––––––––
INESTLE INTO Jake’sside and wait for Trinity to be transported in one ambulance.Then he leads me to the SUV.
I didn’t want to go in the ambulance; I want to stay with him.In his arms.Everything else we need to deal with has been pushed to the back, for another day.
Right now, I’m in fight-or-flight mode and need his warmth, his big shoulders to lean on and those determined eyes that are warning everyone away from me.
I need him.
“Do this up,” he turns and does the zipper up on the jacket, then wraps his arms around me again.
That.
I need all of that.
Forever, if I had the choice.
His phone rings, and he swipes and puts it to his ear.“She’s here.I have her.”
I glance up, and he pulls the phone away from his ear, then hands it to me.“It’s your brother.Tell him you’re okay.”
“Cole.”I grab the phone and start crying.
“Caylee, my god.Are you all right?”Cole demands in a tone I can only describe as angry caring.That’s Cole in a nutshell.No wonder he ended up with Scarlett.
“No.Yes.I’m with Jake.”
“Are you okay?”he repeats.
I snuggle closer to Jake.“Yes.They saved us, Cole.Oh god, does Mom know?”
She will be out of her mind with worry.
“Not yet.”I’ll ring Scarlett when I get off the call and go get Mom.We’ll come straight to the hospital.”
I want to say no, but I can’t.I need them, and they need to see that I’m okay and in one piece.We might not be a perfect family, but we love one another.
Plus, as much as I don’t want Jake to leave my side, I swallow loudly, knowing he could leave.He could get a different phone call and walk away.
He likelywillleave.
As much as he was my north star while those men took away all my human rights, even for such a short time, I know I have to face reality.
He saved me.
But that doesn’t mean I should hero worship him.What I need from him is honesty, stability and commitment.
“’K.See you there,” I tell Cole and hand the phone back to Jake.
Jake waves to one of the BHS guys, and a set of keys is tossed his way.“Let’s go, baby,”
Baby.
I love it when he calls me that.
But I deserve more than a man who is excellent in bed, who makes me laugh and calls me baby.Much more.
I will focus on getting through tonight, the hospital, the police questions and my family.Then Jake needs to go.After all, he was doing his job.Nothing more.
