb shit."

He turns away from me and stomps back into the house. Dad was standing by the door when I got inside and welcomed me into his arms.

"He'll come around, kiddo." He kisses my forehead. "I know he will."

"What if he doesn't?"

"He's your brother." He sighs. "He'll realize sooner or later that he overreacted. Trust me," He hugs me tighter. "He'll come around."