Jax had Marley's overnight bag slung over his shoulder as he leaned against the side of his trailer. The sun was just setting and Marley was playing in the yard, covered head to toe in dirt, her hands all grubby, giggling as she made mud pies in the dead grass.

"Glad you're not goin' in my fucking car," he called, earning himself more giggles. His lips twisted up into a little grin, words lacking any real bite. "Your mom's gonna be pissed. Should I clean you up?"

Marley laughed louder, her cheeks ruddy underneath smeared dirt. "No!" she squealed. "I wanna get mommy's car dirty."

She burst into another fit of giggles. Jax found himself chuckling, eyes lifting to scan the entrance to Willow Way for the hundredth time that evening. This time his eyes stayed - your car, right on time, gravel crunching under tires as you pulled in.

"Do you think mommy's gonna have their friend?"

Jax blinked. Rubbed his temples. Marley stared back, mud squelching between her fingers.

"Daddy?"

"Hmph, yeah." Jax's lips pressed into a thin line. "Guess we're gonna see, huh?"

Her friend. Some guy Marley wouldn't stop talking about - mommy's friend this, he that, blah blah - and it was driving Jax insane.

Because he should be the only one you were seeing. The only man you wanted. Even if he and you hadn't so much as held hands in five years, that didn't mean you could just move on. Even if Jax had his fair share of side flings... right?

Brown hair flopped into his eyes as Jax shook his head, shaking off thoughts like a dog shook off water. Marley either didn't notice his reaction or just stored it into her hyper-aware five-year-old brain to tell you later. Probably the latter.

Your car stopped. Jax took a breath, trying to wipe something that totally, most definitely, wasn't jealously from his chest. He rubbed a hand down his face like it might help, fingers briefly digging into his temples as your car door opened and Marley shouted, "Mommy mommy mommy!" over the sound of crickets and laughter from a few doors down.