Darkest Shadows

4) Distance

"There is no one I would rather spend my days with."--Jaxin

♡

It took four tables to fit the whole family, all the couples and parents, and one little seat for Tarver's car seat though he isn't in it, he's in his mom's arms instead despite her difficulty using one hand to eat. The whole time they waited for their food it was bustling with conversation, except for Ambrose and Jaxin who sat silently barely eating their pasta. Everything was going well with them then this dinner was brought up and they started distancing themselves again. Ace sits next to Ambrose as Rhett is next to Jax, the boyfriends keep looking over at Jax and Ambrose with concerned looks. They are like a live wire, so taut that they are humming with negativity and stress. "Amby?"

"Yeah," Ambrose replies quietly, setting his fork down and looking out the window, oblivious to Jax's feelings.

"Are you okay?" He woke up in a frenzied state and shrugged Jaxin off when he offered help, going about his day alone, and pushing Jaxin away. Jax backed up and gave him the space he thought Ambrose needed but it appears to have backfired and pushed him away further.

"Yeah."

"Do you want to talk? Or is there anything I can do?" he asks quietly, reaching under the table to take Ambrose's hand but he pulls it away. Jax feels tears sting his eyes and he abruptly gets up and walks outside, moments later Rhett comes up behind him.

"Jax, what's up?" Jaxin sits down on the bench in front of the restaurant and Rhett sits next to him.

"He's pushing away again, he won't let me close to him, I'm trying to help him but he doesn't seem to want it."

"This is hard for him too, Jax, he doesn't want to accept the help because he feels inferior asking for it. Be patient. Ace is talking to him too, don't get too upset about it, you both need to work on communication, or your relationship will go down in flames. Go talk to him but don't push, you can't force someone to take your help, but you can be there when they decided they need it," Rhett explains. "He loves you, there is no doubt about that, and because he loves you he gets ashamed of his condition. Take him aside and talk to him, I'm sure he's upset too."

"I will, thanks, Rhett. Since when are you so wise in romance?" Jax chuckles.

"I'm engaged to Ace who is hands-down the most helpless romantic I have ever met, I better be wise in romance," Rhett replies with a grin and claps him on the back. "Let's go lover boy."

Jax's nerves increased as he came back into the restaurant to the table, anxiety running in his veins and controlling his body. Even as he's nervous he still feels butterflies when he looks at him, that familiar love encompassing him, but that falls apart quickly.

"Jax—"

"Darling I think we should break up." The table is silenced and immediately Jax wishes he could be run over by a truck at his stupidity, Ambrose freezes in his seat and his jaw drops, eyes wide and tears in the green orbs.

"Jaxin!" Tracy snaps, "Ambrose, look at me."

Jax watches soundlessly as Gemini hands a semi-sleeping Tarver to Rhea, he comes over next to Ambrose and crouches next to his best friend. "Brose, look at me. Give me your hand." Gemini takes his hand and puts his fingers on his pulse, measuring. "Get water, he needs to stay hydrated, he's going into mild shock."

Rhea glares at him hard. "Jaxin, what is wrong with you? Why would you say that to him? And in a public place? Have you no respect for him?"