20
JASON
“What time is Alex coming over?” I ask Rain for the umpteenth time.
“She should be here any minute now.”
“You’re sure her dad is bringing her, right? She’s not taking the bus?”
“No Jay, relax,” she says in a whisper, drying her eyes.
“What is it, Rain? You seem sad and distant tonight. Do you feel bad? Have you got a migraine?”
Since the car accident, Rain has suffered debilitating migraine headaches that wipe her out for days at a time.
“If you’re not well, you can go home, I’ll take care of things here,” I tell her, rubbing her hair.
“I-I’m fine,” she stutters before breaking out crying.
“Jesus, Rain…What is it?”
“Hey…” Liam arrives promptly behind us. “What’s happening here? What’s wrong, honey?”
Rain shakes her head repeatedly before taking refuge in Liam’s arms. He looks at me and I can see he’s scared, then he takes her away and nods his head at me.
I’m confused, I don’t understand what the heck is happening. I always worry about Rain, I can’t help it, even if I know Liam is here now to take care of her.
“Hi.” A warm, melodious voice coming from behind surprises me.
I breathe in one, two, three times before turning around and lose myself in her.
“Hello, Sunshine.” I lean in and kiss her forehead. “Is everything okay?” I ask her, immediately biting my tongue. I should not have asked this, first thing.
I get a tight smile in return and I’m afraid I’ve already screwed things up. I need time to understand how to get close to her.
Time.
The only thing I might not have.
“How’s the night going here?” she asks me, sitting on a stool.
“Pretty busy, actually.”
“Need a hand?”
“Yes. I mean, no…don’t wear yourself out.”
Two for two. One more strike and I’m out.
“I can handle it,” she says, dark in the face.
I signal for her to come around the counter and she stands up with a smile, puts on a clean apron and joins me.
“What can I do?”
Live for me, Alex, that’s what you can do.
That’s what I’d like to say but obviously I have to keep my fears of losing her to myself. I have to give her a calm, tranquil life. With me.
