Chapter 25
SOPH
Currently playing: I Want You to Want Me by Letters to Cleo
Only a few hours after Jax left to meet Reid, my da was taken to the hospital.
The doctor who did a home visit told us that his flu had apparently turned into pneumonia.
His condition worsened until it was hard for him to breathe without help.
When I called King and explained my situation, he told me to be with my parents.
Knowing my situation, he was also willing to pay me for the time off.
It’s been three days and we’re still at the hospital.
Trying to focus on anything else than how sick my da is, I read one of the romance novels Rose brought me yesterday.
My only requirement for her was that the story takes me away from reality.
And Rose delivered—a series about an FBI agent who falls in love with a serial killer.
A female serial killer. Yes, please, sign me up.
I check my phone when I finish with the second book—still no reply from Jax, so I assume he’s busy working.
We texted all day yesterday and talked on the phone after he saw his father, as I couldn’t leave the hospital.
But honestly, after seventy-two hours between these same four walls, I need a change of scenery.
I texted Jax and asked if he wanted to hang out tonight.
Instead of starting the third book of the series, I decide to close my eyes for a moment.
Mama should be here soon after visiting the bakery and evaluating how my older sister Shannon and her husband are doing.
The last week has been an excellent opportunity for my family to see if everything can run smoothly without my parents.
So far, it’s safe to say that my mama and da could start their retirement tomorrow, and we would survive.
But knowing my parents, they aren’t ready. At least not mentally.
I feel someone touching my arm and realize I must have fallen asleep. Mama’s beautiful smile greets me when I open my eyes. “Hello, Sleeping Beauty.”
“What time is it?” I ask through a yawn and cover my mouth.
“Just past five. I brought dinner and a change of clothes for you if you want to freshen up.”
I rub my eyes and stretch in my seat. “I had no idea I slept for over an hour. Is da okay?”
“Everything is fine, don’t you worry. They’ve got doctors and nurses for that. I plan to watch the news before eating another dinner straight from the container.”
“Do you want me to find plates instead?” I ask, and mama shakes her head. “Okay, then I’ll quickly shower before eating.”
“Take your time. We’ll both be here.”
On my way to the bathroom, I check on da, who’s sleeping peacefully.
I’m glad he isn’t as ill-looking as he was when we arrived at the hospital.
We’re lucky to have a private room, so it has been easier for us to stay with him.
But I’m still considering going home tonight, as I need a break from this place, and mama wants to have space for herself and da.
I’m rubbing lotion on my skin when I hear mama’s voice. “Sophia, come here.”
I open the door and walk out of the bathroom, arching an eyebrow. “What’s up?”
Mama looks to her left, and that’s when I notice him. Jax. He’s holding a massive bouquet, hesitantly smiling. “Hey, darling.”
“Jax, you’re here.”
His eyes trace me from my head to my toes. “So it seems.”
“But what about work and your second dinner with Reid?”
“He was okay with me canceling after I explained that my girlfriend needs me to be there for her.”
I love the word girlfriend coming from his lips, especially since he’s talking about me. We haven’t had the talk yet, but if the past month has shown anything, we belong together. I have spent half of the nights at his place, getting to know him, his beautiful mind, and that stunning body.
“Well, Chicklet, are you going to introduce us or what?” mama asks from behind me. I forgot where we were for a moment.
“Fu—nyuns, sorry for that. Jax, meet my mama, Cynthia. Mama, this is Jax, my boyfriend.”
Mama squeals at the introduction, and it makes Jax chuckle. “Nice to meet you, Cynthia. Your daughter has talked a lot about you and your husband. How’s Darragh doing?”
“Better than earlier, thanks for asking. Are those flowers for him?”
Jax’s cheeks redden, and he falters. “Yes, no, I mean…these are for you, actually.”
“Mama, let him be,” I say playfully and take the flowers from Jax. The vase weighs more than I expected, so I can’t leave it on the small side table. Instead, I place the bouquet of mixed flowers on a windowsill. It’ll make mama happy seeing it every day.
Jax walks behind me, putting his arms around me while whispering in my ear. “Boyfriend, huh?”
“You started it by calling me your girlfriend,” I whisper back.
“Darling, I did that on purpose. I wanted to have the talk but had no idea how to start one, so I just pulled the trigger and watched what happened next.”
