Our Pointless Fights

Chapter 7: Coming Home

-Nathan-

"Are you nervous?" Jax inquired.

"Why? Do I look nervous?" I responded, fiddling with the collar of my shirt for the third time.

"No, not at all," he remarked sarcastically, lounging on the couch as he watched me.

I shot him an annoyed glance. I had informed him yesterday that I had "persuaded" Megan to come home for a month so we could sort things out, and I was determined to convince her that our marriage wasn't as doomed as she believed. I firmly believed we belonged together, and I was prepared to fight for it.

"Would you at least put some pants on?" I suggested.

Jax seemed to be going through something. I could sense it. Right now, he was just lounging in his underwear on my couch, giving the impression that he wasn't planning on leaving anytime soon. We needed to have a serious conversation, but Megan would be arriving soon, and she had all my attention at the moment.

"Why? Do you think she'll choose me over you once she sees all I have to offer?" he quipped, gesturing toward his almost naked body.

I shook my head and slipped my hands into my pockets.

"The day Megan chooses you over me is the day pigs can fly," I retorted.

"Wow. Hurtful," he muttered as he stood up, though we both knew my words hadn't truly wounded him.

He regarded Megan more as the little sister he never had rather than as the alluring and beautiful woman she truly was. Some people had chemistry, while others shared a more sibling-like relationship, and that was perfectly fine. I wasn't about to share Megan, and it was evident that Jax's type was more akin to Kat, whom I hadn't heard from in ages.

What happened between them? I pondered as I watched my best friend walk away to get dressed. Jax claimed he was here for me, but something inside me told me it was the other way around.

Just then, the doorbell rang. I quickly left the living room, instructing Maya, who was on her way to answer the door, to return to the kitchen and continue preparing the food she was making. Megan was running late, but she had sent me a text—the first in months—letting me know when she would arrive, so I had dinner ready for us. I straightened my clothes one last time before opening the door, and there she stood. Her hair was pulled up today, and she wore a pair of small white shorts and a blue shirt. She was undeniably stunning.

She offered me a cautious smile, and I widened the door to let her in.

"I'm glad to see you keeping your end of the deal," I remarked as I observed her enter and set her suitcase down.

She glanced around, taking in the familiar surroundings. Although nothing had changed since her departure, she eventually turned to face me.

"I'm honoring my promise, but I also knew you'd come looking for me if I didn't come to you," she stated.

Approaching her, I closed the door behind me as I made my way over. Her eyes widened slightly as she watched me.

"You're correct," I acknowledged. "I would have sought you out. You're not getting away that easily."

"Do you realize how creepy that sounds?" she queried, crossing her arms.

I grinned and took another step closer before enveloping her in my arms.

"Creepy? No. Romantic," I countered.

She shook her head and pushed my arms away. I looked at her in confusion.

"We need to establish some boundaries here," she asserted.

"This feels reminiscent of when we struck our last agreement. Remember when you were supposed to scare Brooke away from me?" I chuckled.

"Well, let's set similar boundaries," she proposed.

"What? So, I'm not allowed to touch you again?" I inquired.

She nodded, and I shook my head. There was no way Megan could stay here for a month without me being able to touch her. I had only had the opportunity to be intimate with her twice, and I was already deeply captivated. I couldn't wait to undress her again. This time, I would take my time, and it wouldn't be a quick f*ck on the couch. Unless, of course, that's what she desired.

"Yes. No touching," she affirmed.

"I don't agree to those terms."

She sighed and shook her head at me. "Nathan!"

"It's a no. Come up with something else," I stated.

"You know I can't resist when you touch me," she retorted, annoyed.

I simply smiled smugly because, of course, I was aware.

"Well, I don't think I can refrain from touching you for a month," I admitted.

Her confidence seemed to waver a bit, and her cheeks flushed slightly. She remained so sweet and innocent. I relished in it.

"I suppose I can change the rules a bit," she conceded.

"Go on."

"You can touch me, but keep it appropriate," she proposed.

I furrowed my brow in confusion.

"What do you mean by 'appropriate'?" I inquired.

"You know!" she exclaimed.

I continued to regard her with confusion until I finally grasped her meaning. Sweet Megan couldn't bring herself to say the words outright.

"You mean no f*cking?" I clarified.

She nodded.

"No intimate acts of any kind," she affirmed.

I was fairly certain I understood what she meant by that.

"So, no kneeling down right now, pulling off those tiny shorts, and hopefully discovering you're not wearing anything underneath so I can—"

"Yes! I mean no!" she interrupted, her face growing even redder. "None of that."

"Well, that's no fun," I teased her.

She was attempting to assert herself as the one who makes all the rules, but she was failing miserably at it since she couldn't even articulate what she didn't want me to do. I knew I was being a bit cruel by teasing her like this, given how her face was turning redder by the moment, but it was too entertaining to resist.

"I'm serious. If we're going to work this out, then no filthy tricks," she insisted, pointing a finger at me.

"Do I still get to kiss you?" I inquired.

She pondered for a moment and then nodded.

"You can kiss me," she consented.

"And I can touch you, as long as it's like this?" I proposed, stepping closer to wrap my arms around her once more.

She suddenly seemed very nervous as our bodies pressed together. I couldn't deny that I lost focus a little as well. It was difficult when we were so close. It felt like the world disappeared, leaving just her and me. Tension mounted, and I watched as she licked her lips while gazing at mine. F*ck, yes, I was going to kiss her, and no one was going to stop—

"Megan!"

Son of a... Didn't he have a home of his own to go to?

Jax had appeared, smiling at Megan as he approached. I was reluctant to release her, but she was already turning her attention to Jax, smiling back at him and pulling away from me. She went over to hug him so effortlessly. It annoyed me because she seemed so apprehensive around me still.

"What are you doing here?" she inquired, sounding genuinely pleased to see him.

"Keeping an eye on this depressed fool," he quipped, nodding in my direction.

"Depressed?" Megan asked, puzzled, glancing at me.

"I'm fine," I assured her.

"He's not," Jax countered, launching into jests. "He's been crying all the time. You should see all the tissue paper littering his room."

Megan laughed, and I shook my head.

"Very funny," I retorted.

"So sad, but now you're back," Jax remarked.

"Well, I'm here for the month at least."

"Right," Jax acknowledged with a wink. "The month."

"Don't you have somewhere to be?" I interjected.

"But I smell food," Jax persisted.

"There are plenty of other places to eat," I reminded him, silently urging him to leave.

Tonight needed to be just Megan and me, without Jax as the third wheel. We needed time to talk, and he would undoubtedly turn everything into a joke.

"Fine. I know when I'm not wanted. I'll just head into the city. Maybe grab a drink. ALL BY MYSELF," he declared dramatically.

"You do that," I replied, opening the door.

Jax sighed and shrugged.

"Well, I guess I'll see you later, little mouse," Jax remarked.

"Don't call her that," I warned.

Even though the nickname had been used as something hurtful in the past against Megan, it felt like something that now belonged to me alone, something only I could call her.

"Someone's getting territorial," he observed, patting my shoulder a few times before walking out. "See you two later. Try not to break anything when you start tearing each other's clothes off."

"Bye!" I called after him, slamming the door and exhaling wearily.

Despite Jax's intrusion, Megan still wore a smile, so perhaps he hadn't ruined everything. At least, I hoped not.