Falling for My Ex Next Door: A Best Friend's Brother Second Chance Romance

Chapter Eleven

My eyes strained to open.

A while ago, I lost touch with life. I felt I would not be able to hold on to life anymore. I felt my consciousness slowly fade away. When I couldn’t endure anymore, I decided to let go.

I managed to open my eyes wider.

Where was I?

I studied my environment, breathing slowly. The room was quiet, save for the gentle wind that blew against the curtains and the low hum of the air conditioner. Looking up, I realized I was connected to a drip stand. I was in the hospital. How did I get here? My left arm hurts.

I was still weak, and I tried to move as slowly as possible, but then I realized I was held down by something else. A person’s firm grip wouldn’t allow me to move freely. I painstakingly looked at my side, and there he was, looking on with a glimpse of distance in his eyes.

“You are awake!” Jacob seemed to spring to life when my fingers shifted in his hand.

He touched my head, feeling my temperature. His touch was cold on my blazing forehead.

“How did I get here?” I managed to ask, but a petite nurse ambled in before he could reply.

Jacob made way for her, so she could stay next to me. She greeted me, sweetly asking how I was feeling, and then did a thorough check-up.

“What happened to me?” I asked.

“You must have fallen dizzy and gone unconscious as a result. You also had a fever. The doctor confirmed you were hypoglycemic.” She responded.

“Yeah,” I knew I had low blood sugar, which I was not concerned about at the detriment of my general well-being.

“You must try to rest as much as you can.” The nurse said.

“Please continue to take outstanding care of her.” She said to him before taking her leave. Then, it was back to both of us.

“Since when have you been hypoglycemic?” He asked immediately after the nurse left.

I wasn’t going to answer.

“Does anyone know about this besides you?” I asked, my eyes almost closing on their own.

He momentarily shut his eyes, and I could only deduce anger from his expression.

“Yes. I reached out to your mom.” He responded.

“Gosh, why?” I felt angry all of a sudden.

“What do you mean why?” He frowned.

“I don’t want to bother anyone, especially my parents, so it would have been good if you had just kept it to yourself,” I said, more to myself. My body was hurting more than ever.

“Well, I don’t think that would have been appropriate. She’s most probably on her way here.” He said, grumpily.

“Oh, good Lord.” I groaned.

“That’s okay. You shouldn’t be talking too much. You’re still weak.” He rubbed my arm.

He was right; I shouldn’t be talking too much, but I was still curious about how he managed to bring me here. How did he know I had fallen unconscious? Had he perhaps installed cameras in my house? Watching me day and night?

“I wanted to see you, so I came over. After repeatedly knocking and ringing your doorbell, I became worried, and luckily, the backdoor was open, so I could get in. I called 911 when I saw you were unconscious.” He explained.

I tried to nod. I had not quickly realized I was ill, and now, here I was, lying weak on a hospital bed with my breath hot and my breathing shallow.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“You don’t have to thank me,” he said softly, gently massaging my palm.

I subconsciously enjoyed the rippled feeling, so I let him hold me.

The look in his eyes spoke of things that words could not measure, but I doubted it was the truth. However, I was genuinely thankful for his kindness. He was there when I needed help, and I was grateful.

“Would you like to have something to eat? A little?” He asked as he continuously rubbed my hand with his thumb.

“No, I don’t have an appetite right now.” I disagreed. I hated the taste that had coated the inside of my mouth, so I doubted if I could actually eat anything.

“You need energy, and you must eat something to get that energy. I can order anything you want. “

“It’s fine, Jacob.” I didn’t want to burden him in any way.

“You are in my care until your mom arrives, so I need you to please cooperate with me.”

“I am not hungry.”

“You have to eat something. I can order some soup.” His brows arched.

I knew it wouldn’t end there. The Jacob I knew was a very obstinate fellow, apparently he had not changed a bit.

“Okay,” I was forced to agree.

“Great! It would be here in no time at all, he said, picking up his phone.

