Jake lays me down gently on my bed and pulls my comforter up over me. I feel the weight of the bed shift, and although my arms feel like they weigh a million pounds, I reach out and find his hand. “Stay with me,” I say quietly.
I don’t open my eyes because sleep is so alluring right now. But then I feel the bed sink beside me and Jake’s glorious warmth engulf me. He smells like his cologne today. It’s a clean, masculine fragrance that I hope never washes out of my linens. His big arm wraps around my torso and pulls me up close to him. I feel tiny and safe in his arms. He brushes a stray hair out of my face and tucks it behind my ear before I feel him place a soft kiss on my temple.
I don’t know how long he’s been here. I don’t know if he saw the seizure. But I do know that he’s lying beside me right now and tenderly caring for me. He’s not running for the hills.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
JAKE
Evie is asleep in my arms, and I’m very aware of the feeling of never wanting to let her go. I got here on the tail end of her seizure and in enough time to see her body jolting with movement. My heart broke for her. Charlie did his job perfectly, but now that it’s over, I’m stepping in and holding her as close as she’ll let me for as long as she’ll let me.
Yeah, I’m doing great with this whole taking-it-slow thing. Completely casual. No strings attached. Just call me Casual Friday because I am so chill about our relationship it’s ridiculous. In no way am I stroking her long blonde hair away from her face and contemplating proposing here and now. She smells so good, too. Her soft feminine curves are curled up against me, and I can feel my heart splitting open. I have a feeling I’ll be handing it to her on a silver platter before long.
When she told me she was about to have a seizure, it was like the world stopped spinning and all that mattered was getting to Evie as quick as possible. It’s the same way I feel about Sam. Well, not the exact way. The same protectiveness. The same worry. But definitely not the same affection. I don’t think I need to describe to you all the ways that it differs.
Evie makes a little groaning sound in her sleep, and I wonder if she has a migraine. Sam always gets a migraine after her seizures. But I see a water bottle with fresh condensation dripping down the side and a bottle of headache medicine on the bedside table. I know from talking to Evie and learning about all the ways she trained Charlie to aid her that he was the one to fetch her those necessities.
Has she taken the meds yet? I’ll ask her when she’s more coherent.
Charlie hears the groan and comes to stand beside the bed on Evie’s side. He rests his head on the mattress and slices those big brown eyes up at me. I’m pretty sure he’s telling me, “You’re in my spot.” I get it. I’d be possessive too if I got to share Evie’s bed on a daily basis. It’s way too small, though. My feet are hanging off the bottom. She needs a king-sized bed like mine. Or maybe just mine…
What if I just packed up all of her stuff and moved her into my house? Good morning, darling. Did you sleep well? Yeah, I changed my mind on the whole no-serious-relationship thing, and we’re married now, and you have to live with me forever.
As gently as possible, I shift Evie and myself over to the far side of the bed. She’s totally out because she doesn’t even stir the slightest bit. I give Charlie a nod, and he gets it right away. He jumps up on the bed and snuggles up under Evie’s arm and stomach. Suddenly, we are a family, and I wish Sam was here, too.
What is that? Why am I feeling this way? I’m out of my mind scared that I’m about to get my heart crushed by this woman. I can’t hide away forever, though, right? Sooner or later, I’ve got to give in and risk heartbreak. Evie feels worth that risk. And she hasn’t given me a reason to not trust her so far.
I spend the next hour like this, watching Evie sleep (it’s only slightly creepy of me) and trying to work through some of the insecurities that Natalie left me with. Evie may be stuffing herself inside Tinkerbell’s house, but she’s not fooling anyone—me, especially. She’s used to a different life. One of money and prospects and people who have a whole lot more to offer than me.
Natalie left me because she wanted more.
Evie’s already had the kind of life that Natalie is chasing. She knows what she’s missing out on. And although she says she doesn’t want the kind of life that she grew up with, what’s to say she won’t want it back later on? Sam and I can’t go through that again.
I’m saved from my own thoughts when I feel my phone buzzing. I hurry and silence it before it disturbs Evie. She hasn’t moved, though. Her soft pink lips are slightly parted, and her dark lashes are fanned against her cheeks. Her blonde waves cascade around her, and I’m feeling so in awe of her that I’m glad I have to get up and talk to my sister on the phone. As carefully as possible, I extract myself from Evie’s bed and quietly slip out the front door.
“Hey, June,” I say, answering my phone.
“How is she?”
Sam was already with June while I was at the office this afternoon. When Evie called, saying she was about to have a seizure, I called June and told her I’d be later than I had originally planned because I needed to go be with Evie.
“She’s okay. Resting now.”
“I’m glad you’re there with her,” says June, and her concern makes me smile. She likes Evie a lot.
“Me too. And listen, what do you think about just letting Sam stay the night with you so I can stay here and take care of Evie tonight?”
There is a long pause and, at first, I think that maybe she disapproves. I should have known better, though, because I quickly realize that she’s just taking a minute to stifle whatever celebration she’s doing on the other end. “Eeeeekk, you love her! I knew it.”
“Stop,” I say, hoping to put an end to her pestering before she gets out of hand. “I just don’t want to leave her like this.”
“Mmhmm. Don’t lie to me. You just want to be there when she’s feeling better.” She begins to sing, “Jake and Evie, sitting in a—”
“Is this going to go on for much longer? Because I need to go back in and help Evie.”
She laughs. “Yeah, don’t worry about Sam. I’ll take good care of her.” And do you know what? For the first time since Sam’s diagnosis, I’m not worried. She’s got Daisy now, and after today, seeing Charlie tend to Evie so diligently, I have more faith in service dogs than ever. Daisy will keep Sam safe until I get to her if something happens.
Later that night, I’m washing dishes in Evie’s 6-inch wide sink when I hear her say, “You’re still here.”
I cut off the water and turn around to face her bed. She’s sitting up, and her hair is all draped across one shoulder. Her eyes are heavy, and honestly, she looks more beautiful than ever. I lean back against the sink and cross my arms with a smile. “Did you think I wouldn’t be?”
She looks down to pet Charlie and shrugs. “I didn’t know.”
Something about those words tears me up.
I uncross my arms and make my way back to Evie’s bed. She watches me approach with shy eyes, and she pulls her covers up a little higher like she’s naked under there, which she’s not. She’s still fully clothed in her yellow sundress just like I found her. But I realize as I get closer that she does feel naked. I’ve seen her seizure, and that’s making her feel vulnerable.