Against the Rules (Even The Score #4)

68. king

CHAPTER 68

KING

YOU'RE IN A DREAM SEQUENCE

It was around one in the morning when we finally left the hospital. I slept a little in the waiting room and that was more than I usually got.

"They’re saying it means the medication’s working," my mom told me as I helped her into the truck. "The vomit comet has stopped at the station." She paused. "Did Willow call?"

I shook my head and started the familiar drive back.

"Did she send any more updates?"

"I think they fell asleep."

"What if something happened?"

"Nothing happened."

"What if Jasmine turned the stove on? And they let out the gas?"

"You have an electric stove."

"What if they both tripped on something and hit their heads and they’re bleeding all over the place?"

I grunted.

"What if they got into a fight? " My mom really started panicking. "Willow doesn’t know how to handle one of Jasmine’s moods." As soon as I parked the truck, she pushed open the door and stumbled out. "I’m telling you, something happened. I can feel it!"

Right after the hospital too. I could already see the nurses’ looks of disbelief if they saw us driving up again, after my mom fell right outside of her own home. I ducked down to help her and dug for my key.

"Something happened," she hurried to say. "I wasn’t supposed to say it out loud, but now I did, and it’s out in the cosmos, and—there’s Boxer?—"

He started barking but hushed the moment I pushed open the door. It was quiet and dark inside. I tried to grab my mom, but she stumbled out of range, barely able to walk right, lurching forward to see the big disaster.

I stopped right next to her.

Willow and Jasmine were asleep on the pull-out couch. Jasmine was nestled in her arms, mouth wide, snoring with a wet, smacking sound while Willow lay next to her, a bonnet over her hair, holding her close.

My heart slowed at the sight of them.

Next to me, my mom moved her lips like she wanted to say something, but didn’t. She touched the side of the couch and looked away.

I didn’t say anything either. I didn’t want to wake them.

Using the faint glow from the TV, I picked up the empty bag of popcorn and some of the other trash, putting the pillows back in place.

"Hey?" I muttered, keeping my voice as low as possible. "You need to go to sleep."

"Jasmine really likes her," she whispered.

I nodded.

"Willow’s all she talks about."

I nodded again.

"King?"

I raised my eyebrows.

"Nothing," she said quickly.

I made sure she got into bed and returned to the living room. Jasmine was first. I pulled her away from Willow and picked her up, heading off to her bedroom down the hall.

Jasmine yawned, her voice scratchy. "Is it breakfast time?"

"No. Still bedtime."

"Are you going to be here for breakfast?"

"Uh-huh. What do you want?"

"Omelets," she mumbled.

I tucked her into bed before I went back for Willow. I could’ve left her alone on the pull-out couch, but I didn’t want to. Slipping my arm underneath her, I gently picked her up, bringing her head to my shoulder. She curled against me, completely asleep. So beautiful, I couldn’t stop taking glances at her, again and again.

My pulse raced, holding her like this.

I nudged open the door to my bedroom. It was full of memories, all the old football trophies and pictures of my family on the wall. But every time I was at the house, it was never for a good reason. Being in that bedroom was a constant reminder of that.

Tonight, it felt different. It felt better.

As carefully as I could, I laid her down on the bed and pulled up the blankets, tucking her in. "I’m going to take care of you," I whispered, very much aware that she was asleep. "I’m always going to take care of you." I kissed her shoulder and the words fell out of me. "I love you, Willow."

She stirred.

Oh, fuck .

"You’re dreaming." Ears burning, I tugged up the blankets again. "You’re in a dream sequence—I’m not real."

She didn’t move beyond that, and I headed to the shower, heart pounding. That was close. The water cleared my head, and I raked my hand through my hair, squeezing it until pinpricks of pain brought me to my senses.

"Fucking dumbass," I muttered. "You’re going to ruin everything."

It was too early, I wasn’t supposed to tell her yet. The words were right there though. Every day, we had our night calls. It was harder and harder not to blurt out three little words. Three little words never made me so nervous.

I finished toweling off when I heard the noise.

The floorboards creaked from the bedroom.

Willow?

Nope. Fluffy hair poked out of the blankets and my mom’s dog stretched out on my bed.

" Jasmine. "

She shot up with a bleary expression, braids undone, while Boxer turned to face me with pretty much the same, exhausted look, like I was the unreasonable asshole, waking them up for no reason.

"Go to bed ."

"I am in bed?"

"No. No. " I threw on my pajamas in the bathroom and spoke as quietly as I could, grating my vocal cords. "Take the dog and go."

"Why are you sleeping in the same bed with Willow?"

Shit.

I stared down at her. No doubt, I’d be bringing her back to MU and Jasmine would have an interesting story to tell everybody. She couldn’t keep something to herself. She could barely keep all her socks in her drawer.

"Uh—" I rubbed my temples. "Sometimes friends sleep in the same bed."

"Do you sleep with Ryan and Adam?"

"No," I said instantly— why did I say that?

"Huh." She folded her little hands together and drummed her fingers together. "Willow and I are girls? We’ll sleep here, you can sleep in mine with Boxer."

"In the twin? "

Willow shifted with a little sigh, and I froze, glancing between her and Jasmine, staring at me expectantly. I couldn’t believe it. I had to fight a seven-year-old to sleep in the same bed as my girlfriend. After going to the hospital.

I closed my eyes. "Move over."

Jasmine repositioned about six inches, and I was left with enough space to fall off the bed. I got in as best as I could and forced Boxer over until he grumbled, huffing at me, as if I wasn’t the one who brought him home and did everything for the first three years of his life.

"Goodnight." Jasmine made a kissing noise. "I looove you."

I stared at the ceiling. "You better be glad I love you too or you’d be locked outside right now."