As I rolled on my side, I heard a child scream from a distance. Relaxing my mind, I tried to fall asleep again.

***

Old Napoleon had to check up on me at my house after I didn’t show up at the coffee shop as expected. When he didn’t find me at home, he returned to the shop to get my phone number from the ad I had put up. He called, and Jacob answered on my behalf. I had allowed him to tell Old Napoleon that I was in the hospital.

“My heart dropped as soon as I heard that, and I couldn’t help rushing down here. How are you feeling now, my dear?” He asked with concern.

“I feel much better.”

“I think you are stressed from work at the coffee shop.” he reasoned.

“Her sugar level is low,” Jacob said, the tone of his voice was a mixture of both concern and annoyance.

“Good Lord.” Old Napoleon cried.

“It’s not something to be worried about,” I said.

“It is, Clara.”

“It is not, Jacob. You are busy making a mountain out of a molehill.” I retorted.

“And you are busy undermining the effects of your condition.” He didn’t hesitate to say.

I blew a raspberry, observing how Old Napoleon looked from him to me.

“I hope you will be alright, my dear.” Old Napoleon said.

“Yes, I’ll be alright,” I repeated.

I could feel Jacob’s tangible gaze on me. I didn’t know why, but I kept getting the feeling that he was acting all too concerned.

“I’m glad you came.” I smiled at Old Napoleon.

“Yes, yes. Ah, would you like me to do anything for you?” He asked.

“Not at all, thank you.”

“Well,” he shifted his gaze to Jacob.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you before, but thank you for bringing her down here.” Old Napoleon said.

“Yeah. It’s nice to meet you.” Jacob extended a friendly handshake.

“Yes,” Old Napoleon shook hands with him.

“Jacob Bradley.”

“Bradley does ring a bell. Are you a relative of hers?” He asked.

“No-” Jacob looked at me as if he was undecided about what to say.

“He’s a friend,” I quickly answered in his stead.

“Yeah, we are friends.” He wore an agreeable smile.

My mom arrived in no time at all. If it was left to me, I’d say she had teleported. The worry on her face was unmatched by any I had ever witnessed.

“Goodness, gracious.” She kept on sighing, unsettled.

“You have to calm down, Mom. I’m better.” I tried to assure her, but she was not buying it.

“You don’t look too good, my darling.” No sooner had she commented than the door opened. Jacob unobtrusively walked in. He had seen Old Napoleon off.

“Will you come home with me? Your dad and I will take care of you.” She cried, not minding his reappearance.

“Ah, that won’t be necessary, I think I will be discharged soon.” I lied.

“Really?” She grimaced. “Is that so?” She turned to look at Jacob, standing not too far from us.

“The doctor has not mentioned anything about that.” He said, unaffectedly.

I groaned, rolling my eyes. Why could he not help me just this once?

“Just come with me, honey.” My mom insisted.

“That will not be possible. I just reopened the coffee shop, it’s not going to look good on the business if I just disappear again.” I reasoned.

“It’s just for a few days.”

“No, Mom. I disagree.”

“I’ll stay here with you then.”

“Oh, Mom.” I sighed.

“What?” She frowned.

“You don’t have to, I’ll be fine.”

“Well, I think I have to.” She said, resolute.

“How long are you going to stay for?”

“Depends.”

I knew I was not going to win at that point.

“You said she’s had soup?” She turned to Jacob.

“Yes, she has,” he answered immediately.

“Good. I appreciate your call and help.” She smiled.

“It’s my pleasure,” he replied.

Mom’s phone began to ring.

“Ah, your father is calling,” she said, extricating it from the purse.

“Will you talk to him?” She stretched out the hand that had the phone.

I sighed.

***

Jacob spent the entire day with me, a busy one at that. As he ended calls, he got into business meetings, though he tried as much as possible not to be absent from my vicinity.

The sun soon set over the bluff and though the hospital never did retire into the night, a fresh quietness hung in the room as my mom drifted to sleep at the edge of my bed.