“There are no complaints from me.”
“Good, because I liked calling you mine.”
I turn around and kiss Jax softly. When he is about to deepen the kiss, there’s a throat clearing behind us, and I remember we aren’t alone. “Sorry, mama!”
“I don’t mind, as you two look adorable together. But I have something to ask from the young gentleman before he sticks his tongue down your throat again.”
I snort, and Jax pokes my side. “Yes, Cynthia?”
“Would you mind walking our sweet Sophia home for the night? I don’t want her to go alone, and it’s getting dark soon. You can stay the night, too.”
“Sure. We can leave now or later if you’d like the company,” Jax suggests.
“Thank you for offering, but I’m ready for a nap, and Chicklet has been ready to leave for hours now. She isn’t a fan of hospitals after her accident.”
“I don’t blame her. The waiting room looked as cold as it felt that night.”
“Ah yes, of course, you were there. I keep forgetting that it was your bike.”
“Mama, we don’t need a reminder!”
Noticing my distress, Jax takes hold of my hand. “Don’t worry. I still like you.”
“I like you, too.”
We say our goodbyes to mama next and leave the hospital. I feel like I can breathe again once we are outside. There’s something soul-sucking about those places.
When we get to my place, I check the mailbox first. There’s another thick envelope from our insurance company. I already know what that means. More payments we’ve missed and documents to set up payment plans. It’s hard to keep track of everything as sometimes the bills arrive weeks later.
I let out a sigh and hide the envelope from Jax.
But I know he isn’t as oblivious as it might seem.
I open the door and gesture for Jax to go in first. I walk after him and try to see my home through his eyes.
The walls are painted dark green, almost like the color of his eyes, and there are pops of yellow and orange around us.
It has always reminded me of wildflower fields, and I love it.
Further down the hall, Jax stops at the family photos and looks at one of them, concentration evident on his face. “Is that you and your sisters?”
“Yes, I was twelve, Jasmine seventeen, and Shannon had just turned twenty-one. It was actually from her birthday party that year.”
“You look so different,” Jax says, wonder in his voice. He glances my way quickly and returns his gaze to the photos.
I laugh and look at the framed photo myself. “I know. I should thank my teen years for the glow-up.”
Back then, I still had the ugliest braces, my skin was ridden with acne, and I wasn’t dressing for my body type. My hair has changed too, and I ditched my thick glasses for contacts. It isn’t that I looked terrible but just different and so young.
“Definitely. But you were still cute back then.”
“What about you? Did you wake up one day and look like you do today?”
Jax ponders my question. “Yes and no. I had a growth spurt before Eli and Ollie, so they were shorter by inches when I first met them. These days we’re about the same. Other than that, I haven’t changed much over the years since I met them. Just added tattoos and piercings.”
“You must have been popular in school.”
“Popularity is such a weird concept. Sure, I had friends and people who wanted to be with me, but nothing too extreme. I had the same girlfriend most of high school until she dumped me for the football star.”
I wince. “I remember you mentioning it. That sucks.”
“Well, it wasn’t meant to be.” Jax shrugs.
“And now you’re here with me.”
“There’s no other place I’d rather be.”
His words make me swoon, but I know I have things to do before we can relax. “I wish I could continue this lovely conversation, but there are a few things I need to get done today.”
“Don’t mind me; I’ll find something to do while you sort out whatever needs sorting.”
“Great. Walk straight down the hallway and wait in the living room. I need to pick up some laundry and make a phone call,” I say, taking the latest invoice with me.
“Take your time, darling. I’ll probably watch the latest history video on YouTube while I wait.”
“If you had said that to me that night you walked into Warm'n'Cool, I would have thought you were joking, but I know better now.”
“I know. People never believe it, but I can’t help but learn that way.”
“Yeah, I bet it helps to do that when the letters aren’t your friends.” I nod my head in understanding.
“They’re my sworn enemies when you think about it.”
I chuckle. “Just like I was.”
“The best stories start when two people hate each other and then one day can’t stay away.”
A small smile tilts the corners of my lips at his words before I dash up the narrow stairs, trying to stay positive, even though the envelope in my hand includes another bill we can’t afford. It might be the time to take Eli’s offer and let him sort it out.
“While you were upstairs, I had an idea,” Jax looks up from his phone when I return downstairs.
“I’m listening.”