I chuckle into the crook of his neck. “And your thoughts so far?”
He squirms in my arms like he’s checking out the comfort level. “It’s nice, even if a little bony.”
I pinch his side, and I get to hear the elusive Jasper laugh. It’s a sound that resonates deep within me. A sound I wouldn’t mind hearing at least once a day for…Don’t get too ahead of yourself, Olly; you just got him to cuddle.
Laughter.That’snotsomethingI hear coming out of my mouth very often. But with Olly, I catch myself doing it increasingly more often.
My mind tells me I should feel weird cuddling him. I have never cuddled with anyone—not even a stuffed animal when I was little.
When I was four, I lost my favorite stuffed brown teddy bear during one of the many moves from one foster home to another. I learned to not get attached to even the smallest of things, so cuddling is just not something I did.
What Olly did for Mazie… spending just one weekend with him has set her on a path to finding loving adoptive parents. Look, I’m not saying that everyone in the foster system will end up walking through life like it’s quicksand. There are plenty of people who have forged ahead and created something good with their lives even though they were dealt a shitty hand. But like Olly said, that doesn’t mean every kid doesn’t deserve to grow up in a safe and loving environment.
Thinking about Mazie and her situation makes my gut ache because I’m keeping such a big piece of my life from Olly. Well, everyone really.
I know Marcus is right. I need to tell him. It’s just so awkward now.Hey, so ya know Marcus, the investor in Alex’s company, well, he’s my doctor. Oh, and I’ve been a part of The Matthew House since I was sixteen.
See, I don’t think that will go over well. But I know I need to give him something because I need him to know that I’m really trying to let him in.
“So, umm, tomorrow morning I have my echo scheduled.”
Olly tightens his hold on me, kissing the top of my head. “Do you want me to come with you?”
“What? No, I’ll be fine. I just wanted you to know.”
“You’ve never been one to share a lot of personal information. So I appreciate you telling me.”
“Marcus says the same thing. Apparently, getting information out of me is like pulling teeth,” I say.
“Marcus?”
Shit! I mean, not shit, because Ididplan on telling him. It’s just…shit.
I turn over in Olly’s arms. “Marcus is my doctor.”
His brows scrunch together, confusion written all over his face before they shoot up. “Wait, do you mean like Alex’s Marcus?”
Well, technically, he’smyMarcus, but whatever. I should have publicly claimed him by now. “The investor in Alex’s company and my doctor are one and the same.”
“I remember him saying he used to practice medicine. I didn’t realize he still did.”
“He says he’s partially retired. I honestly don’t know if he’ll ever fully retire.” I’m no psychologist, but I think he needs to work through some things first.
Just like I do.
“Well, I think you’re in excellent hands. He’s taking the time to double check your heart when he could’ve just said you stood up too fast or you were dehydrated.”
“I know, it’s just… Who enjoys going to the doctor, really? I mean, have you seen the lighting in those places?”
Olly laughs. “What, you don’t like being blinded by bright lights as though you’ve been brought aboard the mothership and probed?”
“I’m always up for being probed,” I say, wiggling my ass. “I just wish it wasn’t in such harsh lighting. It’s really not good for my complexion.”
“Right here, in the moonlit glow, your complexion is perfect.”
I can’t help the grin that spreads from ear to ear. “That was the most terrible corny pickup line ever.”
“Oh, I got plenty of corny pickup lines stored away. I will win you over, Jasper Valintine. You just wait and see.”
