𝐉𝐚𝐱 𝐏𝐎𝐕

The next morning, I slowly open my eyes to behold the soft morning light seeping through the curtains of Allie's bedroom windows, creating a mesmerizing dance of light on the cream-colored walls. My gaze shifts down as it lands on the beautiful face of the person I've formed a deep connection with in recent weeks, and if I'm being truly honest with myself, I can't fathom my life without her. From the moment I first saw her at the supermarket, I was enchanted by this woman. The depth of her care for those around her, whether it's her friends, her daughters, or even people that don't deserve it, like that bitch Carly, is truly mesmerizing.

I carefully extend my arm to avoid waking her, gently tucking a strand of her soft red hair behind her ear. Leaning in slowly, I place a soft, tender kiss on her forehead before departing from the bed, attempting to disturb her as little as possible. Gently retrieving my pair of boxers from the floor, I stealthily tiptoe over to the door, pulling it open as it emits a subtle creak. In a moment of caution, I steal a glance back to ensure that my movements hadn't disturbed her sleep. I descend down the wooden stairs as they creak beneath my feet, leading me into the cool inviting living room space.

Leisurely making my way to the kitchen, I start brewing a pot of coffee, and lean against the counter as I take in the comforting sputtering sounds of the coffee machine, the rich, inviting aroma of freshly ground coffee beans enveloping the air around me. As the coffee brews, I prepare two slices of toast, spreading them with a generous amount of butter and put two mugs of coffee and the plate hangover breakfast on a tray and carefully bring them up the stairs.

Stepping into the room, I am met with the serene sight of Allie, lost in her peaceful slumber. She lies sprawled on the bed, her body entwined in just a sheet, the morning sunlight casting a soft glow upon her. It amazes me how I've lived through my thirty four years of life, crossed paths with thousands of people, was even married to someone for two years, and never found anyone as captivating as I find Allison Lorraine Windsor.

I carefully set the tray down on the end table beside the bed and take a seat next to Allie. Leaning in, I press a soft kiss to the side of her shoulder before gently starting to rub circles on the small of her back, feeling the warmth of her skin as she begins to stir awake.

"Good morning, sweetheart," I whisper in her ear. "I figured you might want some coffee this morning."

Her half-open eyes gaze up at me; a gentle smile tugs at the corners of her lips as she rolls over to her side, gracefully pulling the sheet to maintain her modesty.

"That's so sweet, thank you," she says with a groggy voice.

"Is there something special you'd like to do today?" I inquired softly, taking a small sip of my hot coffee.

"Not necessarily, even if we just stayed in bed I'm okay with that," she chuckles as she takes another sip from her mug.

"I think I could get behind that," I smile warmly, leaning in to kiss her cheek.

As I start to move away, I hear vibrations coming from the end table, indicating an incoming message on my cellphone. I pick up the phone and notice a message from James.

James: Warning: Ana's on her way back. She got an e-mail and rushed out of here. Not sure what it's about.

Me: Alright, bud. Thanks.

I sit with my phone in my hands as I give Allie a small smile, and start to stand from the bed to put the rest of my clothes back on from last night.

"Ana's on her way back home. I guess she got some sort of e-mail and she left in a hurry," I tell her cautiously, not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing.

"Oh, that's strange," she says, sounding as puzzled as I am, with a hint of concern.

She untangles herself from the sheets as she stands from the bed, making her way to her dresser as she haphazardly pulls on a pair of light gray sweatpants and a loose black tank top making my breath hitch. As she goes to walk past me, I grab hold of her wrist, stopping her in her tracks and pull her toward me. Her radiant smile lights up the room as she stands before me, filling me with a deep desire to ensure that she continues to experience this joy every single day for the rest of her life.

"Do you think it would be possible for us to chat later?" I ask with a gentle smile, tenderly caressing the back of her hand with the pad of my thumb.

In just a matter of seconds, her radiant, joyous expression transforms into one of apprehension, causing my eyes to widen as I suddenly realize how my words have come across.

"No, Al, that's not what I mean," I say with a soft chuckle. "It's a good chat, I promise," I say reassuringly, placing my hand lightly on the back of her neck as I draw her closer to my chest, and rub her head soothingly.

I feel her stance relax against me as she leans into me, wrapping her arms around my waist. She rests her head on my chest, takes a deep breath and sighs in relaxation.

"That's better, love," I whisper in her hair.

She looks up at me, her eyes gleaming up at me like two of the hottest blue flames, igniting my soul.

I lean down, pressing my lips softly against hers as I feel her lips turn into a smile.

"Mmm, your beard is starting to grow back in. It's tickling my cheeks," she says with a soft laugh.

"Oh, is it?" I question with a mischievous grin as I glide my chin across her cheeks and down her neck, eliciting uncontrollable laughter as she tries to push me away.

