"It’s okay, Jocelyn." Sarah got up and walked over to me. "Why don’t you go up to Alex’s room and rest for a bit? I know this has been difficult for you, and I’m sure you and Alex have a few things to work out."
"I am tired," I said. "But I can go home."
"No," Alex said. "I’ll take you upstairs for a little while."
I wasn’t ready to go home yet. Four months was a long time to be away from him, and I needed to be with him, especially now. I needed to know what his thoughts were on our current situation.
"Okay." I nodded.
"I’ll call your dad tomorrow, Jocelyn," Sarah told me as we headed for the door.
"Alex," Jack called after us, "I want you to make some time for me. I think we need to talk."
"Sure," he replied quietly. "How about in the morning?"
"See me before I leave for the hospital," he said.
Alex nodded.
"Is your dad mad?" I asked as we headed to his room.
"Just disappointed," he said. "But I knew he would be. I’ll talk to him tomorrow."
"Sorry," I said. "Maybe you should have told him without me, and then he could’ve told you how he really felt."
"Nah." He shrugged. "My mother would’ve made me take her to see you anyway."
"She was really sweet." I smiled.
"Will you do me a favor?"
"Sure."
"Will you let her take you shopping for clothes? It’ll make her feel useful."
"I don’t understand," I said. "Why would buying me a coat make her feel useful?"
"Because she’s worried about you, and she’s in mom mode, and she wants to make everything right," he said. "If you won’t let me buy you a car tomorrow, at least let my mom take you shopping."
"I’ll go shopping with Sarah, but I don’t want to hear about the car anymore," I said.
"Fine." He sighed and shut his bedroom door behind us.
"You’ll give up, just like that?"
"For tonight." He smiled and pulled me down on the bed.
"I’m too tired to argue." I yawned.
He lay back, resting against the headboard, and motioned for me to slide up and lie beside him. I hesitated, suddenly uncertain.
"I want to hold you," he said. "Please."
I nodded, slid up, and curled into his side.
"I missed you so much," he said as he played with my hair.
"I missed you too," I whispered. "I wished every night you could be with me."
