As I pulled the zipper closed on the bulging bag, I stopped for a moment and the little voice in the back of my head cautioned me to slow the fuck down, to think, because I might be overreacting, but the fear of being here when he returned and him not wanting me here was too much.

I started to leave, but then I wheeled around and I grabbed the shirt of his I’d worn to bed. I don’t even know why I did it, but I grabbed it and took it with me as I grabbed my purse and then left his house.

Too much was whirling in my head as I drove, at first not sure where I was going, and then I recognized where my subconscious was leading me.

Mom’s house.

I don’t even know how I got there, because I didn’t remember the drive. The house was silent, warmer than normal because I hadn’t been around to turn the air on. I dropped my tote on the couch and then dug out my cell.

There were no calls or texts, and I don’t know why I thought there would be. My heart was racing superfast, the insides of my stomach twisting, and I started to call Teresa, because I needed to talk to someone, but she didn’t know Jax.

I made a couple of rounds around the couch before I hit Roxy’s name on my contacts list. She answered on the third ring.

“Hey,” she said, voice throaty with sleep.

I cringed. “I’m sorry. It’s early, right? I can call back.”

“It’s okay.” She cleared her throat. “Is everything all right?”

I almost said yes. “No.”

“Is it your mom or Clyde?” The sleepiness was gone from her voice.

“No. It’s not that. It’s . . .” I wetted my lip. “I think Jax and I broke up.”

There was a pause and then she shrieked, “What?”

I plopped down on the couch. “I mean, we were together. I guess. We didn’t call each other boyfriend or girlfriend. Like we didn’t have that talk.”

“Girl, I don’t think people have that talk. It just sort of happens. You two are totally together.”

“He did say he was my man, so yeah, but then last night . . .” I trailed off, feeling sick again. “I don’t know. He’s gone.”

“What do you mean he’s gone?”

That sick feeling traveled up my chest. “When I woke up, he was gone and he didn’t sleep with me last night.”

“Where are you?” she asked suddenly.

“I’m at the house.”

“Jax’s?”

“No. My mom’s house. I just couldn’t stay in his place. I don’t even know if he wants me there and I didn’t want to be there when he came home if that’s the case.” My hand tightened around the phone. “So I’m . . . I’m at Mom’s house.”

“Do you think that’s a good idea?” she asked, and her voice changed like she was moving around quickly. “With everything going on?”