Losing Control : His Madness, His Cure Chapter 281

XANDER'S POV

I’ve been waiting for this day like a kid waits for a school trip....counting down, imagining it. Nine weeks since discharge. And now I’m here, on the hospital bed for what's hopefully my final check up. Jax sits in the chair by the wall, long legs stretched out, hands clasped loosely between his knees. He’s watching the doctor, but every few seconds his gaze flickers back to me like he can’t help it.

And maybe I’m a little too eager for this appointment, but today isn’t just today.

After this, we’re going to the restaurant. The actual building. The place Jax and Adam now own because Adam bought it in less than twenty-four hours after Jax asked about it, like it was nothing. Like buying a piece of Jax’s future was something you just do.

Over the last several weeks, I’ve watched Jax go from overwhelmed and terrified, to stunned and tentative, to....lit. Alive in a way that makes my chest feel too tight. He talks about ideas with his hands, he mumbles to himself in the kitchen about layouts and menus, he gets this spark in his eyes when Adam calls about progress.

He’s happy, truly happy.

And watching him is the best sight in the whole fucking world.

The doctor taps something into his tablet, then looks up at me. “Any shortness of breath on exertion?” he asks.

“No.”

“Dizziness? Persistent fatigue?”

“No.”

“Numbness along the incision line?”

“Not really,” I say. “Just a little weird sometimes. Not painful.”

He nods, approving. “That’s normal. Nerves wake up on their own schedule.”

He gestures. “Sit up straight for me.”

I do. The room feels cool against my bare skin. He runs a careful finger along my scar, checking for warmth, redness, anything that might hint at trouble.

“Still feeling tender here?” he asks as he presses gently on one side.

“No.”

I barely feel it.

“Good.” He lifts his stethoscope. “Deep breath.”

I inhale, lungs expanding fully without hesitation. He listens, moves the diaphragm to my back, listens again.

“Another deep one.”

I take it. He hums under his breath, something satisfied.

“Alright,” he says, pulling the stethoscope from his ears. “Your lungs sound clean.”

He turns the tablet toward me, and Jax stands instantly, stepping to my side. His arm lightly brushes mine.

The doctor points at the image.

“This is the chest X-ray from this morning. Clear lung fields, no fluid, no complications from healing. This,” he taps once, “...is exactly what we want to see nine weeks out.”

Relief warms in my chest. He swipes to another screen. “Final instructions....keep up your breathing exercises for another two weeks, avoid pushing through sharp pain, and don’t resume heavy lifting until the twelve-week mark. You can increase activity gradually, but listen to your body. If anything feels wrong, come in sooner.”

“I understand,” I say.

He nods, satisfied. “Good. Any questions?”

“Just one,” I say. “So I’m cleared for.... moderately rigorous activities, right?”

“Yes, but—”

“Great, thank you!” I cut in quickly.

Next to me, Jax gives me that look....the tiny shake of his head. I grin at him, slow and suggestive. The doctor glances between us. Watches the look on my face, and I swear I see the moment it clicks.

“Ah,” he says quietly. Then nods to himself like he’s confirming a medical hypothesis. He snaps the tablet closed. “Alright, then. I think we’re done here. I’m sure you two have.... things to get to.” He gives me a knowing look, then adds, “Just, don’t overstrain yourself.”

“No promises,” I whisper, eyes on jax, the corner of his mouth twitches.

I slide off the bed, feeling the floor beneath my feet, and Jax helps me guide my arms back into the sleeves of my shirt. His hands brush over my skin as he buttons it up slowly. When he reaches the last button, his fingers linger on my chest for a moment longer than necessary.

We take a cab to the restaurant because Jax still doesn’t think I’m “bike-proof” yet. He's already been there a handful of times, but this is my first. It’s still in its pre-everything state. No demolition, no redesigning, just the bones. The real work won’t start for a couple of months, not until they finalize the architectural drawings and get clearance from the city planning office, fire safety, and whoever else apparently needs to swear an oath over commercial renovations in this town.

But at least I can freely move without Jax hovering like he’s one breath from handcuffing me to the bed again. And I’m going back to work next week....finally.

“We’re close,” Jax says, leaning forward to glance out the front windshield. He gestures left. “It’s right over there.”

I shove my head slightly toward the window. “That one?”

“The brick front, yeah.”

My heart does this stupid little leap. Then I spot Adam’s car parked out front. “Adam’s here?”

“He is,” Jax says simply.

The second the cab stops, I push the door open and step out, breathing in air that tastes like the first day of something new. Jax gets out right after me.

It’s bigger than I imagined. Tall windows. Two levels. I tilt my head back, trying to take all of it in.

“There’s two floors,” I say, pointing like an idiot.

“Looks even better inside,” he says, already sounding like he’s in love with the place. “We’re thinking of cleaning up the outside brick, doing a darker trim, maybe some warm lighting on the overhang.”

I stop walking, turn to him. “That sounds great.”

We walk up together, our hands finding each other automatically. Jax pushes the door open....and I frown. Because across the wall, in huge letters, is a banner that reads:

CONGRATS ON YOUR FULL RECOVERY!!

Before I can even process that, Addy and Layla explode upward from behind one of the tables, screaming as they fire handheld confetti poppers in our direction.

“What the....” I flinch, then just laugh. “What the fuck? Did you guys plan this?”

Layla bounces on her toes. “It was my idea! You’re healthy again, we had to celebrate that! And also....” she spins dramatically, arms wide, “Jax and Adam are literally about to build the greatest future-famous, waitlisted-for-months, food-orgasm-inducing restaurant this city has ever seen!”

I choke on a laugh.

Adam walks out from the back holding a cake.

I turn to Jax. “You knew?”

He shrugs. “Maybe.”

Adam steps closer. “So? Did you get the all clear?”

“Yeah, I did.”

“Good,” he says, honest warmth slipping through the cool executive thing he usually has going. “I’m really glad.”

Addy crosses her arms, smirking. “You’re going to be fully booked for at least the first few weeks. I’m not kidding, there are like, twenty clients who said they’d wait till you were back. So enjoy the last few days of freedom, baby.”

I groan, but it’s the good kind. “I’m itching to get back.”

“Cut the cake!” Layla yells suddenly, sprinting back to wherever she and Addy were hiding. She pops up again with a bottle of champagne in one hand, plastic cups in the other, and shouts...loud enough to shake the damn walls, “Let’s fucking celebrate!”