“I’ll be back in about an hour or so.” With those words, Jasper moved a piece of hair behind my ear once more. His touch lingered, telling me maybe friends didn’t exactly normally do that type of thing.
Dawn certainly didn’t touch me like that. I have never seen someone touch another like that. And tv shows didn’t count.
“I’ll bring you back a gift. You need something to hug and hold onto, don’t you think?”
Another blink, this one making it a bit more difficult to keep my eyes open afterwards.
“Good luck with that,” Dawn hedged, setting down my tablet where I could reach it if I wanted it. My phone went to the seat cushionnext to where I sat. “That’s something we are working on. Accepting gifts without returning a favor or service in return.”
“There will definitely not be anything required in return.” The promise left something trying to grow inside of me. A feeling I couldn’t put a name to. Something I had maybe only felt once before.
Jasper gave me one last smile, this one a bit more tentative than the others, before he stood and left my sight.
My gaze wanted to follow him as far as I could, but my body had other ideas. A shiver wracked my form, causing me to wrap the blanket tighter around my shoulders.
“Do you want the TV on?” Dawn stood in front of me, pulling my attention to her.
I half shrugged.
“Alright, well, I have a bit of computer work to finish up, so text me if you need anything at all.”
A small nod. Although I had no inkling to text her. I could take care of myself. But first, I was going to lay down and sleep until whatever sickness was out of my system. That, or I’d find my big boy pants and just deal with it.
Chapter 26
Scrubbing a hand under my nose, I flexed my legs out, testing my achy muscles. Everything still hurt, but it was more of a stiffness now than achy. I didn’t feel much better, but my heart was still beating.
Taking a moment to talk some sense into myself, I took my time to open my eyes. I had to stop being a needy baby, letting Dawn cater to my needs. I had two legs, two arms, and it wasn’t the end of the world.
When I finally got my eyes to open, they were sticky with dried tears, causing my lashes to cling together until I rubbed at them. Only then did I feel eyes on me, but I didn’t feel like it was a threat.
My arms shook as I pushed myself to sit, the blanket falling to my hips at the movement.
“Hey, again.” Jasper’s voice was quiet enough to not startle me. I turned my head slowly to where he was on the chair closer to the TV, leg folded over a knee. “Have a good nap?”
I nodded. Surprisingly, I had. It wasn’t plagued with dreams of the past.
“My grandma sent her well wishes.” Jasper shifted, putting both feet on the ground.
Wait…wasn’t he supposed to be at work by now? Why was he still here, or I guess, here again?
“I wasn’t going to stay until you woke up, but I kinda want to see your reaction to what I got you.” I scrunched my nose up, forgetting I didn’t have my glasses on for a second. “It’s nothing bad, promise.”
I swallowed, thankful that my throat wasn’t as sore as it had been earlier. So at least something was going my way for a change.
Jasper bent to reach something that was out of my sight before slowly bringing into my view. In his hand, he held something white. I couldn’t tell what type of thing it was until he brought it closer to me.
When he was close enough to reach me, he held it out towards me. It took effort to raise my arm, reaching out to take it from him.
The soft fur was softer than anything I’d felt before. Black beads for two eyes, and rounded ears.
“I noticed you had one in your room, and thought it needed a friend.”
The bear was just the perfect size to squish against my chest, which is exactly what I did. My brain that I had talked into acting my age was long gone as I sniffed the top of the stuffed animal’s head. It smelt like a store, but it didn’t stop me from doing it again.
I took a deep breath in, letting it settle in my lungs.
Why did this man know I needed something that I didn’t even know I needed?
