Amazingly Broken

by Jordin Williams

  “You should go up there, Elana,” Lance said.

  “Me? You’re part of the team. You should go.”

  “I like to stay behind the scenes. It’s a little easier.”

  “I’ll let him enjoy the moment. I don’t want to seem clingy.”

  I barely finished the sentence when Jaxon walked over, picking me up, spinning me around, kissing me passionately in front of the crowd. There was a loud, collective awwww from most people. When he put me down, I got more than a few angry glares from his faithful female fans. I shrugged at them as he pulled me to his side.

  Jim walked over and said, “So this is the girl that’s got you rushing home from out of town races?”

  He reached out to shake my hand. “Hi, I’m Elana,” I said.

  “Have we met, Elana? You look familiar to me.”

  “You look kind of familiar to me too, but I’ve only been here once before and we didn’t meet.”

  “Huh, they say everyone has a double.” He turned to Jaxon and started talking about some business details as the crowd headed toward the house for the party. He kept looking at me out of the corner of his eye, trying to place me. I had the same feeling about him, but assumed it was just because I’d been here before.

  Tiffany turned to say something to me, but a loud voice cut her off.

  “I’ve got it! You’re Baby Girl,” Jim called out. “Baby Girl all grown up. How cool is that?”

  Jaxon looked at me quizzically as Jim explained it to him, “Her dad was one hell of a racer back in the day. After she was born, he went nuts for her. Talked about his baby girl all the time. Had Baby Girl painted down the side of his car in the biggest letters you’ve ever seen.” He stood back smiling, proud of himself. “What’s he up to these days?”

  “Um, he,” I had no idea what to say.

  “He retired,” Tiffany jumped in. “His vision started to go, so he had no choice.”

  She looked at me. “Yeah,” was all I could add.

  “That’s a damn shame,” Jim said.

  Jaxon was completely confused.

  “You never said anything. I had no idea.” He was caught between awe and frustration. “I’ve heard about him and always wondered what had happened to that guy, but I had no idea.”

  Jim said, “Well, if he ever comes to visit, I’d love to meet him.”

  “Don’t count on it, Jim,” Jaxon snapped. “He doesn’t travel.”

  “Too bad. Well, Jaxon, see you up at the party.” He walked off smiling and shaking his head. “You too, Baby Girl.”

  I winced. Nobody called me that anymore, and I hated to hear it again.

  “So you’re Baby Girl?” Jaxon asked. “Your dad was one of the best off-road drag race drivers around. I can’t believe you never said anything.”

  “I don’t talk about him that often. You know that Jax. Can we just go have some fun and forget he even mentioned it?”

  “Whatever you want, Toots.”

  “Are you okay?” Tiffany asked as we walked.

  “I'll be fine, Tiff,” I sighed. “Let's just forget about it. It's in my past and that's where I want to leave it.”

  “Okay,” she said hugging me.

  “Let’s have some fun!”

  We all took advantage of the party atmosphere. It was the first time since arriving that I really partied. I had more drinks that night than my entire life up to that point. I couldn’t walk well by the time we left. Jaxon carried me to his car, but I kept insisting I could walk.

  “You take care of her,” Tiffany said. “You sure you can drive?”

  “I didn’t have a drop,” Jaxon said. “I’ve got precious cargo tonight.”

  “Good!” she shouted. “Make sure she sleeps on her stomach Jax. I don’t want a phone call in the morning.”

  “I know Tiff!”

  He slipped me through the passenger’s side window and belted me in. As soon as he pulled out of the driveway, I passed out. I woke up the next morning tucked into bed, wearing a long T-shirt. Jaxon had carried me into bed and tucked me in without trying anything.

  On Saturday morning I sat on the couch drinking a hot cup of coffee and watching the weather. It was much warmer in Florida during the fall than in Iowa. I was going to really enjoy winter for once, no below zero temperatures and no snow. As soon as I flipped the television off Jaxon came through the door and kicked it shut.

  “Hey Toots, want to go out this afternoon?” he asked, walking to the kitchen to rinse his hands.

