Chapter 58

JAX

I'm doingthis for Mila. Not for Ward.

Say what you want about me, but if this guy wants to drink himself to death, then go for it.

I am not cleaning anything up either.

Mila left the bedroom a minute ago.

I'm collecting myself.

Ward slowly lowers himself to the floor, placing his cheek down into the mess of his own vomit.

I crouch down again.

"Listen to me," I say to him. "Don't move. Close your fucking eyes and you better hope they open again in the morning. You dumb fool."

I walk out of the bedroom to find Mila getting together some paper towels.

"There are no cleaning supplies here," she says. "He lives like a pig."

"He can sleep like one too," I say. "He fell into his own puke. Let him stay like that."

"Jax…"

I grab the paper towels from her hand. "Mila. This isn't your job. It was never your job. You won't like what I have to say about this next, but he needs to feel what rock bottom is. Maybe this is it. What exactly did he text you…?"

She swallows hard. "He threatened to end his life."

My jaw tightens. "That's what he did to you? Can this prick be anymore fucking selfish?"

"I broke up with him, Jax."

"So what? People break up all the time."

"I don't want to do this."

She tries to step around me but I grab her by the waist.

She looks up at me. Tears in her eyes.

"Here's what we do, honey," I say. "Ready to listen to me?"

"I'm not leaving. I'm sorry. I swear to you, Jax, this isn't me having feelings…"

"Mila," I say. "This is the part where I need you to shut up. Okay?"

She looks at me, surprised.

I take her by the hand and walk her to the couch.

I tell her to just stand there and wait a minute.

Then I'm back in Ward's bedroom.

The smell is… nasty.

I don't need to describe what vomit smells like, do I?

I open his closet and I see some blankets and pillows on the top shelf.

I pull them down and give them a quick smell test.

Good news is they don't smell old or musty.

On my way across the bedroom, after dodging the vomit on the floor, I give Ward a nudge with my foot.

He moves and groans.

He's still alive.

Next, I set up a bed on the couch for Mila.

"You're sleeping right here," I say. "I'll handle the rest of it."

"I didn't ask you to handle a thing."

"You texted me."

"I was scared. Panicked. He started calling me names."

"Don't remind me of that part, Mila. If I think about him calling you a cunt again, I'm going to put his face in the toilet and let nature take its course."

"Jax," she growls.

Mila gets onto the couch.

I sit down.

She puts her head on my lap.

So now I'm sitting there… Mila's head on my lap. Her ex in the other room sleeping on a pile of vomit…

This is a real good testament why relationships are a pain in the ass.

I look down at Mila.

She's just staring forward.

I can't tell her not to blame herself. She already does. It's too late. It won't change a thing.

"Jax," she whispers.

"Shh, honey," I say.

I touch her hair. I run my fingers through her hair.

I don't stop.

I keep touching her hair. Playing with her hair.

And I just sit there.

Thinking.

I feel Mila drift off to sleep, then feel her sink into a deeper sleep. Her body completely relaxed. Which is good.

I know I have to go check on Ward.

That means moving carefully so I don't wake Mila.

I feel like a ninja bank robber in an action movie as I move off the couch and place Mila's head on a pillow.

She looks so fucking beautiful when she sleeps.

I crouch down and I can just stay like that all night long, staring at her, and be happy.

I gently brush my lips against her forehead, then I stand up and walk to Ward's bedroom.

My lip is curled.

He hasn't moved an inch.

Sleeping in his own puke. Mouth open. Tongue slightly sticking out of his mouth.

I nudge him with my foot.

His body moves but quickly stops.

There's no response from him.

I kick him again. I kick him harder.

He still doesn't respond.

I shut my eyes and feel my heart jump a little.

I prepare myself. In case this guy is… gone.

I reach down and jam my fingers into the side of his neck, looking for a pulse.

There's a pulse. A strong pulse too.

Meaning this guy isn't going to die tonight.

As long as he stays face down. And just sleeps.

I take my fingers away and stand there, looking down at Ward.

I never liked the guy. Ever.

Maybe some of it was a little bit of jealousy because I always thought Mila was cute as hell. But I knew something was off about the guy.

This mess right here?

Mila didn't need this mess. She didn't deserve it.

She was pre-med looking to get into medical school and have a good life.

I'm not sure where that placed me in her life, but I wasn't the one face down in vomit.

I check on Mila again.

Sleeping peacefully.

I lean down, not sure if it matters or not, but I whisper to her, "He's fine."

I then choose the in between space.

So I'm kind of near Mila.

And I can kind of keep an eye on Ward.

I sit up against a wall and put my head back and shut my eyes.

I'm well aware it's going to be a bad night of sleep, but that's okay.

Mila needs me. I'm here.

I actually fall asleep quickly.

When my eyes pop open again, Mila stands in front of me.

I quickly climb to my feet, blinking fast.

My neck hurts but I ignore the pain.

"Hey," I say. "What time is it?"

"It's morning," she says.

"Morning? Wow." I look over my shoulder. "Let me go check on him. Just stay here."

Mila grabs for me. "Jax. Thank you."

I don't respond.

I step into the bedroom and walk up to Ward and kick him.

He groans and picks his head up.

"What the fuck?" Ward growls.

"So you're alive," I say.

My voice gets his attention.

He presses his hands to the floor and pushes himself up.

He looks at me.

Dried vomit all over his face and clothes.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" he asks.

I turn and walk out of the bedroom.

Mila looks nervous.

"He's alive," I say. "He's mad that I'm here."

Mila sighs.

I touch her arms. "Hey. It's time…"

"Time for what?"

"It's time to call Willow and tell her to come get her brother some actual help."