**Jax**

"Jax?" Abby whispered.

"Hey, in here." I peeked out of the small pool house, then stepped aside so she could enter. Glancing around to make sure no one had followed her, and satisfied no one had, I closed the door.

"What's with the secret meeting?" she asked around a yawn.

"For starters, I wanted to ask how you're doing." I stood in front of the door, arms crossed. Despite needing a favor from her, I was concerned with the toll ...