38. Jason
“What? Alexis?” It takes half a second for my exhausted brain to realize that she’s sobbing in my arms. I caught her on instinct, and I’m now very confused.
“Baby, what is it? What’s wrong? Are you hurt?” She doesn’t answer, just starts crying harder. I’m starting to panic. What if she was attacked? She shakes her head, pulling me tight against her, holding on as if her life depends on it.
Not wanting this to continue in the hall, I pull her inside and shut the door. Once we have privacy, I wrap my arms around her tight and just hold her. I have no idea why she”s here, but I”m not going to pass up the opportunity to hold her. To breathe her in. Fuck, I missed her.
Eventually, she calms down enough to talk. Her eyes are bloodshot, cheeks chapped, and I wish I could take it all away, whatever it is.
“There was a shooting.” She hiccups, fresh tears falling down her face. I do my best to wipe them away. “It was on the set of Primogenesis Fallout. And, I thought… fuck, I thought you had signed on and were there, and I kept asking people who were on the scene if you were there, but no one knew. And I kept checking the ICU patients over and over again, but you weren”t there. And I thought that the worst had happened, that you had died and that we never got the chance to repair things and be together, and I fell apart. Then Tristan found me and told me you were ok.” A new wave of tears spill over her red cheeks , and she can”t keep going.
”It”s ok, baby, I understand. I heard about it on the news but didn”t know what set it was on. I would have texted – shit, my phone’s still on Do Not Disturb isn’t it?” She just nods, unable to talk. I feel awful, I needed to concentrate, so I turned it on, it never occurred to me that she’d think I was there. But of course, why wouldn’t she? The last she knew, I was giving in and letting Steven bully me into signing on.
I kiss the top of her head, rubbing her back as she cries. Fuck, if our roles were reversed? I don”t know what I would do.
Eventually, she’s able to calm down again, and I can tell she’s exhausted. Right now the only thing that will help is sleep.
“Come on, Sweet Cheeks, let’s get you home and into bed.”
She doesn”t argue as I bundle her up and walk us down to her apartment. Once I get her inside, I immediately take her to the bathroom and help her wash her face and put PJs on. As soon as she”s in bed, Slinky immediately comes in and lies on her chest, purring quietly.
”Try to get some sleep, ok? I”ll talk to you tomorrow.” I try to leave, but she grabs my arm.
“Wait! Where are you going? Don’t leave,” her voice cracks, and I can already see new tears forming, “please.” She whispers.
“Home, back to bed?” I’m confused. Despite all that’s happened tonight, we haven’t talked anything through, I wouldn’t dream of assuming I’d stay the night. And I’m not sure I should.
“But, I thought, I thought you would stay…” she pauses, her face twisting in pain, “I’m too late, aren’t I? You’ve moved on.”
Let me tell you, I was way too happy over her thinking she was too late. Not because she looked devastated, but because it means I have a chance to win her back.
I kneel, taking her hand, and brushing back her hair. ”No, you haven”t lost me. I’ve been working really hard to be the man I want to be. Not just for you, but for me too. I don’t want to just rush right back in, without us talking it out. Right now, your emotions are shot. You need rest and to come down from the emotional day. Then we can talk it out. I’ll stay until you fall asleep, then I”m returning to my apartment to finish what I”m working on. Ok?”
“This is stupid.”
”I know it is, sweetheart, but it”s what I need to do to feel like I”m worthy of your love. Do you understand?”
The fact that she came to me first makes my heart soar, it gives me hope that things will work out for us. But despite that, I’m not quite ready. As stupid as it sounds, I want to finish what I started first.
She frowns, but nods. ”I don”t, but I”ll allow it. Just don”t take too long.”
I lean forward and kiss her brow.
”I won”t, I promise.” I climb in next to her and let her snuggle in close, wrapping my arms securely around her. It doesn’t take long for her body to relax and her breathing to even. It’s pure torture, but I know I’ll regret it if I don’t finish what I’ve started.
When I go to bed, I feel hope, real hope. I’m getting my girl back.