“Sorry about that,” I winced. “I tried not to wake you.” I rested my forehead on hers. “I don’t know what’s worse, if I’m not approved or if I am.”
Danielle’s brow pinched before she pulled back. “You’re afraid of getting approved to go back to work? I don’t understand.”
I settled onto my back and drew her into my side. “What if I’m … not the same?” I let out a long sigh. “What if I’m a risk instead of a help? The doctor won’t be able to tell that today.”
“Yes, he will.” Danielle pushed up on her elbows and glared at me. “Better yet,Ialready can. You’re strong, the leg is stable, and you can get right back out there. The world will be a better place because Jack Taylor is in it. Don’t start doubting it now.”
“I guess … if you say so.”
She glowered before nudging me in my ribs.
“Damn right, I say so.” Danielle sat up, tucking the sheet under her arms to cover her chest while she looked for the T-shirt I’d thrown across my bedroom floor.
“I’ve seen everything already.” I twisted the corner of the sheet and pulled her back. “You don’t need to try so hard to cover it up.” She turned toward me with pursed lips.
“Well, you need to get up and moving, and so do I. I need to get home and change before work.” She yanked the sheet back and stood from the bed.
“You wouldn’t if you moved in with me.”
She stilled without looking back, not uttering a word in reply. Every night, we were in each other’s bed, either at my apartment or hers. Mine was the bigger of the two and cheaper. She’d have a little extra commute time, but it still made sense, or at least, it did to me. Judging by my girlfriend’s ashen cheeks, maybe she needed a little longer to get there.
I sat up and reached for my boxers next to my nightstand, her knee jerk reaction creating another knot in my stomach.
“I’ll make coffee while the color comes back into your face.” I forced out a laugh, trying to lighten the mood.
“Jack,” she whispered as she turned around, not quite making eye contact. “It’s not that I don’t want to. Just, not yet. Okay?” She walked toward me, dragging my sheet and comforter with her. “I love you.” Her lips feathered over mine, lingering a moment before she pulled away.
I trudged into my kitchen with whiplash. I was all in with Danielle but scared shitless for anything else. My phone buzzed across my kitchen counter after I switched on the coffee pot, my sister’s face flashing on the screen.
“Since when are you up this early? Aren’t you off from class on Fridays?”
“It’s an important day! I’m excited for you.”
“That makes one of us, Peege.”
“What?” I winced as her shriek pierced my eardrum. “This is what you’ve been working for all this time. Why do you sound like someone ran over your puppy?”
“Because it’s not that simple. Just because he—” I paused when I heard whispering in the background. “Who’s that? Mom and Dad?”
“Um … no. I’m not home.”
“PJ,” I growled. “Tell me you’re not across the street.”
“So what if I am?” she huffed. “Maybe I came over for breakfast?”
“At eight in the morning? Right. You love to keep pushing, don’t you?” I raked my hand down my face, not needing a third reason for my stomach to turn.
“They’re in Puerto Rico until Monday, remember? They told me Dylan can’t sleep at our house but didn’t actually come out and say I couldn’t sleep here. Plus, let’s be honest, they probably figure I’d be here anyway. Calm down, big brother. It doesn’t matter.”
“Yes, little sister, it does. You guys can’t keep rocking the boat—”
“Hold on,” I could hear her eye roll. Thank God for the two blocks between my apartment and that circus.
“How’s it feel to finally go back to work? Slacker.” Dylan laughed, and despite the tension pulsing through me, a smile snuck across my lips. We weren’t all the way back into how we used to be, but we were close.
“I’m not back there, yet. The doctor has to clear me.”
“No reason why he wouldn’t, right? So, what’s the problem?”
