Another Ex.

Amara’s POV

The next morning, I found myself riding to school with Jaxon. It wasn’t planned; it just sort of happened. Ryder had left early for something, and Caden was nowhere to be found, leaving Jaxon waiting in the driveway, casually leaning against his car.

“Guess it’s just us today,” he had said with that signature grin of his. And I didn’t argue.

The ride was surprisingly sweet. Jaxon, who was usually full of teasing remarks, seemed different today—more thoughtful, more present. We talked about everything and nothing, laughing at stupid jokes and sharing little moments of calm.

“You know,” he said as we pulled into the school parking lot, “I don’t think I’ve had a ride this peaceful in months. Usually, Ryder’s barking orders, or Caden’s too lost in his brooding silence to say anything.”

I smirked, glancing at him. “So I’m the reason for the peace?”

“Absolutely,” he said, turning to me with a wink. “You’re like my secret weapon. Calm the chaos, keep the wolves at bay—literally.”

I laughed, shaking my head at his ridiculousness, but there was a warmth in my chest. It felt good, being around Jaxon like this.

When we reached the school, Jaxon quickly hopped out and jogged around to my side, opening the door for me with a flourish.

“Such a gentleman,” I teased as I stepped out.

“Only for you, darling,” he shot back with a playful smirk. Then, to my surprise, he reached for my hand, lacing his fingers through mine as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Jaxon—”

“Relax,” he said, leaning in close. His voice dropped to a whisper, playful but with a hint of seriousness. “Let them talk. Let them gossip. Who cares what they think?”

And gossip they did. The whispers started almost immediately, students glancing our way as we walked through the parking lot. I could hear bits and pieces—curious murmurs, disbelieving gasps, jealous mutters.

But Jaxon didn’t seem to care. He kept his hand in mine, his grip firm and reassuring, as if daring anyone to say something to our faces.

That was, until she showed up.

“Jaxon,” a sharp, familiar voice called out, cutting through the murmurs like a knife.

I turned to see a girl striding toward us, her heels clicking against the pavement with every determined step. Her long blonde hair was perfectly styled, her makeup flawless, and the scowl on her face enough to make anyone stop in their tracks.

“Cassandra,” Jaxon muttered under his breath, his jaw tightening.

"Who is she?" I asked.

"She's also my ex." he whispered.

"God, you were playing with so many girls, Jaxon." I said slowly.

Cassandra. Jaxon’s ex-girlfriend.

She came to a stop in front of us, her icy blue eyes narrowing as she looked between Jaxon and me.

“So this is what you’ve been up to?” she said, her tone dripping with venom. “Dragging her around like some accessory, trying to make me jealous?”

Jaxon sighed, clearly exasperated. “Cassandra, not everything is about you.”

Her gaze snapped to mine, sharp and accusing. “And you,” she spat. “What are you even doing here? Do you seriously think you can just waltz in and replace me? Newsflash: Jaxon’s only using you. That’s all he ever does.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but Jaxon beat me to it.

“Enough, Cassandra,” he said, his voice firm and cold. “You don’t get to talk to her like that. You don’t get to do this anymore.”

“Oh, please,” she scoffed, crossing her arms. “We both know you’ll come crawling back, Jaxon. You always do.”

“Not this time,” he said, stepping closer to her, his voice low and steady. “We’re done, Cassandra. We’ve been done for a long time. Whatever we had, it’s over. And you need to move on.”

Cassandra’s eyes flickered, a mix of anger and hurt flashing across her face. But instead of responding, she turned on her heel and stormed off, leaving a trail of tension in her wake.

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, glancing up at Jaxon. His jaw was still tight, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

“Are you okay?” I asked softly, touching his arm.

He turned to me, his expression softening as he looked into my eyes. “I’m fine,” he said, his voice quieter now. “I’m sorry about that. She’s… a lot to deal with.”

“I noticed,” I said with a small smile, trying to lighten the mood.

Jaxon chuckled, shaking his head. “You don’t deserve that. None of it. And I won’t let anyone treat you like that again.”

He reached for my hand again, his grip warm and steady. “Let’s go,” he said, his voice filled with quiet determination.

