Inevitably Yours

QUINN

I looked at Jaxx skeptically. “You really want me to go to a family picnic?” I asked.

He seemed conflicted about asking me. “Yea, I do,” he finally answered.

“I’m sure you can understand my hesitation here….” I reasoned.

“I know,” he said. “Please, just do this for me.”

We both knew just how extraordinarily uncomfortable New Year’s had been, but we hadn’t spoken about his family stuff since. Now that summer was in full swing; he was regularly at my house for lunch or dinner if we weren’t out elsewhere. My mom liked Jaxx, and my dad tolerated him. Jaxx definitely won points in my dad’s favor when he helped him fix the lawnmower.

I sighed. He was my boyfriend, and I knew I needed to do this for him. “Alright, what’s the dress code?”

“You’re the best!” he contended. “It’s just casual, and you always look good.”

I g*****d. “Jaxx, I am meeting even more of your family. Is this like summer dress casual or like shorts and a blouse? Or even jeans and t-shirt type.”

“Whatever you want. We’ll be there like an hour, two tops,” he promised.

“Fine,” I said, resolved to his very general answer.

–

“Mom!” Jaxx’s dad shouted at the old woman seated next to the picnic table. I stood frozen to the spot.

“I told those kids to stop bringing these little whores to family time. If she ain’t his mate, she’s no use to us,” the old woman scowled. “You can’t even keep your own b***h in line!”

Jaxx’s sister stood next to us, holding her hand over her mouth, but it sounded like she was suppressing a laugh.

“Son, just go,” his dad said, still staring at the old woman. Jaxx grabbed my arm and pulled sharply, snapping me out of my shocked position. He stormed away quickly, heading for the parking lot. He let go of my arm at some point, and I had to almost run to keep up with him, my eyes stinging from the harsh judgment I got before I was fully introduced.

Jaxx halted at the front of his truck, his fist slamming down onto the hood. I recoiled at the sound slightly. From the back, I could tell he was breathing heavily, his whole torso moving up and down.

“Jaxx…” I said softly. Someone was shouting at us from the direction of the picnic.

“Just get in the car, Quinn,” he said in a low voice.

“Look, it’s okay, I mean….” I trailed off, not sure how to comfort him. I would be mortified if my family had done something similar to him. His birthday was weeks ago; we knew we weren’t mates, but he said his feelings for me hadn’t changed. I was relieved he didn’t want to break up; our relationship had become so important to me.

The shouting was getting closer. Jaxx turned around and looked behind me. There was a mixture of rage and embarrassment on his face. “Please just wait in the car,” he said quietly. I nodded and then moved to do as he asked. I climbed into the truck and closed the door. Another girl, probably somewhere around his age came rushing over to him. They had a heated conversation, and her eyes kept darting to me through the windshield, but I couldn’t decipher what they were saying.

After a few minutes, Jaxx threw his hands in the air and then stomped over to the driver’s side door. He climbed in, giving the girl an angry look. Without words, he started the car and backed out of the spot. I waited until we were on the road before speaking.

“Jaxx, what’s going? First New Year’s now this. This isn’t just about your family not liking me….” I said as gently as I could. We came to a stop, and he looked over at me, something broken behind his eyes.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have dragged you there. I really thought they would love you as much as I do, plus it’s easier to get out of there when I can use you as my excuse,” he said.

“I just don’t understand,” I told him.

He sighed, his eyes moving back to the road. “Let’s go out to the bluff. I’ll tell you everything.”

I scooted closer to him on the seat, resting my hand on his leg. Our gazes connected for a moment. “Okay,” I agreed.

–

“Wow,” I gasped. “That is a lot….”

His mouth formed an uncomfortably tight line, and he nodded, still not meeting my gaze. “They aren’t even pretending anymore. My dad is either drinking himself numb or finding ways to make my mom’s life hell.”

“Jaxx, I’m so sorry that this is happening to you….” I told him. When we got to the bluff, we hiked down a short way to a more private spot; it was no easy feat in strappy sandals and a dress, but I knew he didn’t want anyone around. Then he started to explain the whole story behind his parents. They were chosen mates after waiting around years for their fated; they even vowed to reject their fated had they ever come along. Jaxx’s father had done that years ago when Jaxx was a toddler. He spent a month living with his grandparents while his parents went away to reconnect after it all. Now his mother’s fated has come along, and she was not honoring her chosen commitment.

“That’s why the awkward questions were happening at New Year’s. It is also contributing to my grandmother being such a cunt,” he said. Jaxx sat with his arms propped on his knees. I scooted closer and wrapped my hand around his bicep then leaned against him. “I really thought they would just behave with guests around.”

“I’m not mad at you,” I told him.

“She shouldn’t have said that,” he sighed.

“But it’s not how you feel. My feelings are a little hurt, but I guess it doesn’t matter in the end,” I assured him.

“Babe, I’m so sorry. I won’t ask you to go to my family stuff anymore. You don’t deserve that,” he whispered.

“If you want me to be there, I will be. You’re always there for me,” I promised.

