A Diffrent Kind Of Future

Jax sat across from his mother in her pristine office, the large windows behind her giving a perfect view of the city skyline. She was sorting through emails on her tablet, looking completely at ease—like she always did.

"So," she said, without glancing up. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Jax hesitated for a moment before leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "I wanted to talk to you about something."

His mother finally looked up, raising an eyebrow. "That's rare. Should I be concerned?"

Jax sighed. "No. It's... about Grace."

That got her attention. She placed the tablet down and gave him her full focus. "Grace? What about her?"

Jax ran a hand through his hair, trying to find the right words. "I think... I want to make this real."

His mother blinked, clearly taken aback. "Real?"

Jax nodded. "Yeah. No more pretending. No more contract. I like her."

A slow smile spread across her lips. "Well, it's about time."

Jax frowned. "Wait, what?"

She leaned back in her chair, looking entirely too pleased. "Jax, darling, I've known this was coming for a while now."

Jax scoffed. "How?"

His mother gave him a pointed look. "Because I know you. And I've seen the way you are with her. You've never let anyone in the way you've let her in."

Jax opened his mouth to argue, but... she wasn't wrong.

His mother smirked. "So, what's the plan? Are you going to ask her?"

Jax hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "I want to... but I don't know if she feels the same way."

His mother rolled her eyes. "Jax. The girl agreed to fake-date you, put up with all your attitude, and still looks at you like you put the stars in the sky. I think she likes you."

Jax huffed a laugh, shaking his head. "Yeah, well... I guess I'll find out."

His mother smiled. "I think it's a good idea. She's good for you, Jax."

Something in Jax's chest eased at that.

For once, they actually agreed on something.

Jax leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. He hadn't expected his mother to be this supportive—if anything, he thought she'd remind him to keep his focus on his career, tell him that a real relationship would only complicate things.

But instead, she was sitting there, smiling at him like she'd known this was coming all along.

"You really think so?" he asked, a little skeptical.

His mother gave him a pointed look. "Jax, I've been managing your life long enough to know when something—or someone—is good for you. And Grace? She's not like the others."

Jax swallowed, nodding. He already knew that.

"She challenges you," his mother continued. "You listen to her. And, shockingly, she's not afraid to call you out on your nonsense."

Jax let out a small laugh, shaking his head. "Yeah. She really doesn't hold back."

His mother smirked. "Exactly. And that's why she's perfect for you."

Jax sighed, drumming his fingers against the arm of the chair. "I just... don't want to screw this up."

His mother's expression softened slightly. "Then don't."

Jax scoffed. "That simple, huh?"

She tilted her head. "Relationships take work, Jax. You know that. But if you really want this—if you really want her—then stop overthinking it and go after her."

Jax let her words sink in, staring down at his hands for a moment.

Then he looked up, determination settling in his chest.

"Yeah," he said, more to himself than to her. "I think I will."

His mother smiled. "Good. And Jax?"

He met her gaze.

"Don't wait too long."

Jax nodded slowly, his mother's words echoing in his mind. Don't wait too long.

She was right. He didn't want to overthink this or let fear get in the way. Grace meant something to him—more than he'd expected, more than he'd admitted to himself until now.

But still... he couldn't just rush into this.

He needed to do this right.

Jax pushed himself up from the chair, running a hand through his hair. "I should probably go."

His mother smirked knowingly. "To Grace?"

He rolled his eyes. "Not yet."

Her smirk deepened. "Ah, so you're actually going to think before acting on impulse. That's new."

Jax huffed a laugh. "I just want to be sure about how I do this."

His mother's gaze softened. "I understand."

Jax turned to leave, but her voice stopped him.

"Jax?"

He glanced back.

"I'm proud of you," she said simply. "For letting someone in."

A lump formed in his throat, but he masked it with a smirk. "Yeah, yeah. Try not to get too emotional on me."

She chuckled. "Go figure it out."

Jax didn't need to be told twice. As he stepped outside, he pulled out his phone, scrolling through his contacts.

There was only one person who could help him figure this out.

With a deep breath, he tapped the name and lifted the phone to his ear.

"Yo," a familiar voice answered after a few rings. "Didn't think I'd hear from you today."

Jax exhaled, glancing up at the sky. "Yeah... I need some advice."

A pause. Then—

"Wait. Is this about Grace?"

Jax sighed. "Yeah."

A loud laugh echoed through the line. "Oh, man. This is gonna be good."

Jax shook his head, climbing into his car. "Shut up. Just meet me at the bar."

"On my way."

Jax hung up, gripping the steering wheel for a moment.

He was really doing this.

Now he just had to figure out how.

Jax pulled into the parking lot of a bar he'd been to a hundred times before. It wasn't flashy or packed with paparazzi—just a quiet place where he could actually have a real conversation without the world watching.

As he stepped inside, he spotted his friend already sitting at the bar, a beer in hand, smirking like he already knew what this was about.

"Well, well, well," his friend drawled, leaning back in his seat. "The great Jax Riot, asking for relationship advice? Never thought I'd see the day."

Jax rolled his eyes, sliding onto the barstool beside him. "Yeah, yeah. Get your jokes out now."

His friend chuckled. "So, what's up? What's so complicated about asking Grace to be your girlfriend?"

Jax hesitated. He wasn't sure how to start this.

He drummed his fingers against the counter. "There's something I haven't told you."

His friend raised an eyebrow. "Oh, this should be good."

Jax sighed. "Grace and I... we weren't actually dating."

A beat of silence.

Then—

"Wait. What?!"

Jax winced at the volume, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. "Keep your voice down, man."

His friend stared at him, jaw slightly open. "So, let me get this straight. You and Grace—this whole thing—has been fake?"

Jax nodded. "It started as a deal. My mom hired her to pretend to be my girlfriend."

His friend blinked. "Dude. What the hell?"

Jax ran a hand through his hair. "I know, okay? But it wasn't like that. At first, it was just about keeping up appearances, making sure I didn't get bad press. But then..." He exhaled. "Somewhere along the way, it stopped feeling fake."

His friend shook his head in disbelief. "And now you actually want to be with her?"

Jax nodded. "Yeah. And I have no idea how to tell her."

His friend let out a low whistle. "Man, you are screwed."

Jax groaned. "Thanks. Super helpful."

His friend smirked. "Look, I get it now. You're in deep. But you have to tell her the truth before you ask her to be with you for real."

Jax knew that. He'd known that for a while. But hearing it out loud made his stomach twist.

"What if she hates me for it?" Jax muttered.

His friend shrugged. "Then she hates you. But at least she'll know the real you."

Jax stared down at his drink.

Could he risk losing her?

Or was lying to her worse?

His friend clapped him on the back. "You want my advice? Be honest. Rip the band-aid off. If she actually feels the same way, she'll understand."

Jax exhaled slowly, nodding.

Honesty.

It was the only way.

Now he just had to find the right moment.