  “Where are we going?” I asked, thinking of all the possibilities.

  “It’s a secret!” he shouted.

  “Why?”

  “Okay, it’s more of surprise. What do you say? I promise it’ll be fun,” he said, walking back in the living room.

  “I guess... What do I need to bring for this surprise?”

  “Just your jean shorts and tank top will do. It’s already one though so we need to go now if we are going.”

  “Well let’s go then,” I said, getting up and wrapping my arms around his neck, kissing him.

  We left the apartment, hopped in the car, and drove out of the parking lot. We drove for about ten minutes and then Jaxon drove off the main road. I didn’t recognize the path or anything around us. Even as the Torino rutted along the dirt road, I knew that it had been some time before civilization last paid a visit. Weeds were sticking up out of the dirt. After another ten minutes we reached a clearing and in front of us was the ocean, where he parked the car in the foliage nearby. He had taken me to a small stretch of seashore!

  “Jaxon,” I sighed.

  “Do you like it?” he asked, grinning.

  “Yes! But I don’t have my swimsuit with me,” I said bummed.

  “I brought it with me,” he explained, reaching behind the seat. When his arm returned he was holding my workout bag, umbrella, and sand chair. “Here you go.”

  “You went through my stuff?” I asked, grabbing the bag.

  “No, Tiffany did. I asked her to help me so she did. I think she’s starting to like me,” he said grinning.

  I smiled. “Good, I don’t want you going through my stuff…”

  “Well, I didn’t Elana… Now let’s get changed,” he said, leaning over and kissing me on the cheek.

  We got out and took turns changing into our swimwear behind the car. He tried to sneak a peek of me naked but I quickly moved away and was able to get covered. Just because we had sex didn’t mean I was comfortable being seen naked. I slipped my shorts and tank top on over top of my swimsuit. When he stepped out from behind the car he looked intoxicating in his yellow and black board shorts that stopped just below the knee. His wild brown hair was blowing in the wind as he gripped my hand.

  We walked down the sandy trail as the sun beat on us overhead. Every once in a while I would look over at his inked upper half just to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. I wasn’t. It’s funny I wanted time to stop because I never had before, especially the past few years.

  When we reached the beach it was secluded, and very calm and quiet. It was well-hidden from the vast ocean, and the only accessible route was by land. I was glad that we were not at a commercial and overcrowded beach. It was only Jaxon and me. I squeezed his hand tight.

  I stopped in the beach sand far enough away from the ocean that the water wouldn’t reach me when the tide came in. We both sat our bags down and Jaxon took the blanket from my bag and spread it out on the sand. Then he opened the beach umbrella and chair and stuck them in the ground.

  “It’s all yours,” he said, patting the seat with his hand.

  “Thanks,” I said, sitting down in the chair.

  “So how’d you know?”

  “Know what?” he asked, smiling.

  “That I wanted to see the ocean?”

  “Tiffany and Lance were going to the beach one day and she mentioned you had never seen the ocean.”

  “How’d you know I like it?”

  “Who doesn’t like the ocean?”r />
  “You’re right, who doesn’t…” I sighed, taking a gander at the mass of water.

  I continued staring out at the ocean, a calm expanse of blue water. Jaxon moved closer to me and I felt him lean against my chair. He threw one hand in my lap without looking at me, we enjoyed the moment of being with each other. He rubbed the palm of my hand with his thumb and when I looked over at him he was staring out at the ocean.

  “I think I’m going to lay in the sun for a bit, need anything?”

  “Nope,” I responded as he moved in the sunlight.

  I searched through my bag and found my romance book that usually laid on the bedside table. He really was paying attention to me and knew what I liked to do. I leaned back in my chair and opened my book, beginning to read.

  Jaxon laid on the blanket stretched out on his back with a water bottle nearby. I looked up from my book once in a while to watch the seagulls down the beach. As the waves came in, it washed out a lump of sand. I went back to my reading but continued to look so I’d never forget the view. The most beautiful place ever.

