The Past Comes Knocking

The apartment was silent except for the rain tapping against the windows. Grace sat on the couch, still gripping the designer bag in her lap. She wasn't sure how to feel—part of her was still furious at Jax, but the other part of her softened at the gesture. It was thoughtful. Maybe even sweet.

Jax sat down next to her, careful not to get too close. He had barely spoken since handing her the gift, as if he was afraid to say the wrong thing. Grace could feel the tension between them, thick and heavy, but before she could say anything, a buzzing sound filled the air.

Jax's phone, lighting up on the table.

Grace wouldn't have paid much attention—until she saw the name on the screen.

Sienna.

Her heart dropped.

Another buzz. Then another. And another.

Jax tensed, quickly grabbing his phone, but Grace was faster. She snatched it up before he could, her pulse racing as she stared at the notifications.

Sienna: Jax, please answer me.

Sienna: I need to talk to you.

Sienna: You know I hate being ignored.

Sienna: Call me. Please.

Sienna: I miss you.

Sienna: Jax, baby, don't do this.

Sienna: I need to see you. I can be there in 15 minutes.

Sienna: I still love you. Do you love me?

Grace's stomach twisted. The words blurred together as a sickening realization washed over her.

"Still love you?" she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. She turned to Jax, her hands shaking as she held up the phone. "Are you kidding me?"

Jax's face drained of color. "Grace, give me the phone."

But she didn't. Instead, she scrolled up, her heart pounding with every message she read.

Sienna: I can't stop thinking about last time.

Sienna: You make me crazy, you know that?

Sienna: I miss touching you.

Sienna: I miss us.

Sienna: You told me you'd call. You lied. Again.

Sienna: Are you with her right now?

Grace's breath caught in her throat. Her entire body went cold.

She looked up at Jax, betrayal and disbelief written all over her face.

"You told her you'd call?" Her voice was barely steady. "You told her that? After everything?"

Jax ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. "Grace, I swear, it's not what you think—"

"Not what I think?" She let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "What exactly am I supposed to think, Jax? That she's just some delusional ex who suddenly decided to text you a bunch of love messages? Or that maybe, just maybe, you were lying to me this whole time?"

Jax stepped closer. "I didn't lie to you."

"Really?" Grace threw the phone onto the couch, crossing her arms. "Because it looks like you forgot to mention that she still thinks there's something between you two. That you were still talking to her while you were with me."

Jax hesitated, his jaw clenching. "I wasn't—"

Another buzz.

Both of them glanced at the phone at the same time.

Sienna: I'm coming over.

A beat of silence. Then another buzz.

Sienna: I'll be there in 10 minutes. We need to talk. Face to face.

Grace let out a shaky breath, stepping back like she'd been burned.

"She's coming here?" she whispered.

Jax reached for the phone, but Grace grabbed it again, gripping it so tightly her knuckles turned white.

"You were never going to tell me, were you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jax opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out.

And that silence? That hesitation? It told her everything she needed to know.

Grace let out a shaky laugh, though there was no humor in it. Her chest felt tight, like she couldn't breathe properly. She had thought she was angry before, but this—this was something else.

"Say something, Jax," she muttered, her voice unsteady. "Say anything."

Jax sighed, dragging a hand down his face. "I didn't want this to happen."

Grace scoffed. "Yeah? Well, it did."

A loud clap of thunder shook the windows, making the tense silence between them feel even heavier. Jax took a cautious step closer, his hands outstretched as if he could somehow fix this with just a look.

"Grace, I—"

A sharp knock at the door cut him off.

They both froze.

Another knock.

Grace's stomach twisted painfully as she exchanged a glance with Jax. His expression had darkened, his jaw tight, his hands curling into fists at his sides.

Sienna was here.

And Grace wasn't sure if she was ready to hear what she had to say.