Sam's P.O.V.
When Mom dropped us off at the house, I could feel her watching us as we trudged up the steps, her gaze heavy with concern. I forced a smile and waved her off, but the knot in my stomach tightened with every step closer to the door.
Jax was silent as he unlocked it, his usual swagger replaced with an almost robotic stillness. The tension between us was unbearable, thick enough to choke on.
As soon as the door clicked shut behind us, I blurted, “We need to talk.”
He didn’t turn around. Instead, he tossed his keys onto the counter and let out a short, humorless laugh. “Oh, now you want to talk?”
His tone stung, but I pushed past it. “Don’t do that. Don’t act like I’m the only one who’s been avoiding this.”
He finally turned, his eyes dark with frustration. “Avoiding? I sen
