Chapter Seventeen Jaxson

I hadn’t expected when I woke up yesterday morning that I, Jaxson Rivers, would be the future of World of Foods’ next television show. I never thought that I’d be as far as I am now. To think that I started out as a no one, and now find myself face to face with my dream opportunity.

It blows my mind.

Rander needed me back in New York, and as much as I wanted to stay in Willowcreek… it wasn’t an option. The fact that Madi had been so willing to help me yesterday made my mind wander in a million different directions. She was excited yesterday and pleaded with her mom to let me work with her in the bakery when we started filming. But then when I left the bakery yesterday after a brief conversation with Allison… Madi didn’t seem pleased at all.

Lifting my phone, I glance down at the unread text message I’d sent her half an hour ago.

Are you okay? I’d really like to thank you for helping me .

That woman is on her phone all the time, and yet—she hadn’t seen my text?

Letting out a heavy breath, I continue to pack up the few things I’d taken out of my suitcase since I’d come back. I only have a few hours until my flight leaves, and things that I need to get done before I go. Like speaking to Knox and Asher about Mrs. Kendall’s kitchen project, and also speaking to Madi.

If she’s free.

Though most importantly, my parent’s faces flash through my mind. The idea that with this new accomplishment, I might finally see a change in them. Something that tells me they are proud of me. Or even just a little support would be nice. After all, it is something I really want to share with them.

Closing my suitcase, I grab my keys and shove my phone into my pocket. Checking out of the hotel is an easy process, and as soon as everything is loaded into my rental, I make my way across town towards my parents’ home.

The moment I pull up, a few of my younger siblings rush out to greet me. Their smiling faces as they hug me, warm my heart. But it’s short-lived as they quickly wave, running off down the road to catch the bus.

I remember those days, saying a quick hello to company before disappearing to hang out with Knox and Asher. Hell, at that age you were lucky to see me home at all outside of school hours. As soon as I got home, it was quickly tackling homework and then out till curfew.

But then again, the less time I had to spend at home the better.

I don’t bother knocking this time, and instead walk straight into the house. My parents’ house is a flurry of chaos as the kids prepare for school. Making my way towards the kitchen, I find my mother in a very similar state that I’d seen her in before.

Hair a mess, baggy t-shirt, and leggings as she packs lunches and finishes breakfast for what I can only assume are the other kids in the house. Perhaps, my sisters?

“Good morning.”

Her eyes meet mine with clear exhaustion. “Jaxson, I wasn’t expecting you this morning. ”

“I know. I actually have a flight back to New York in a few hours and I wanted to stop by to see you again. I have something important to tell you.”

She lets out a loud sigh, her eyes turning from mine as she continues to busy herself in the kitchen with what she was doing. “I’m busy this morning, Jaxson. I have to get these kids ready for school.”

Of course, she’s busy.

“I know,” I reply, clearing my throat as I watch her move around. “I won’t keep you long. I just wanted to say that my skills in the kitchen have paid off. The World of Foods network has decided to pick me up and give me my own show.”

The smile that spreads across my face when talking about the opportunity I’ve been given should have made her smile. Or at least one would think. But instead, she simply glances at me. Taking a moment to consider what I said, before turning towards the kitchen island to plate eggs and toast onto the paper plates that sat waiting.

“That’s nice. Can you call your nieces and nephews down for me? They’re playing upstairs right now. I wanted to get the older kids out of the house first. The two younger kid’s bus will be picking up out front in about thirty minutes.”

The fact that she just completely ignored everything I said to once again worry about my nieces and nephews is disheartening. The least she could have done was to say that she was proud of me, or that it was exciting. But once again, that’s too much to ask when it comes to her.

A heavy weight fills my chest as I stare at her. Watching as she pays me no further attention, my eyes drifts towards the stairs and then the front door.

“I’ll be back in four months,” I say softly, stepping forward to kiss her cheek before backing away.

“Uh-huh. Have fun, dear.”

I turn without another word and make my way towards the front door. To think that I’d actually thought she would be excited, that she would care was foolish.

And my father… God knows where he is. Maybe at work, maybe fishing .

Growing up, he spent more time out of the house than at home, and the only time I ever really saw him excited was when I was playing football. But when I got hurt, it’s like he suddenly lost interest. I’ll never forget that day. The look in his eyes as he teared up staring down at me on the stretcher.

My future playing ball, completely gone.

Thankfully, my parents don’t live far from Mrs. Kendall’s house. Knox told me last night that he was going to be at the property bright and early, and honestly, I’m thankful for that. I desperately need something to preoccupy my mind with happier memories. Because lately, I don’t know if I’m coming or going.

