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.”
“Don’t do this.” He pleaded.
“I’m not doing anything. Things have just moved fast, and I just need a little time to focus on work.” I walked past him and sat at the dining room table.
He followed me. “You’re scared. Mikaila freaked you out. Understandable, but I thought we’d moved past it once you knew Ethan was the cause. She means nothing to me anymore.”
There was panic in his voice which didn’t make my stomach feel any better. “I know. I know. I believe you. I just… it was a lot. Can you understand that? I’m just… I just need to focus. You… you make me feel everything all at once and it’s hard.”
“You can’t focus with me around? Nice.”
I stood and glared at him. “Don’t do that. This is all so much. I didn’t expect you. I didn’t expect Rusty.” Rusty came and sat at my feet when I said his name. My shoulders slumped. “I just need some time to think and sort through what I’m feeling. That’s all.”
Jesse pulled his phone out and started texting someone. “Don’t worry about it. Brady is on his way to get me. Thanks for letting me stay here to recuperate. I should be getting back to work now.”
“Please don’t be mad. I’m not saying you should stay away forever. That’s not what I’m mean. I just need some time to think, and I haven’t been able to do that. Please tell me you understand.” I was staring at him, waiting for an answer, but he looked at me without responding.
Finally, he said, “You want space. I got that. You don’t need to say anything else.
But Laida… I’m not letting you go.” He walked up to me, placed his hand on the side of my face, and kissed me, before stepping back with sadness in his eyes.
He turned to Rusty, rubbed his head, and said, “I’ll see you later, boy. Take care of her for me.”
Jesse didn’t look back at me. He walked out as we heard Brady pulling up. I wondered if I had made a mistake. Maybe I should’ve asked him to stay. What I did know was that my thoughts and emotions were all over the place, and I needed to deal with that.