Chapter 19
Kayla
“We can meet at the hotel we’re staying in,” Jackson says. “I’ll see if the meeting room is available.”
“Bryce?” Ava asks, and I lock in the tall blond’s name.
He nods. “That will work. Send me the address. What time?”
It takes me a moment to realize he’s asking Jackson and me. “Oh. Do I have to be there?”
“Yeah, Chica, you have to be there. You’re like the main person in this conversation,” Raechel says.
I look at Jackson for confirmation, and he tilts his head just the slightest bit.
I resist the urge to bury my face in my hands; because that’s seriously all I want to do right now.
I can barely keep my eyes open. “I recognize that look,” Ava says.
She turns to Jackson. “She needs fluids, some sugar, and sleep.”
I glance up at Jackson, expecting him to refute her words.
But he simply nods. Confusion swirls around me, but I literally can’t make sense of any of it.
My head throbs, and I feel like I’m going to be sick.
The room starts to spin, and I take an unstable step backwards.
A hand catches my elbow, and then there’s suddenly a seat behind me. “Sit,” Jackson says gruffly.
“I have juice,” I hear Ava say as I put my head down on my arms, trying to get my head to stop hurting.
“You just happened to have a bottle of apple juice in your purse?” Raechel asks incredulously.
“I carry a lot of crazy things in this bag now that I’m growing another human,” Ava says. Raechel says something else, but I miss it. “Here, Kayla, try drinking some of this. I promise it will help.” Ava’s voice is more gentle now, and I crack an eye and see her holding out a bottle of apple juice.
If drinking some of her juice will make them all go away; then I’ll do it.
I tip the bottle back and take a few sips.
“Drink a little more if you can,” she encourages.
I do as she says and then drop my head back down.
I hear Jackson’s voice rumble from next to me, but I don’t focus on what anybody is saying.
Then somebody touches my back. “Feel better, Kayla. Sleep helps; I promise.” I think it’s Ava speaking, but I can’t be sure.
All I know is it’s finally, blissfully silent.
I keep my head on my arms, hoping to just sleep right here.
The juice must have been just what I need because I can no longer keep my eyes open and succumb to sweet sleep... finally.
A buzzing sound reaches my subconscious, followed by an alarm.
I groan and roll over to turn off the alarm on my phone.
I fumble around and finally manage to silence it.
I sit up, not trusting myself not to fall back asleep.
What day is it even? I glance at my alarm.
5 am. It’s my early morning; I nearly groan but don’t want to wake Noah.
I throw my covers off and get a glimpse of myself in the light of the small nightlight.
I frown at seeing I’m still wearing my clothes.
I think back to last night, and it all suddenly comes flooding back.
The guy I healed, passing out, waking to a bunch of strangers in my home.
I frown down at my bed. I don’t remember even getting in my bed.
Wearily, I stand to my feet to start getting ready for the day.
I feel like it takes all my energy just to get to the bathroom.
After a hot shower, I feel marginally better; but I’m still tanked.
I remember this, though. The few times I’ve healed; it takes a toll.
I open the door and do a double-take. Noah’s sitting at the table eating breakfast out of a white container.
I walk towards him as the scent of bacon and pancakes hit me, and my stomach growls fiercly. “Where did this all come from?”
Noah grins. “Mr. Jackson brought breakfast for us.”
I turn towards the door. “When?”
“While you were in the shower.” He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, but I’m too dazed to call him out on it. “It’s good.”
I take the other chair and open the boxes and find biscuits and gravy, bacon, sausage, home fries, pancakes, a waffle, and two more boxes of bacon. “Good grief.”
Noah grins. “And there’s orange juice in the fridge.”
“Really?” I ask in surprise. I love orange juice and haven’t had any for a long time.
I grab a piece of bacon and take a huge bite as I walk over to the fridge and open it.
“I could go for some—” the words die on my tongue when I take in the contents of the fridge.
It’s full, and by full, I mean stuffed to the brim. “Noah,” that’s all I get out.
“Mr. Jackson brought all that this morning too, and there’s more stuff in the cupboards.”
I walk over to the cupboard, feeling lightheaded.
I open the door to the cupboard, and my jaw drops open.
I take in the cereal boxes, granola, mac and cheese, peanut butter, jelly, pasta boxes, red sauce, rice bags, pancake mix, syrup, salad dressing, and so much more. “This is insane,” I breathe out.
“Isn’t it awesome?” Noah asks in delight.
I put a pot of coffee on, needing some desperately.
After my coffee is made, I sit at the table with Noah and consume the food that Jackson brought.
When I finally sit back, I don’t think I’ve ever been fuller in my entire life.
By the time I open the door for Renee, I feel mostly human again. “Morning.”
She takes in the table in surprise. “Wow.”
“I know. There’s still plenty; help yourself,” I tell her as I grab my wallet and phone. “All right you two; don’t have too much fun without me.”
“Can I go with you to the meeting later?” Noah asks quickly before I can leave.
“What meeting?” I ask.
He meets my eyes. “They said they were going to meet when you get off work tonight.”
I remember now. “Oh yeah.”
A hundred questions regarding last night flood my mind, but I try not to dwell on them now.
I think about his question. I don’t want him to come because I have no idea what Jackson’s friends want, but I also don’t want Renee to have to stay longer.
“All right.” His eyes light up, and I wonder why he wants to go.
Then I remember, he’s a seven-year-old boy who is always either at home or at the café.
Of course, he wants to do something, anything.
I give him a hug. “Love you; be good. Do your school.”
He rolls his eyes. “I know.”
