Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Nelly
When I wake up, Jake is there, watching me.
“I can’t tell you what an honor it is to have you here. In my house. Lying still.”
“Shut up,” I croak.
“Now, now. I’m not the best cook, but I try. I made you a sandwich and tomato soup. My Uncle Curly always made tomato soup and cheese sandwiches when I was under the weather, and it always made me feel better.”
There’s something so endearing about him.
Jake helps me sit up in the bed. Why was I so tired?
Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because I’ve been sleeping on a sagging mattress at Mary’s house? Maybe despite the fact that I’m technically fine, I’ve been through a trauma and I’m not fine?
I take a bite of the sandwich. Gooey grilled cheese, and it’s too yummy for words.
I take two bites and lie back down.
“What’s that on your stomach?” Jake asks, noticing the lump under my shirt.
“Nothing.”
“Let me see.”
“Jake.”
“Hush.”
Jake slips his hand under my shirt, and I let him. I even let myself enjoy the warmth of his skin on my skin. God, I’ve been starved of attention that has nothing to do with sex, and didn’t realize it until this moment.
I lift my shirt to show him, because he’s going to strip me if I don’t.
“What happened?” Jake says, his nostrils flaring.
“I’m fine.”
He peels the bandage back.
“Not infected. But you have stitches.”
“Yep,” I say weakly.
“Are you going to tell me what happened?”
“Yes. No.” Then the waterworks start. “I don’t know.”
Whatever is going on with me, I need to let it out.
The next thing I know, Jake is spooned up behind me.
“Let it out.”
I just cry. I’m not in any severe pain. I’m simply so exhausted, I don’t know what to do with myself.
When I have nothing left to cry about, Jake asks, “Do you want to talk about it?”
“I can’t do this anymore. I can’t go back there.”
“You mean the compound or the shit hole in town?” He says in a joking tone.
“I just need to feel better,” I say. “These people are horrible. They do such horrible things.”
“I know. We’re going to stop them.”
“I don’t know how.”
“We’ll start by killing whoever did this to you. And I’ll do it with a smile on my face,” he says.
I can’t tell if he’s joking, but a laugh comes out of me.
Sleep takes over me again, and I let it, safe in the arms of a man I’m definitely not falling in love with.