Jaxx shifted and grabbed me, pulling me to straddle his lap. He tucked my hair behind my ear and then ran his finger gently down my cheek, raising goosebumps on my arms. “Quinn, I love you,” he whispered. He didn’t let me answer; he swooped in and kissed me deeply.

–

“Just relax; you’re doing fine!” Jaxx tried to reassure me from the passenger seat.

“No, no, I am not!” I said panickedly.

“We’re almost back, and driving lessons are over for the day. Okay, start turning,” he directed. I pulled on the steering wheel of his truck, trying to remember all the things he and my parents had been trying to teach me. Learning to drive was stressing me out so much that I was getting hives.

I turned us onto the residential road that was only two more turns away from my house. I took a deep breath as I tapped the gas, trying to make sure the vehicle stayed below the speed limit.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“See, you turned fine. You’re doing great,” Jaxx smiled.

Halfway down the road to the next turn, I saw brake lights from another car coming out of its driveway. I came to a stop a few car lengths before it.

“Quinn, what are you doing?” Jaxx asked, staring at me.

“That guy is trying to pull out,” I said, motioning to the stopped car in the driveway.

“Quinn, no, you need to go!” Jaxx stressed.

“I don’t want to be rude! My dad said always be courteous as long as it doesn’t interfere with safe driving!” I argued.

“Quinn, you have the right of way. You’re on the road. He is supposed to wait for you to pass him before he goes,” Jaxx explained.

I looked at him, then the car, then back at him. “This is so confusing,” I g*****d. The car’s passenger window rolled down, and the driver was leaning over, trying to tell me to go.

“Just go. Let’s get back to your house,” he said.

“I think I’m done,” I said, putting the car in park and sitting back against the seat.

“You can’t just decide you’re done in the middle of the road!” Jaxx said loudly. I crossed my arms, refusing to move. I was overwhelmed, tired, and prepared to walk home.

Jaxx got out of the car and jogged over to the guy waiting in his driveway. I watched him have a quick conversation, then wave politely to the guy as he pulled out and went the other direction. Jaxx then came over to the driver’s side door and opened it.

“Scoot, babe,” he sighed. I unbuckled and moved over, letting him get back in the driver’s seat. He took us the rest of the way to my house and parked on the curb, which I was entirely incapable of doing after two weeks of driving lessons.

“Sorry,” I mumbled.

“It’s okay,” he sighed. “You can’t just give up in the middle of the road, though. We could have gotten hit. When you put the car in park and take your foot off the brake, the brake lights aren’t on anymore. It could be difficult to tell that we were stopped.”

I dropped my head into my hands. “This sucks,” I g*****d.

Jaxx laid his arm over my shoulders. “You’ll get it. You’re too smart not to,” he said sweetly. “You parked perfectly like five times today. You couldn’t do it even once last week.”

Jaxx pulled my hands away from my face, making me look up at him. There was laughter dancing on his face. “What?” I asked.

“I can’t believe you stopped to let someone pull out of their driveway,” he chuckled.

“I’m rethinking these driving lessons,” I pouted. He pecked my lips.

“I have to go help my dad tonight, but tomorrow, ice cream for your exploits,” he smiled.

“Do I have to drive there?” I asked.

“No,” he laughed. “I’ll drive.”

“Then we have a deal,” I agreed.

–

“I expect to see you all bright and early tomorrow morning. I know this training schedule is different than years past, but I think it will be the most beneficial to our team’s growth. Come sign out your uniforms and team gear before you leave,” my cross country coach said, wrapping up our team meeting.

I shoved the packet with all our information for the whole season into my backpack and headed toward the line where our new assistant coach was signing out uniforms.

“Miss Samuels, a word?” my coach called. I headed over to him at the side of the room. He had an envelope in his hand.

“Yea, coach?” I said.

“I’m glad to see you ready to run this year, but I have some bad news,” he said.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Well, I can’t give you a uniform or let you practice yet,” he said.

“What?” I asked in disbelief. “What did I do? Breaking my ankle was an accident; that can’t possibly disqualify me right now!”

“It’s not your ankle. It’s your fees,” he said, handing me the envelope. “There is a letter in there for your parents. Thanks to the Alpha’s new rules, we can’t let you participate until all fees are paid in full. I guess you have two play fees because of marching band, but your parents have only paid for one.”

“No,” I said. “My mom said band didn’t have one. It was on the excluded list.”

“As of Monday, the list includes marching band. I believe they applied your fee there first since it’s a class and extracurricular. You’ll either need to pay or make a choice,” he said.

“There has to be something we can do. A payment plan or something. I don’t think my parents can afford another play fee. I’m not able to get new shoes for the season because of the fees, and I’m giving music lessons to pay for my band supplies,” I said in disbelief.

“Sorry. Life is full of tough choices. Deadline is in two weeks, so you have until then to figure it out or make your choice. If I were you, I might stick to what I’m best at,” he said. He gave me a curt nod and walked away.

I stood there staring at the envelope in my hand. “Don’t panic yet,” Sapphire said in my head. “Just go home and talk to your parents. Maybe there is just a mistake.”

“Saph, this isn’t good….”