And as we walked into the school together, I couldn’t help but feel like we’d just crossed another hurdle—together.

The rest of the day went by in a blur. The scene with Cassandra lingered in my mind, her words swirling around in a chaotic loop. But every time the unease crept in, I’d remember how Jaxon had stood by me, unwavering, and it brought a strange sense of comfort.

By the time the final bell rang, I was ready to escape the suffocating halls of the school. As I stepped out into the parking lot, I spotted Jaxon leaning against his car, waiting for me. He smiled as soon as our eyes met, that signature grin of his instantly making the tension in my shoulders ease.

“Ready to go?” he asked, opening the passenger door for me.

“More than ready,” I replied, sliding into the seat.

The ride home was quieter than this morning, but it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence. It was reflective, a shared understanding passing between us as the afternoon sunlight filtered through the trees lining the road.

“About earlier,” Jaxon began, breaking the silence. “I’m sorry you had to deal with Cassandra. She’s… complicated.”

“You don’t have to apologize for her,” I said softly, glancing at him. “I’m just glad you stood up to her. That couldn’t have been easy.”

He shrugged, his knuckles tightening briefly on the steering wheel. “She’s a part of my past, and I’m not proud of how things ended between us. But that’s all she is—the past. You’re… different, Amara. This bond, whatever it is, it’s bigger than anything I’ve ever known.”

I didn’t know how to respond to that, so I stayed silent, my heart thudding in my chest as his words sank in.

When we pulled into the driveway, I noticed Ryder’s truck parked next to the house, but there was no sign of Caden. Jaxon opened my door for me again, and as I stepped out, the warm afternoon breeze carried a strange sense of calm.

“Want to grab some coffee before you head inside?” Jaxon asked, motioning toward the porch where Ryder was sitting, his arms crossed as he watched us approach.

“Sure,” I said, but my gaze lingered on Ryder. He looked… tense.

As we walked up the steps, Ryder’s eyes flicked between me and Jaxon, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his expression.

“How was school?” Ryder asked, his voice neutral but clipped.

“Eventful,” Jaxon replied with a smirk. “Amara survived her first encounter with Cassandra.”

Ryder’s jaw tightened, his expression darkening. “Cassandra? What happened?”

“Nothing I couldn’t handle,” Jaxon said casually, brushing past him and heading inside.

But Ryder didn’t follow. Instead, his gaze locked on mine, his expression softening ever so slightly.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice quieter now.

I nodded, offering him a small smile. “I’m fine. Jaxon handled it.”

Ryder’s eyes searched mine for a moment, as if trying to gauge the truth in my words. Finally, he sighed and stepped aside, motioning for me to go inside.

As I walked past him, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of his gaze on my back, the unspoken tension lingering in the air.

---

Jaxon’s POV

I couldn’t stop replaying the moment Cassandra confronted us. The anger in her voice, the jealousy in her eyes—it was all so predictable, yet it still managed to get under my skin. But what stuck with me the most was how Amara had handled it. She didn’t snap back or crumble under the pressure. She stood her ground, steady and unshaken.

She was incredible.

As I poured two cups of coffee in the kitchen, I heard soft footsteps behind me and turned to see Ryder leaning against the doorway. His expression was as guarded as ever, but there was something else there—something almost protective.

“You sure bringing her into this mess was a good idea?” he asked, his tone even but pointed.

I raised an eyebrow at him. “Bringing her into this mess? Ryder, we didn’t have a choice. This bond—she’s as much a part of it as we are. You know that.”

Ryder crossed his arms, his jaw tightening. “Doesn’t mean I like seeing her dragged into our problems. Especially not with Cassandra involved.”

“Cassandra’s not a problem anymore,” I said firmly, setting the cups down. “Amara’s stronger than you think. She can handle herself.”

Ryder didn’t respond right away, his gaze dropping to the floor. Finally, he sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I just don’t want to see her get hurt. That’s all.”

“She won’t,” I said, my voice steady. “Not while we’re here.”

Ryder nodded, but his expression remained conflicted as he pushed off the doorway and walked away, leaving me alone in the kitchen with my thoughts.