Allie's infectious laughter fills the room as I draw back, enraptured by the sheer joy on her face. In that moment, it's clear to me that there's absolutely no way I can live without her by my side for the rest of our lives. Handling this situation will be challenging, considering she is a single mother to two lovely girls, but I believe we can find a way to navigate through it.

As we are lost in our own world, the sudden sound of the front door swinging open and then slamming shut downstairs jolts us back to reality. Allie and I give each other a smirk as I lean in and give her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"You go ahead, I'll give you ladies some privacy and stay up here. I'll make some phone calls," I reassure, giving her a tap on her behind with a smile.

"Okay," she says with a smile as she leans in, pressing a soft kiss to my lips before she runs downstairs to her friend.

I reach into my back pocket and retrieve my cell phone as I walk over to the bed. I settle in on the edge, feeling the soft comfort of the sheets beneath me as I dial Gareth and put the phone to my ear.

"Hey dude, what's up?" Gareth picks up on the first ring.

"Hey, what time are we heading to the studio in the morning?" I ask.

"I think we decided on ten. Nora mentioned wanting to ask Allie out to breakfast since she hasn't spent much time with her this trip so once she leaves for that we can go."

"Alright, we should get the equipment all packed up tonight then."

"Sounds good, man. The trailer was dropped off this morning, there's plenty of space for the amps, mics, and everything."

"Even Casey's millions of fucking symbols?" I joke.

"Exactly," Gareth laughs on the other end.

As I continue my conversation with Gareth on the phone, the sound of the girls screaming downstairs shatters the air. In and instant, I leap from the bed and quickly bid my farewells, ending the call abruptly. My heart races in my chest as I frantically make my way down the stairs, bracing for the possibility that one of them had taken a spill.

As I turn the corner into the kitchen, Allie and Ana are jumping up and down with excitement, their arms tightly wrapped around each other in a warm embrace. I let out a deep sigh of relief and brace myself against the doorframe, shaking my head with a smirk on my face.

"I assume the shrieking I heard upstairs were good screams and not 'Jax, call 9-1-1' screams," I tease with a smile.

Allie and Ana stop hugging each other as they stand before me both still smiling wide. Allie strides over to me with her face filled with pride as she turns to Ana and places a loving hand on her shoulder.

"Ana was chosen to be nominated for Best Romance Author for the LGBTQ+ Community! She gets to go to Los Angeles next year for an award ceremony for the book she wrote to see if she wins. It's an extreme honor," she says with proud exuding from her.

"That's amazing!" I exclaim, throwing my arms excitedly in the air.

"I know right?!" Ana agrees. "It's insane. I honestly didn't think that I would get picked!"

"I knew she would," Allie says confidently as she looks at Ana.

"We should go out and celebrate!" Ana exclaims, turning to Allie and grabbing her shoulders.

Allie looks at me with a smile before looking at Ana and nodding.

"Yeah that sounds like fun," she agrees.

"Jax, you can come too, right?" Ana asks.

I can't help but feel a wave of disappointment wash over me. As much as I would love to join them for a celebration, I know that the guys and I need to prioritize getting the van packed and ready for our studio session tomorrow. We have a lot of work ahead of us if we want to complete this album in a timely manner, and that means countless hours at the studio over the next few months.

"I'd love to join you ladies, but we do need to pack the van up tonight for the studio tomorrow," I say, placing my finger under Allie's chin to lift up her face. "But I promise I will come see you right after we're done with the studio tomorrow."

Allie's face lights up with a smile at my promise as she puckers her lips in eager anticipation. Leaning in, I press my lips to hers, feeling a surge of warmth and affection between us.

"I'll let you ladies get to it. Ana, don't let this one get too hammered," I say with a wink directed at Allie.

"Yes, boss," Ana quips.

I turn around and stride to the front door, stopping to slip on my sleek black boots and grab my keys from the table by the door. Opening the door, I'm greeted by the cool, crisp night air of the Boston summer. The weather is close to the same in Wales with it being a bit cold in the Summer nights, making me think of home.

As I settle into the driver's seat and press the start button, I take a moment to gather my thoughts before setting off on the road, my mind consumed by thoughts of Allie. The idea of embarking on a relationship, especially a single mother at that at this moment in time is frightening. While my career holds utmost importance in my life, the concept of family holds its own significance. Reflecting on my upbringing, my mother stood as my unwavering pillar of support, in contrast to my father, who battled alcoholism and subjected my siblings and me to abuse. Since the age of sixteen, I have worked my ass off to reach the position I am in today, on the verge of making a name for myself. I feel the ambition now to work on a relationship with someone, and continue creating a name for myself in the world of music. And in my heart, the only one I can envision that with is Allie.