  After a couple hours, the sunlight falling on my book was blocked by a shadow. I looked up to see the outline of Jaxon standing there. I hadn’t even heard him get up. I sat straighter up and lifted my hand above my eyes to block out the sun, giving me a better view of him.

  “Want to go take a dip with me?” he asked, reaching his hand out.

  “Is it cold?” I asked, shivering at thought.

  “No, it’s the perfect temperature for this hot sun.”

  “Okay, but don’t push me under,” I demanded, closing my book.

  I reached my hand out and Jaxon pulled me up. I undressed, finally revealing my body in a tiny white bikini. It was perfect to show off my butt and legs, but the best part was that it pushed my handful size boobs up and together. They looked magnificent and by the way Jaxon was staring at them, he thought so too.

  “Holy hell,” he said, removing his sunglasses.

  “What?” I asked, even though it was obvious.

  “Your body,” he sighed.

  My face warmed. I had to be bright red. “And yours,” I sighed back as I walked up to him and placed one hand on his chest and the other on his rock hard abs. He bent down and kissed me on the forehead, then nose, and finally my lips.

  “Let’s go.”

  He yanked my arm and ran for the ocean. I tugged to try and slow him down but it was no hope. He was too strong. The water splashed up around us as we slammed our feet on the ocean floor.

  The water was cold against my warm skin. Jaxon didn’t let go of my hand as we waded out into the surf, the water continued splashing against our legs. When the water was up to our chests, Jaxon pulled me into his arms, kissing me passionately. Finally, we broke off the kiss, gasping for breath. He took my hand and kissed it.

  “I’m so damn happy you showed up in Florida,” he said, his mouth only inches away from mine.

  “And I’m happy you were here to save me,” I breathed.

  My heart was racing.

  It was from Jaxon and not from running.

  Goosebumps spread across my skin.

  It was from Jaxon and not from the cold water.

  “I thought the water was going to be warm,” I teased.

  “I thought we could have a Notebook moment.”

  “So the bad boy loves chick flicks. First Titanic and now The Notebook.”

  “Every bad boy has secrets,” he said, grinning.

  “Well, I guess I’ll keep this one… Now let’s get out already. I’m freezing.”

  He swung his arm underneath my legs and picked me up as I wrapped my left arm around his neck. He carried me out of the water. He tipped his head down and planted a kiss on me. When we got back to our stuff, he let my feet go allowing me to stand again.

  Jaxon handed me my clothes and helped me dress, holding my sandals for me while I slipped my feet into them, buttoning my shirt for me over my tank top, and zipping my shorts. I quickly ran my brush thru my hair and put it in a ponytail, and then he took my hand, grabbed the umbrella and chair. We started walking down the beach, the soft breeze blowing my hair all around me. Minutes later, we stopped in front of a cabin-style house, just off the beach trail. I looked around. The house was small, but had a large porch. At one end of the porch was a hot tub surrounded almost completely by tall potted plants, creating a private area.

  “Why are we stopping here? Is this yours?”

  “Sort of, it was my mom and dad’s but after he left and my mother became an addict I’ve had to do all the upkeep. Do you want to see inside?”

  “Sure,” I said.

  He led me up the steps to the door, opening it for me to walk inside. He took my bag and put it on the chair by the door with the umbrella and beach chair.

  "Make yourself at home, Toots. I'll get us something to drink," he said, walking into the kitchen.

  I walked over to the large picture window and saw the beach peeking through the trees and bushes of the forest. Next to the window there was a fireplace, a table and a pair of chairs by the window, a beige colored sofa against the wall across from the fireplace, a staircase going upstairs by the doorway that led to the kitchen, and several pictures, paintings and photographs spread around the room on the walls, mantle and tables. One picture had a couple with three boys and a girl standing on the beach in front of the ocean. It must have been a family portrait and I couldn’t help but laugh at the shirtless Jaxon without tattoos and bulging muscles. His body had now became a mixture of a sculpture and ink drawings compared to the picture. I stood by the window and waited for Jaxon. Minutes later, he came from the kitchen carrying a tray with two glasses of ice, and a pitcher of ice cold lemonade on it. We sat on the floor where Jaxon laid the blanket.

