Ditching Me for His 'Soulmate'? His Loss. Next Stop: My New Life novel Chapter 8

Jaxon looked like hell, dragging me downstairs. “Phoenix, I can’t figure this shit out. Help

me.”

Seeing all those ruined pots made my dead heart ache again.

Jaxon had zero patience. When we picked wedding dresses, he bailed after dress

two-“emergency meeting.”

But here he was, failing at soup over and over for Scarlett. Not giving up.

I prepped everything like always, got it going.

Jaxon watched that flame like his life depended on it. For once–actual quiet between us.

After I put the soup in a thermos, Jaxon kissed my forehead. “God, what would I do without

you?”

Then he just ran out.

Thinking about Scarlett at the hospital, totally ignoring my burned fingers.

After bandaging myself, I saw Scarlett posted on Instagram.

[Baby made me soup

Jaxon–who NEVER posts shit–actually commented with kiss emojis.

I stared at the screen. Couldn’t even like it.

Backing out, my phone buzzed with a message.

[Baby, where should we fuck next time?]

Chapter 2

But deleted immediately. Then came Scarlett’s voice message.

“OMG sorry girl! Meant to send that to Jax! You didn’t see that, right?”

Before I could answer, she added: “You guys literally have the same pics! I can never tell you apart–I’ll totally make him change his!”

I didn’t reply. Figured Jaxon would never change his picture anyway.

That photo? Last one his dead mom took. Once I tried getting couple photos–he shut me

down hard.

Even called me “fucking childish.”

So I found a similar pic, pretended we matched.

He never said anything. Thought he was cool with it.

But when I refreshed–Jaxon’s pic was some cartoon thing, matching Scarlett’s.

My hands shook, refreshing over and over.

Then I just laughed.

Pathetic. Five years losing to ten days.

Fireworks lit up nearby, and right then Scarlett posted on Instagram again-

Jaxon holding her on some rooftop, fireworks exploding behind them.

[Ten days

I stared, touching my wrist tattoo.

Same fucking date. Today was our fifth anniversary.

Chapter 2

Jaxon’s first side piece was this tatted rebel chick.

First time I completely lost it–screamed at him to dump her.

He just watched me have my breakdown, promised it was “just fun,” wouldn’t threaten my

spot.

But still disappeared every night to screw her.

I started copying that girl, got our wedding date tattooed on my wrist, desperately hoping

he’d love me.

When he saw it, he just laughed. “Phoenix, laser that off. Looks like shit.”

Fell asleep remembering, but the nightmares wouldn’t stop.

Suddenly, my phone started going crazy–still dark outside.

Chief’s voice was all panicked. “Phoenix, you did Scarlett’s hymen surgery, right?”

“Shit hit the fan. Get your ass down here.”