I could not blame her, my being admitted to the hospital was all too sudden, and she was no longer as young as she used to be.

“It’s ready,” Jacob said quietly.

“Mom?” I tapped her shoulder, trying to rouse her from sleep. I wanted her to sleep comfortably on the recliner that Jacob prepared for her.

“Hm?” She opened one eye and then the other.

“You can sleep comfortably in the recliner,” I said.

“I’m so sorry I slept off. How are you doing, my dear?” She touched my face affectionately.

“It’s fine, Mom. I’m a lot better.”

“Are you sure, my baby?” She pouted.

“Yes, mom. You should sleep now. It’s well past nine pm.”

“Okay. Goodnight, sweetie.” She rose from her chair and settled on the recliner.

“Goodnight, Mom.” I watched as she lay down, and then her eyes slowly closed.

Jacob was sitting quietly on the sofa. He was scrolling up and down the screen of his phone.

“Aren’t you going to sleep?” I asked, curious about what he could be doing on his phone.

“I will. I just have to wrap some things up.” He responded.

“Sure, goodnight.” I turned on my side to sleep.

“Goodnight.” I heard him say as soon as I shut my eyes.

In the middle of the night, I struggled to sleep and was forced to open my eyes and sit up. Everyone was fast asleep by then. My mom had turned on her left side, and Jacob was reclining on the sofa, eyes shut.

I slipped down the bed, took my phone from the bedside table, put on my slip-ons, and stealthily walked out of the room.

The view outside was breathtaking with several glittering stars in the sky. I felt relieved as I inhaled the crisp, cool air. I was certain I was feeling much better, after all, my mom was here with me.

And Jacob, too.

My heart had begun to warm up to him, I must admit.

I glanced through my phone, and though I fought very hard not to brood over my problems, I was unsuccessful. A part of me could only choose to trust Jacob on it.

“Are you unable to sleep?” I was suddenly startled by his voice.

His eyes were sparkling with mischief.

“Were you not sleeping?” I whispered.

“I was until your footsteps woke me up.” He responded.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s nothing. Can I keep you company?” He twitched a small smile.

“Okay.”

“I thought you might be hungry and want a late-night snack, so I brought this.” He gave me a pack of glucose tablets.

I looked at him; he was trying to regain my trust, and strangely, I felt pleased.

“Thank you.”

“Well, you haven’t told me why you have trouble sleeping.”

I sighed.

“Perhaps, because I slept a lot during the day.” I could not find a better excuse since I hardly knew why I could not sleep.

“Hmm.”

“Yeah.”

Then, a comet of silence dropped between us. I tore the pack open and quietly chewed on the snack.

“Daisy’s coming to town tomorrow…no, I mean, today.” He broke the silence.

“That’s nice. She once told me about it, but I expected she would sneak up on me like she always did.”

“Yeah,” he chuckled, staring at me.

I helplessly watched as he took his hand to my hair.

“What?”

“You have something there,” he said in a low, deep voice, removing a thin thread and showing it to me.

How did he even see that? I couldn’t have seen that, even if it was as bright as day.

“Thank you,” I said.

“Yeah,” he whispered, staring deep into my eyes. “Clara?” He said softly.

“Yes,” I fully turned to him.

“I want to tell you it’s okay to have me do things for you. It’s okay to trust me, I promise I won’t disappoint you.” He solemnly said. I felt it was out of the blue, but I received it.

“Yeah, thanks.” I was nervous.

“Thank you.” He smiled softly.

“I’m thirsty,” I said.

“Wait here, I’ll get you a bottle of water.” He immediately turned to leave.

“No, I think it’s about time I went inside. It’s getting cold.” I countered.

“Okay, that’s fine.”

“Yeah,” I whispered, taking the lead.

While inside the ward, I reclined on my bed after gulping down a glass of water.

“Goodnight,” I said again, for the second time that night.

“Yeah, goodnight.” He finished.