  “You must come here often if you have fresh lemonade.”

  “Yeah, I stop here once a week to clear my head.”

  “Really? All by yourself?”

  “Yeah, I never ask anyone to come with because they’ll ask a bunch of questions.”

  “Kind of like I am,” I sighed.

  “I wouldn’t have brought you here if I didn’t want you to know everything about me, Toots.”

  “Thanks Jax.”

  “For opening up. I don’t have just Tiffany now. I have you too.” He grinned. “I saw the picture with your parents, brothers, and sister in front of ocean. How long ago was it taken?”

  “It was my sister’s last vacation here before she died. Before my dad left. Before my brothers blamed me. Before my mom became addicted to drugs.”

  “Well, we can make new memories Jax,” I said, holding his hand.

  “We already are.”

  “So when did you get the muscles and tattoos?” I asked, grabbing my arms.

  “Freshman year in college.”

  “Why?”

  “Well, the muscles were to kick Bobby’s ass and the tattoos were to make me feel like a new man. I didn’t want to live in the past because there wasn’t anything I could do to make it right. So I went in to the tattoo parlor and over a three month period got all this done,” he said, pointing at his arms, abs, and chest.

  “Wow, and did it work?”

  “I think it did. It made me feel good.”

  “Well, it did make you look magnificent.”

  “Are you calling me hot? Never thought I’d hear you say it even though I knew you did.”

  “Oh, did you?”

  “Yes… I… Did…”

  He pulled me close and kissed me gently, his tongue caressing my lips, tempting them to part and allowing him access to my mouth. My lips slowly parted, and his tongue slipped inside caressing my tongue. He slid his hand up my back to the back of my head.

  “Ready to go?” he asked, kissing me again.

  “Sure,” I breathed against his lips.

  I broke the embrace and got up from the floor. Jaxon gave me a playful swat on my butt as I picked up my bag. He took the glasses to the kitch
en and returned holding one pink rose. I stared at it spinning around in his fingers.

  “This is for you, Toots,” he said, grinning and handing me the rose.

  “I’ve actually only received one rose in my life. It was a red one from my mother so this is my first pink one,” I said, standing on my tippy toes and kissing him. “Thanks,” I whispered.

  “You are welcome.”

  He folded up the blanket and stuffed it in his overflowing bag. I opened the front door and stepped outside. He followed behind me, locking and closing the door. I made my way down the stairs and stopped at the bottom. I placed my hands on either side of the stairwell, looked over my shoulder at Jaxon and gave him a saucy little smile as I shook my butt at him, then ran onto the beach as I heard him growl.

  “I’m going to get you,” he shouted as he ran down the stairs.

  I screamed with joy and started running. When I looked back and realized he was quickly catching me I stopped and faced him, placing my hands on my knees. He stopped and stood in sunlight that was able to make it through the trees. I could see every indentation of every tattooed muscle that was bare of clothing I couldn’t resist him and ran and jumped on him, wrapping my legs around him tight. He fell back, landing on the sand with me straddling him. I grabbed his face and kissed him hard on the lips.

  “I got you first,” I said, pulling back.

  “That’s fine with me. I think aggressive Elana is pretty fucking awesome and hot,” he said, cupping my butt.

  “I think aggressive Jaxon is awesome and hot too,” I said, kissing him.

  We got up and grabbed our bags. The time had gone so fast that the sun had already started to set behind the trees. They casted a shadow over the calm ocean water. We walked hand in hand across the sand to the opening in the trees where Jaxon had parked. I swung our arms back and forth with every step we took. I enjoyed walking barefoot through the sand and looking at the scenery, the trees, animals, and not being able to see where the ocean ended. Enjoying it with Jaxon made it super romantic which I never imagined he had in him.

  As we started up the trail, I held his hand with one of mine and with the other I grabbed a hold of his arm. When we reached the clearing he yanked me forward, starting to jog. It was hard to get any grip in the sand so my feet kept slipping underneath me. He almost was dragging me.