I drank the water and said, “Obviously. Listen, Laida… it’s not what you think.”
“What’s not? If you mean Mikaila, it’s not my business.” She placed a bandage over the I.V. hole in my arm. “You aren’t my boyfriend. We fooled around. I get it if you want to go back to Mikaila. That’s your choice.”
I was angry, maybe a little hurt. “Are you serious? Wefooledaround? I’m neverfooling aroundwith you, Laida.” My ribs and chest were yelling at me like I’d gotten the shit kickedout of me. She stood up, so I stood to meet her and explain before she kicked me out. “Laida, I care about you. I don’t want to be with Mikaila. Ethan called her and suggested she come. Ethan likes you and was mad that you turned him down, sohecalled Mikaila…” I started coughing again because I was getting worked up.
“Jesse, slow down. Here, drink more water.”
After swigging more water, I set the cup on the table so I could continue. “He called Mikaila so that you would think something was going on between us. Then he could move in on you.”
“Well, that’s just a really shitty thing to do. It made me feel like shit. When you woke up, you said her name.”
“I was shocked she was there and wanted to tell her to get the fuck out.”
Laida looked nervous, and asked, “Did you? Tell her, I mean.”
I took a step towards her. “Yes. My exact words were that I wanted her to leave and never come back. She didn’t take it well but that’s not my concern.Youare.”
“When Brady called…”
“Brady! Shit! He’s still sitting outside. Can I stay, Laida? If so, I’ll tell him he can go home.”
She seemed hesitant. “I don’t know, Jesse. This whole thing…”
I reached up, placing my hand on her cheek. She leaned into me. “Please, Laida. Let me stay.” She nodded. “I’ll be right back.”
After I let Brady know that I’d be staying the night, I went back inside to find Laida standing at her kitchen sink, staring out her window. Rusty was lying on the kitchen floor, asleep. He was never far from her. I stood behind her and wrapped my arms around her, feeling her lean back into me. “You smell so good,” I whispered into her neck.
“You smell like smoke…and cough drops.”
I took a step back. “I know. I’m sorry, Laida. I’m sorry she showed up and that you even had to deal with her.”
She turned to look at me. “It’s okay. I understand what happened now, but I was more worried aboutyou. Worried that… somethingfarworse had happened to you. I don’t know if…” She shook her head.
I knew in my gut what she was going to say. She didn’t know if being with me was good for her. If she could handle it. It was the last thing I wanted to hear. “Don’t.” I closed the gap between us again. “Don’t say it.”
“Jesse…”
Leaning into her, our lips were just inches apart. “Don’t Laida. Just be with me. Don’t be afraid.” I cradled her face with both hands and kissed her. Moving my right hand down her back, I pulled her tight against me. “Let’s just…go to sleep. Okay?”
She quietly grabbed my hand and led me upstairs. She didn’t need to say anything. So much had happened that night, and even if she had doubts, at that moment, she was going to rest with me, and we’d figure everything else out later.
Chapter 13
Laida
Jesse stayed with me for a few days while he recovered. He mostly slept while I opted to work in the house, filling orders instead of being outside. I wanted to keep an eye on him in case he needed anything. Rusty never left Jesse’s side. I laid a folded blanket at the foot of the bed and Rusty understood the assignment. He hopped up onto the blanket to stay close to him.
Mikaila was such a bitch. I got mad all over again thinking about her pretending to be someone special just so she could stay close to Jesse. What a bunch of drama I wasn’t expecting.
I wanted to retreat into my shell, back to the Laida I was when I first arrived in Whispering Pines and didn’t know anyone. Couples took breaks and I needed one. I wanted to get lost in my work again.
“Hey, beautiful.” Jesse’s scratchy voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
“Oh, my goodness, you scared me.” I grabbed my chest, my heartbeat ratcheting up. Rusty came bouncing in right next to him.
Jesse came up to me and tried to kiss me, but I turned away and walked to the kitchen sink. “Whoa, what’s that about?” he asked. I didn’t respond right way and my stomach suddenly hurt. “Laida. Talk to me, please.”
“Jesse, I think we just need to take a little time.”