The moment I pull my black SUV into the driveway, I spot Knox’s truck backed in and him at the bed unloading 4x4’s off into the garage that looks like Kylie has taken over as a makeshift art studio. A smile grows on my face as I step out and take in the chaos that is Kylie’s art.

“Jesus, she’s taken over.”

Knox furrows his brows for a moment, glancing over his shoulder before looking back at me with a smile. “Oh! Yeah, she’s still working on the house but in the meantime, she’s doing some other work in the garage while she’s here. Don’t let her know you’ve seen any of this though, she will lose her shit on me.”

Chuckling, I walk towards the back of his truck helping him grab the last of the materials, and placing them in the garage, before he shuts the garage door once more. As much as I would love to look through Kylie’s work, especially after hearing how good it is, I’m not one to pry.

She’s like my little sister, and I know from experience that if she wants to show you something, she will do it in her own time.

“Thanks for that,” Knox says to me, wiping his brow with the back of his hand. “Come through the front, I was able to get some of the wood samples that you were asking about.”

My ears perk at his statement. I’d asked him about his ability to get a custom butcher block for the kitchen island, and though he was unsure if he could, he obviously outdid himself. The moment I step into the kitchen I spot all the samples laying on the countertop. Most of the kitchen is already demolished and appliances are gone .

“Oh shit!” I exclaim, a smile stretching from ear to ear as I take in the dark maple butcher block sample. The staining and coloration are absolutely perfect. As a chef, I prefer butcher block while most other people may not. The hardwood isn’t only extremely durable, but it has a resistance to bacteria and helps to keep knives sharp.

And this sample is exactly the same type I have in my home back in New York.

“Where in the hell did you find this?” I ask, knowing full well I had to have mine imported from overseas “There’s no way you got a sample like this in a few days.”

The laughter that escapes Knox as he walks towards me with a shrug of his shoulders makes my smile grow wider. “A friend of a friend owes me a favor and happens to have enough on hand for what you need.”

“Seriously?”

He nods. “Yep. He said just say the word and it’s ours.”

“Fuck, send me the invoice. I want it. It will go great with the design Kylie helped with.”

“I’ll give him a call when he opens then,” Knox says, making his way towards a rolled set of blueprints laying on a work table. “On that note, we were able to finalize the blueprints. Your guy had this delivered at first light this morning. He was actually sitting outside waiting for me when I got here.”

I had asked my contact to get them done ASAP, but I expected a few days at least.

An hour later, I’ve told Knox all about the show and the two of us are busy knocking out the few remaining built-ins in the living room when the sound of the front door opening and closing reaches my ears.

“Hey, Jaxson, Knox,” Asher calls out, stepping into the living room. “You guys know you're supposed to be making the house better, right? Not making things worse,” he says teasingly.

“Real funny,” I reply, pointing the hammer at him threateningly. “I haven’t seen you pick up as much as a tool or paintbrush yet. So don’t come in here, wise guy, and—”

“Woah,” Knox intervenes, holding me by the shoulder as he turns me away jokingly. “Don’t bait him, Jaxson. ”

I notice how Asher’s demeanor turns a little more serious, causing Knox and I both to frown. Something I’m not used to seeing on Asher.

“What’s up, man?” Knox asks, stepping closer to him.

“I actually wanted to talk to you, Knox. Got a minute?”

I don’t pay too much mind to the fact that Asher wants to speak to Knox privately. Though the three of us have been friends for a long time, Knox has always had the ability to help us think through shit. Which is why I’ve thought about talking to him about Madi over the last few days, but every time I do… I chicken out.

Making my way towards the kitchen for a drink, I glance out the window and spot Knox and Asher talking underneath the treehouse. The two were in a heated conversation, with a look of defeat on Asher’s face. And to top it all off, I don’t miss Sam’s head that passes the large window of the treehouse as the two men talk.

It’s only after a few minutes that Knox comes strolling back towards the house, and steps in to find me still gazing out the window. “What was that all about?”

“Well,” he sighs. “He finally realizes that he loves Sam and wants to spend the rest of his life with her, though he also acknowledges that he’s a complete idiot.”

“Uh,” I mutter, lifting my water bottle to my lips. “Well, whatever you two just talked about, Sam heard it.”

He turns quickly, eyes locked onto mine under a narrowed brow. “What are you talking about?”

I can’t help but chuckle as I point out the window. “She’s in the treehouse… or, well… was. Now she’s climbing down the ladder.”

“Seriously?”

Knox pushes into the view of the window, the two of us standing there watching Asher and Sam talk before they dive into a deep kiss, his arms around her waist as he sweeps her off her feet. It touches me that the two of them were able to fix their relationship. They were meant to be together regardless of the bullshit that happened in high school.