The drive to work passes in the blink of an eye; my mind is too full of questions. But I force myself to focus on the day ahead of me. Just before I clock in, I text Jackson.
Me- thank you for breakfast this morning. It was way too much but delicious! And thank you for the groceries. Seriously- too much!
Jackson- you're welcome
I clock in and get to work preparing for opening. We’re off to a busy start right away, and I don’t get a break until nearly the end of my shift. I find Mama May. “Hey, I’m off in about forty minutes anyway. Do you mind if I clock out now?”
“Sure thing. Have a good night.”
“Thanks you too.” But she’s already hustling back out front. I laugh to myself and pledge to myself to have that much energy when I’m her age. Actually, even half her energy would be good. After clocking out, I pull out my phone and text Jackson.
Me- are we still meeting with your friends?
He texts back pretty quickly.
Jackson- yes
Me- do I have to be there?
Jackson- yes
I sigh and then text again.
Me- when and where?
Jackson- are you done early?
Me- yes
I stare at my phone, waiting for a response.
When I don’t see anything, I grab my wallet and head to the front door, waving to several people on the way.
When I’m almost to the door, it opens, and Jackson steps inside.
His eyes land on me almost immediately, and his eyes meet mine.
I force myself to keep walking towards him.
He holds the door for me, and I step outside.
“My break was going to be now, so I just decided to clock out early.”
He scowls. “You didn’t get a break today?”
“Well, technically, it’s my break now; I just didn’t take it.”
If possible, his scowl deepens. “You need to eat. Come on.”
He starts across the parking lot, and I watch him go a moment. “Uh, Jackson.” He turns back. “I have my car,” I say, pointing over my shoulder.
“We’re going to the same place. I can drive, and we can swing by later and pick your car up.”
“Honestly, I’m exhausted; so if you don’t mind—”
“I don’t,” he says, cutting me off. We walk towards his truck at the edge of the parking lot, and he opens the passenger door for me. I climb up and into the cab, and he shuts the door behind me. “Let’s get you some food.”
“What time do we have to meet your friends?”
“They’re not my friends,” he all but growls at me.
I look over at him with eyebrows raised. “Okaaay. What time do we need to meet the people from last night?”
He glances at the clock. “In about forty minutes.”
“Oh. Is it okay if we head to my apartment instead? I told Noah he could come with.”
His scowl grows. “You need food.” I’m about to argue when my stomach complains loudly.
I drop my hand to my stomach, trying to silence it; but it’s too late.
“We’re getting you food.” His tone leaves no room for arguing, not that I really want to.
I really am hungry. “How about if Ransom picks Noah up and brings him to the hotel?” he asks after a few beats of silence.
I think about it for a moment and then nod. “Okay. Thank you.” I wait a moment and then ask. “Do you need to call him?”
He glances over at me. “Yeah. I’ll call him when we stop. What are you hungry for?”
“Anything. I’m starving. What are you hungry for?”
“I’m fine,” he growls again. “I ate earlier, remember?” I do remember. He and Ransom came in for lunch, but it was really busy. I waited on them but didn’t get to talk to them more than a hi and goodbye. “They should let you eat earlier.”
I shrug. “Most of the time, it’s fine. Today was just a really busy day.”
He pulls into a sandwich shop. “This good?”
It suddenly sounds perfect. “My mouth’s already watering,” I tell him.
We make our way inside, and I order a large sandwich and a drink and pull out my wallet to pay.
Jackson steps up and orders a sandwich, then another one, and another one, and another one.
I finally realize he’s ordering extra for his friends, or maybe his not friends.
My minds starts spiraling while I wait for him to order the entire restaurant.
I can’t figure out who those people were last night if he doesn’t want to claim them as friends.
A lot of what went down after I passed out is hazy in my mind, and I feel like I’m missing some crucial information.
I wonder if I can get more out of Jackson.
The whole thing seems so secretive, and I just want to know who they are and what they want.
A thought hits me, and I turn to Jackson just in time for the lady to tell him his total.
I seriously hope he’s planning on paying because I don’t have that kind of money.
Thankfully, he pulls out his card and pays.
I rummage through my wallet and find a twenty, which I promptly hand to him once he’s finished. He frowns at it. “What’s that for?”
“My sandwich.”
He walks away without taking it, and I follow after him. “It’s literally the least I can do after you paid for everybody’s sandwiches and our breakfast this morning and all the groceries!”
He stops in front of the soda machine. “I’m not taking your money, Kayla.”
The way he says my name sends a wave of nervousness through me. When I realize he’s not going to budge on this, I put the twenty back in my wallet. “Well, thank you then.”
He turns to me then. “It’s just a sandwich.”
“Yes, and it’s one I didn’t pay for. So, thank you.” I refuse to back down on this.
“You’re welcome,” he says gruffly, and it sort of makes me smile.
I pull out my phone. “I’m pretty sure it’s going to take them a while to make all those sandwiches; we’re going to be late.”
“I texted Bryce.”
“Oh, did you call Ransom about Noah?”
“I reached out to him as well,” he says.
“And he’s okay to do that?” I ask.
He nods. “He has to finish up a job he’s doing, and then he’ll go over and pick up Noah.”
“Okay.” I pull up my contacts. “I’m going to text Renee to let her know. What time do you think he’ll get there?”
“About forty-five minutes.”
I nod. “Okay, I’ll let her know.” I text Renee and let her know and get a thumbs up in response. The lady at the counter hands him a sandwich, and Jackson picks it up and brings it back to me.
“That one’s yours, so you can start eating.”
“Oh, I can wait until everybody else—” the words die on my tongue at the look in his eyes. “Orrrr, how about I eat now?”
“Good idea.”