My Brother's Best Friend

Chapter 63

June

Graduation was tomorrow and that meant a lot of things. Hunter and I would no longer be going to the same school and Jax is graduating as well and leaving for college in a month.

He didn't start until August but he had to leave to settle in his new home and set everything up. His mom found an apartment near his school and we were all helping them with packing.

"Where do you want this, Ms. Ashford?" Marissa holds up two vases.

"Uh, wrap it up," She grabs wrapping paper. "Here, and put it in that box." She points. "Thank you."

I fold Jax's clothes that he had brought down from his room and neatly place it in a box he had given me.

"Don't pack all of it. Leave some out since we aren't leaving officially yet." Jax tells me. "We're still leaving in the end of July, right?"

"Actually, we're leaving a little earlier." She says and my neck almost breaks at how fast I turned to look at Jax.

"How early?" I ask.

"Just two weeks earlier than we were originally planning." She says. "Oh that reminds me, I actually have to drive down there on Friday and start moving things. The landlord wants to make sure the move is legit so I have to start placing things in."

"Am I coming with you?" Jax asks.

"Obviously," She sighs. "How else am I going to carry all this shit in. You can tell Hunter to come along too."

"Tell me what?" Hunter pops in.

"To come down with us to Baltimore to help us move." Jax tells him.

"We'll only be gone for two nights. I'll talk to your dad and if Emma wants to come you can too, darling."

"Yeah,"I nod. "I'd love to."

"You're going to love it there." His mom smiles. "I drove down last week to check out the apartment and it's beautiful. It's so calm, just how I like it. Maybe you can come stay with us for the summer once we settle in."

"Maybe." I gulp, remembering in a matter of time Jax would be leaving. "I'll just have to let my dad know."

I knew my dad would let me go along if Jax's mom went, but that wasn't the problem.

The problem was that deep down it pained me knowing he was really leaving me. I don't know how I'd handle Jax leaving for good.

Still, I put on a smile and acted like I was pleased with the news, and I was, but it doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.

  "You okay?" Marissa comes next to me on the couch.

"Yeah," I smile. "Never better."

"Liar."

I sigh and look up at Jax talking to his mom about the new place. He seems happy and I know this move is going to be good for him.

He needs this for himself and his family. I wouldn't be the one to take this from him.

"I'm good, really." I lie.

She glances over at Hunter and smiles as she looks back at me. "Listen, about your brother." She begins. "We never really got to talk about me and him before I left and everything's been so complicated with my family since I've been bac-"

"Marissa," I stop her from rambling. "It's okay."

"He's your brother, Ems. I swear I wasn't expecting to like Hunter as much as I do. I thought it was always going to be Nick. Your brother helped me a lot and I couldn't help but catch feelings."