“I’m glad that they were able to fix things,” I finally say, a feeling growing in the pit of my stomach that I can’t quite put my finger on. Is it jealousy? Longing? Or something else ?

As much as I want to stay and carry on with Knox and the others on the project, I can’t. Pulling out my phone, I check the time and internally cringe. I only have two hours until I’m supposed to board my flight and I still have to make it to the airport.

The realization that I’m leaving hits me like a ton of bricks. “I’m gonna have to head out, Knox. I’ve got a plane to catch.”

He meets my gaze with a smile and nods. “No worries, man. I’m looking forward to seeing the show when it comes out. We have everything in hand here. By the time you get back, you’re going to be shocked by the changes.”

“I appreciate everything, Knox,” I reply, his words touching me in a way that I can’t explain. It’s exactly what I would have liked to hear from my parents but of course, that didn’t happen.

Gathering my things, I make my way out towards the car. I planned on saying goodbye to Sam and Asher, but I don’t have the heart to ruin the moment they are having. Knox informs me on my way out that he would explain everything to them, and to hurry before I missed my flight.

As much as I appreciate him doing that, there’s one person I can’t get off my mind. One person that I don’t want Knox having to say goodbye for me. As soon as I put the car into drive and head down the road, I dial Madison’s number. My heart races at the thought of talking to her. I can’t help but feel like there could be something between Madi and I, and with me leaving, I won’t get the chance to dive deeper into it.

“Hey, you!” Her sweet voice says after the third ring. “What’s our favorite TV star doing?”

“I’m not a TV star yet,” I laugh. “But maybe one day.”

“Uh-huh. Keep telling yourself that. So, what’s up?”

Hesitating for a moment, I try to gather my thoughts. “Well, I’m currently heading to the airport and I didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye to you.”

“Oh,” she replies with silence following. “Well, I mean it’s not forever Jaxson. You will be back in four months and then we will be seeing a lot more of each other while you’re filming.”

“I know. I just didn’t want to leave without calling you.”

Something about telling her makes my stomach flutter in a way I don’t expect. Madison and I had always been close, just like we both were with the others, and then life pulled everyone apart. Now, even though conversation still tends to come easy with her usually, it’s different.

“Well, thank you for calling me,” she replies, sounding a little hesitant before cheering up again and asking, “Did you already see the others?”

“Yes and no,” I reply, my eyes fixed to the road. “I was with Knox earlier, and then Asher stopped by but the conversation with him was short. He ended up making up with Sam at the treehouse.”

“Are you serious!” she gasps. “Oh my God. I fucking knew they would get together.”

A soft chuckle escapes me, remembering the way the two of them were beneath the treehouse wrapped in each other’s arms. “Yeah, it was sweet.”

“Sweet?” Madison laughs. “Jaxson, are you getting soft on me now?”

“Is that a bad thing?” I ask, curious to know her thoughts.

“No, it’s not,” she replies softly, a slight hesitation back in her words. “Maybe I’ll get to see more of this sweet side of you when you get back.”

“Sounds like a plan,” I chuckle. “And in the meantime, if you or your mom have questions about the contracts, don’t hesitate to call me. I’m happy to help.”

“Thanks, I’ll definitely let Mom know that. But I do have to get going… I’ve got to finish this cake order. The customer’s picking up as soon as we open tomorrow morning.”

I don’t understand the disappointment that fills me hearing her say that, but I completely understand what she means when you’re busy in the kitchen. “No problem… but Madi…”

“Yeah?”

“We’ll talk, right?” I ask, realizing how stupid I sound. “Like friends and whatnot… you’ll call or text, won’t you?”

There’s silence for a moment as I hear her take a breath. “I never not want to talk to you. But, are you going to call me?”

“Yes,” I reply, without hesitation. “Why would you think I won’t?”

“I don’t know, Jaxson. Maybe because every time you leave Willowcreek, you sort of disappear. Not just from my life, but all of ours.”

Her admission stings in a way I don’t expect it to. I never considered before that my silence and distance would make them feel any sort of way. I mean, Asher and I kept in touch here and there over the years, but not like we used to. I suppose I’d just got caught up in everything in my own life, never considering anything else.

“I promise you, Madi… I won’t do that again. I’ll call and text you every day if you want. So, will you?”

Again, silence. Before a soft breath comes through and for a moment I feel like I can almost hear her smiling through the phone. “Sure, Jaxson. I’ll call. I’ll see you soon.”

“See you soon, Madi.”

The moment the phone call ends, an empty feeling fills my gut. As if leaving right now, is the wrong thing to do. And part of me is starting to wonder if it more so involves me leaving Madison.