I closed my eyes, and for a moment, I tried to fall asleep. Shortly afterwards, he probably thought I was sound asleep, as I seemed to be quiet; he carefully covered my shoulders with the duvet and gently brushed back a few trespassing strands of hair. Then he moved away from me, and I heard him settle on the sofa once again. Finally, he switched off the light and only the bedside lamp illuminated the room.

Perhaps I was half unconscious, perhaps it was a dream. I wasn’t able to discern, but I felt a warm and gentle touch on my shoulder. The touch was light and reassuring, and I lay there, relaxing into the feeling.

The touch lingered on my shoulder but slowly moved to my face. A hot breath kissed my face, and then it brushed lightly against my lips-

My eyes were teased open by a sudden flash of light. I was forced to open my eyes, and the first thing I saw was him. I panicked. Had I dreamed of him, or had something happened between us? I immediately sat up, shrinking under the duvet.

“Good morning,” his smile was bright and broad. My heartbeat increased, and I was dumbfounded. I still couldn’t fathom how I had woken up with such a sensuous thought. Or was it real?

“Are you good?” His facial expression suddenly changed. He looked puzzled.

“Yeah,” I said, trying to regain my composure.

“Alright,” he said jovially. “You look like you slept well.”

“Yeah.”

“Good morning, sweetie!” Mom’s voice came from the door as she rushed over with a food tray.

“Good morning, Mom.”

Dropping the tray on the bedside table, she kissed my face here and there and commented on how much I had slept.

“I brought food for you. I woke up very early to prepare it at your place.” She said, excitedly.

“Additionally, I shut the backdoor after finding the house keys.”

“Thank you.”

“So, yes, it’s time to eat.” She manipulated the Hi-Lo bed and set the tray of food on the overbed table.

“Excuse me,” Jacob said, stepping out.

The doctor came in shortly after.

“Good morning, Miss Lisbon. Good morning, Mrs Lisbon. I’m Dr. Newman.” He smiled.

“Good morning, Dr. Newman.” My mom and I kind of chorused.

“How’s the soup? Tasty?” He asked genially.

“Pretty good,” I replied.

He chuckled.

“I’ll conduct a quick checkup on you, and then you can continue with your meal.”

“Sure.”

My mom moved aside for him to do his work.

“Yes, you are quite stable, but I need to watch you for at least another twenty-four hours. You can be discharged afterwards.” He declared, after completing the checkup.

“Hmm.” I was somewhat dismayed; his report only meant that the coffee shop would be closed for another full day.

“Thank you very much, Dr. Newman.” My mom said.

Dr. Newman smiled and left us alone.

“Come on, eat.” My mom urged, sensing the change in my mood but not minding nevertheless.

Jacob soon left for work. I perceived he might have left some things undone since he had been with me for the entirety of the previous day.

Soon afterwards, Old Napoleon visited with two familiar, beautiful faces: Nora and Tina! I felt thrilled to see them, so I introduced them to my mom. Nora was especially pleased to meet my mom, likely because of her fond memories of Aunt Madeline.

As I lay in bed, they gathered around me. They were eager to catch me up on their lives since we last saw each other.

“You won’t believe it,” Nora started, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “We’re organizing a fundraiser to build a sensory room in the library. But we’re struggling to find a venue.”

Tina nodded in agreement. “Every place we’ve checked is too expensive or already booked.”

A sudden idea struck me. “How about the coffee shop? You can use it for the fundraiser.”

Nora’s face lit up. “Really? That would be perfect!”

“Absolutely,” I confirmed. “It’ll be a great way to honor Aunt Madeline and unite the neighborhood.”

“Thank you so much,” Tina said, squeezing my hand. “This means a lot to us.”

As we continued chatting, I couldn’t help but feel a spark of hope. The coffee shop might just become the heart of something amazing.

“There’s one more thing,” Nora said, nudging Old Napoleon and winking conspiratorially. “We have a surprise for you. But you’ll have to wait until the fundraiser to find out.”