While he ladled soup into a bowl, he shooed me towards the table. A minute later, he set the steaming bowl in front of me before popping two pills into my palm and handing me a bottle of water.
The moment the first spoonful of hot soup touched my tongue, I moaned embarrassingly loudly. I could hear Jax in my room swearing and cursing, but I didn’t care. I was too focused on inhaling my dinner.
As I was scraping the bottom of the bowl, I was dreaming about a fresh crusty bread roll smothered in butter.
“Well you look a bit better now,” Jax smarted as he dropped into the seat next to me.
“I feel it.”
“Good. I hate it when you’re sick.”
“It’s not much fun for me either,” I reminded him.
“Why didn’t you call? I would’ve come over and taken care of you.” The sad, puppy-dog eyes Jax was using on me was making my heart hurt.
Reaching out, I wrapped my hand around his. “I know you would’ve. But honestly. It’s just a cold. I’ve been asleep since Friday. There’s nothing you could’ve done.”
“I could’ve been here,” he grumbled, and I felt like the world’s biggest bitch.
“I know you would’ve, and I love you for it. But, Jax, I’m a big girl. I know you’ve always tried to look after me. Especially after Michael made you promise to, but it’s okay. I was just a kid then. I’m all grown up now. I need to learn how to stand on my own two feet. And I need you to let me.”
As much as it hurt me to say those words, this conversation had been a long time coming. I’d been putting it off because I knew no matter which words I used, it was going to hurt him. Hurt us. Once they were out there, I’d never be able to take them back. I think the final kick in the arse I needed to force me into action was Luca. If we had any chance of being something real, Luca needed to be the number one man in my life, which meant it was time for Jax to take a step back. He’d always be there and always be a huge part of my life, but I needed to give Luca a chance.
“I know.”
“I love you,” I reminded him. If he was going to be angry at me or hate me right here in this moment, then I needed him to remember that no matter what. I loved him.
“Love you too, sweetheart.”
Jax stood up and I panicked. I thought he was going to leave, and that’s the last thing I wanted him to do. “Where are you going?”
“To put clean sheets on your bed.”
“You’re not leaving?”
“Sweetheart, you’re never getting rid of me, so get used to it.” He dropped a kiss on my head and left me sitting there staring at his retreating back, relief flooding me.
***
An alarm woke me before the sun, and I rolled over into a hot, hard and very smooth chest. Cracking my eyes open, Jax was already climbing out of bed. I couldn’t even remember going to bed. The last thing I remembered was lying on the lounge, my heavy head in Jax’s lap while he played with my hair and we watched27 Dresses.
Tucking the blankets back up under my chin, he bent down and kissed my forehead. “Go back to sleep. I’ve already called in sick for you. I’ll come back and check in on you this afternoon.”
“Mmkay,” I mumbled sleepily.
***
Jax appeared right on schedule, but this time I was up, dressed, and I’d made the bed. I was sitting on the couch eating chocolate biscuits and sipping my tea when he strode through the door.
“Hey, Princess.” He greeted me with a smile.
“Hey, Sexy.”
“Ooo. Sexy. I like that.”
“Thought you might,” I teased with a wink.
“You feeling better?”
