Losing Control : His Madness, His Cure Chapter 295

SIX YEARS LATER....

Today's Layla and Adam’s wedding. Finally. After seven years, Adam finally popped the question. The reception will be at X-Hale, which means Jax has to rush over first, make sure everything is perfect, and then we’ll meet at the garden venue. He’s Adam’s best man, just like Adam was his six years ago.

First, though, I have to figure out how to calm the tiny tornado currently running around the kitchen. Audrey, our three-year-old wrecking ball, screams at the top of her lungs, bouncing on the counter, half a chocolate bar clutched in one fist. How she even reached the top shelf to grab it is beyond me.

I step forward to grab the rest of the chocolate bar, thinking I can at least confiscate it before she does more damage, and she literally growls at me. I freeze, then step back..... “Sweetheart, you’re gonna fall and get hurt,” I warn, keeping my voice calm but firm. “We’ve been over this. No candy before breakfast.”

She crosses her arms, stubborn as ever, and I sigh, reaching into the fruit basket. “Uh...How about an apple instead?” I offer, holding it out like a peace treaty.

I can’t help thinking I already miss the low counters back at the apartment. We just moved into this house a few weeks ago, and the bigger space is both a blessing and a curse. She's always finds some new platform to climb or jump from, like it’s a personal mission to keep me on my toes.

I approach her cautiously, every step measured. Last time this happened, she had literally leapt from the counter into my arms like gravity didn’t exist, like the laws of physics were optional for her. I remember how my heart had practically stopped mid-beat, and then my chest had slammed against itself when I caught her.

I hold up my hand slowly, like I’m approaching a live bomb. “Easy, Audrey.... easy.”

She grins wildly, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “I’m gonna FLY, Daddy! Watch me!” she announces, clearly daring me, eyes sparkling with mischief.

“No,” I plead, shaking my head. “Do not jump.”

“YEEES!” she shouts, crouching slightly like she’s about to launch herself into the air.

I tighten my arms, ready to catch her, bracing for the impact, when I hear Jax’s voice.....he’s on his phone somewhere nearby. Audrey perks up immediately, turning her attention toward the door. I watch as she forgets about jumping and eagerly waits.

Jax steps in not long after, and my chest does that stupid, unfair thing again. He’s in a crisp white shirt, the sleeves rolled up, tie slightly loosened, suit jacket in his hand. The sight of him makes me swallow hard, he always complains whenever he has to dress up, but I can’t help it.....I always find him completely irresistible like this. The way he moves, the way he owns the space.... it’s the hottest fucking thing I’ve ever seen, and right now, all I can think about is how ridiculously, painfully perfect he looks.

His voice is sharp and annoyed in that way that shouldn’t be attractive but absolutely is.

“....I don’t care if the garnish looks better that way, Carl. If it’ll wilt before dinner service, we’re not doing it. Fix it!”

God. I will never be immune to a pissed-off Jax. There’s something about him when he’s like this....commanding, focused and totally in control that hits me straight in the chest every damn time.

“DADA!” Audrey screeches, arms flung wide like she’s launching herself into orbit.

Jax doesn’t miss a beat. He crosses the kitchen in long, sure strides, scoops her off the counter with one arm, and kisses the top of her head. She squeals, tries to shove the half-melted chocolate into his mouth, chanting, “Eat, eat, eat—!”

He dodges the chocolate, mutters into the phone, “No. I’ll check it myself in twenty,” and hangs up with a curt finality that would terrify anyone who isn’t three years old and sugar-drunk.

He turns to Audrey, lifts her higher, nuzzles her cheek until she giggles herself breathless. It distracts her long enough for me to swoop in and snatch the chocolate from her sticky hand.

“We need to consider installing surveillance in this house,” I say.

“Why?” Jax asks, leaning over to kiss me, just a quick brush of lips, but enough that my brain stutters and almost forgets what I was trying to say.

Audrey chooses that exact moment to start shrieking nonsense at top volume, grabbing fistfuls of Jax’s tie and yanking so hard she nearly strangles him. He just laughs, like this is normal.

I hold up the chocolate. “Because I put this on the top shelf. The last time this happened the daycare called to ask if she was okay because she was sprinting around nonstop. They said we shouldn't give her anything sweet before dropping her off.

Jax shrugs casually, stroking Audrey’s cheek with his thumb.

“I gave it to her.”

His words hit me like a slap.

“I’m sorry, what did you just say?” I stare at him, half convinced I misheard.

He shifts her higher on his hip. “She wanted one, so I gave it to her.”

Like it’s nothing, like this is perfectly fine. My brows shoot up so fast they practically leave my face. “You gave her chocolate?!”

He blinks at me, then looks genuinely confused when my expression doesn’t soften. “You’re mad...” he says carefully. “Why?”

I scoff under my breath and turn away before I say something sharp. I pull open the drawer, toss the rest of the melted chocolate inside, and slam it shut harder than I need to.

I’m still in pajamas. Hair a mess. Two kids to wrangle.... alone. A wedding in a few hours. And now my three-year-old is vibrating like a malfunctioning wind-up toy, all because the man who convinced me we were ready for a kid by secretly reading parenting manuals like they were classified government files apparently forgot the chapter on sugar.

He’s standing there with Audrey thrashing in his arms like a caffeinated gremlin, looking at me as if I’m overreacting. As if our child isn’t seconds away from sprinting across the ceiling.

“Why am I mad,” I mutter, rubbing a hand over my face. “Gee, I don’t know, Jax. Maybe because she’s going to be running around the wedding like a feral squirrel now.”

“It’s just a chocolate bar, Xander,” he says, bewildered. He turns her toward him, trying to coax her like he knows what he’s doing. “Hey, precious, you’re gonna be good for me today, yeah?”

She suddenly detonates. Launching into full-body bouncing, tiny limbs flailing, letting out a noise that sounds like a demon being exorcised....high-pitched, feral, absolutely unhinged. I swear the windows vibrate.

Jax freezes. Eyes wide. Mouth slightly open.

“Oh,” he breathes.

I cross my arms. “Yeah.... Oh.”

He winces, shifting her before she headbutts him. “In my defense,” he says, breathless, “...she asked very nicely.”

“That’s how drug addicts work too.” I mutter

Just then, the baby monitor on the counter crackles, then erupts into full-blown wailing. I close my eyes and exhale slowly through my nose. “Aaand AJ’s up,” I mutter, because why wouldn’t he join the circus this morning?

Before I can move, Jax’s phone starts ringing. He glances at the screen and winces. “It’s Albert. He was dropping off produce at X-Hale, I asked him to check on something in storage.”

I grab the monitor and then reach for Audrey, who immediately tightens her tiny, death grip around Jax’s neck. “Hand her over. I’ll figure out how to get her ready without her turning the entire house into a demolition site.”

Jax looks genuinely torn, even as his phone keeps vibrating. “I can stay. Seriously. I’ll call him back.”

“It’s fine,” I say, stepping closer. “Answer the phone.” Then I let my voice drop. “You’ll just have to make it up to me later.”

That gets him. His mouth curves in that slow, knowing way that makes my knees weak. He chuckles, low. “Yeah. I know exactly how.”

He leans in and kisses me again....warm and stupidly distracting, while attempting to pass Audrey over. She does not approve. She clings, making outraged noises as I pry one limb off at a time.

Jax kisses my forehead as he pulls back, murmurs, “Good luck,” and answers the phone. And I’m left holding a squirming, sugar-charged toddler and a crackling baby monitor, wondering how the hell we’re all going to make it to a wedding today alive.