My stomach panged. There was the regret I feared. “It was fine, hon. Promise.”
She sat up, examining her shirt.Myshirt. “Did you... get me dressed?”
Damn, she really was drunk. I didn’t think she’d blacked out. It made me more glad that I didn’t give in to her special requests at bedtime. And in the elevator. I wanted her to want those things with me sober. And if she didn’t, I couldn’t keep getting played with when she was drunk.
“Yeah. I asked if you wanted jammies, and you asked for my shirt.”
“Oh my God. I’m so sorry.” Little did she know how much I liked her snuggling me and wearing my shirt. She wiped under her eyes, examining the mascara streaks on her fingers. “Did I cry or something?”
“You told me about the storm thing.”
Her eyes rounded, panic setting in.
“It’s okay, Jessalyn. I’m glad you told me. I hope you’re not too upset.”
She nodded, not meeting my eyes.
“Do you think about it a lot?”
She sat back on the pillows. “Sometimes more than others. When I’m under a lot of stress it comes up. Which between workand Cole and... everything, it’s been a lot lately.”
I grabbed her hand. “Know that you have me if you ever want to talk.”
The corner of her lips lifted and she squeezed my hand back. “Thanks, Benny.” We exchanged a long glance. I could get lost in those hazel eyes, even when they were tired and bloodshot.
“But hey, this is yours,” I said, handing her the hazelnut latte. “And this.” The breakfast sandwich. “Felt like you could use some caffeine and grease.”
She lunged at me, throwing her arms around my neck. “Where did you come from, Benjamin Michael Jockey?”
I laughed, returning her hug. “Next door.”
She was napping on the couch when I left for my road trip, some trash show on the TV. She wore my shirt still but had added her own sweatpants. She was curled in a tight ball, so I threw a blanket over her. She stirred, cracking an eye open.
“Thanks for the blankie,” she mumbled.
“No problem,” I said with a laugh. “Get some rest. I’ll be back late Wednesday night.”
“K. Have a good trip, Jockey.”
I turned to go, but she spoke again, sitting up.
“Ben?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks,” she said carefully, “for last night. I don’t know what all I did, but I think you did a lot. So thanks.”
“Anytime, Sweet Cheeks. No benders while I’m gone.”
A pillow from the couch flew my way.
Chapter 26
Jessie
I moved into my own room. Finally.
My bed was really mine, and honestly, it gave me some space from Mikey. If I’d stayed in his room while he was gone, I’d just have been surrounded by reminders of him.
