“Is it okay if I just sit over there in the corner and keep an eye on you for a bit? Dawn said that the meds would make you sleep, but I don’t feel comfortable just leaving you like that. Not after…well after I freaked you out so bad.”
I peeled a single eye open at him, not sure why he was asking me what he could do.Wasn’t he going to take what he wanted from me anyways?
“I won’t watch you in a creepy way,” he went on. “Promise. I…” he shifted, running a hand through his hair. “I’m worried about you. “
Oh.I’d be fine. Better if he just left.
“I won’t touch you again like I did before. I promise.”
Why did he seem so truthful about that? No one had been before.
“Alright,” he sighed, running a hand down his face this time. “I’m going to sit over there in the corner where you have the chair, and you will rest. If you need me, clap or something. If I leave while you’re sleeping, I’ll put your phone in reach for you on the bed.”
My one eye I had peeked open closed, my brain and body content enough with that option.
“I promise I won’t touch you.” He repeated, stepping backwards.
Only time would tell if he was telling the truth.
I listened as he moved towards the chair in the corner, the one I didn’t sit in all that often. The few times I sat in the chair, it was comfortable enough, and wide enough I could fold my legs up.
“This chair didn’t look as comfortable as it is,” Jasper muttered loud enough for me to hear. Like he wanted to make sure that I knewhe was for sure over in the corner.“I’ll stop talking now.”
Actually, I almost didn’t mind now that the meds were starting to work. Knowing I wasn’t alone as my body shook under the blanket helped soothe my ruined mind. As long as he was talking, I knew where he was.
As the seconds ticked by, my heart slowed back to its normal rhythm. My mind went from sluggish fearful thoughts to sluggish nothingness. My thoughts were still there, but weakly. My sore body relaxed against the mattress finally.
I don’t know how long I dozed, because it didn’t feel like it was a full deep sleep. I heard every movement Jasper made. I heard every shift and worried sigh. I even heard the few birds chirping outside.
Thankfully, I didn’t jerk as Jasper’s phone rang. He was quick to answer, his voice low.
“Hey Dawn.” A pause. “Settled now, but still feverish.” Another pause. “No worries. I already called in, so I can stay as long as needed.” Another pause. “Don’t worry about…. mmm….yep. See you later.”
Chapter 25
Rubbing an eye with a closed fist, I shuffled towards the kitchen. My brain heard the two voices that were talking, but the sleepy, sick part of me ignored them.
It’d been so long since I felt so tired, so weak, and I just didn’t care about much of anything at the current moment.
I was pretty sure that had something to do with that magic white pill I took hours ago, but I wasn’t going to think about that either. Not when the blanket wrapped around my shoulders helped to hide the real world away.
“Hey, sweetheart,” Dawn spoke first when she spotted, or maybe heard me, enter the kitchen.
I grunted, although I think it came out more as a whine than anything else.
I briefly wondered how much more pathetic I could get. But that thought slipped away as quickly it had appeared.
“Are you feeling any better?” She asked, stepping closer to feel my forehead.
Yes, but no.I shrugged, trying not to fall into her for a hug as she wrinkled her forehead.
“You’re still warm.”
My throat was still on fire, but my head wasn’t pounding as much as it had before, and everything still ached.
“I’ll warm you up with some soup. Go have a seat.”
My blurry gaze shifted towards the table. There sat Jasper, who was just watching me.His chair was facing the room, back to the wall.
