Lia's POV
The apartment was quiet. Too quiet.
After last night's circus, I'd half expected to wake up to another mess ,beer bottles on the counter, strangers passed out on the floor, maybe even Jaxon himself face-down on the couch.
But the living room was empty. No music. No laughter. Just stillness.
I was about to retreat to my room when I heard it a voice, low and raw, leaking from Jaxon's half-closed door.
"…I said I'm fine, Maya. Don't worry about me." A pause. A sigh. "Yeah, I'll send the money this week. Just… keep the receipts, okay? And don't tell Dad. You know how he gets."
I froze mid-step.
Maya? Money? Dad?
Jaxon's voice dropped even lower, cracking at the edges. "No, don't cry. I'll figure it out. You just… you just keep your head down, alright? I'll take care of it. I always do."
The silence that followed was heavier than the words themselves.
I should've walked away. Should've respected his privacy. Instead, I stood rooted, heart hammering, staring at the sliver of light under his door.
When he finally emerged, he didn't see me at first. He ran a hand through his messy hair, expression tight, shoulders tense like he was holding the world together by sheer stubbornness.
Then his eyes landed on me.
For a split second, something flickered there shock, maybe even fear. But just as quickly, the mask slammed back into place.
"Eavesdropping, sweetheart?" he drawled, leaning against the doorframe like nothing had happened.
"I wasn't " I started, then faltered. "I heard you. Jaxon… who's Maya?"
His jaw clenched.
"No one." He brushed past me, grabbing his jacket off the couch. "Mind your business."
I turned, frustrated. "You don't just sound like that for no one."
He stopped at the door, shoulders rigid. For a heartbeat, I thought he might actually answer. That he'd let me see the boy behind the smirk.
But then he glanced back, smirk firmly in place. "Careful, Carter. Keep staring too hard, and you might start liking what you see."
The door slammed, leaving me with more questions than answers and the sound of his cracked voice still echoing in my head.