37. Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Jaylen
B etrayal.
Hurt.
Confusion.
They're the main three feelings swarming me as I watch the doctor leave my room after explaining to me that I'll be discharged from the hospital tomorrow.
It wasn't a surprise to me when he mentioned that my aunt had asked, or much rather requested, that I go home soon and continue my recovery there, especially now that I'm able to move around, but when he told me 'my nurse' had also agreed that I should be discharged, I zoned out, uninterested in anything else he had to say.
Although I feel slightly betrayed, and hurt, I'm more curious and confused.
I could understand if her reasoning to agreeing for me to be discharged was to do with the conversation we had yesterday, with her wanting to put a pause on us for a while until I'm out, for the sake of her job, but the fact that she's avoided my room this morning and hasn't come to see me has me wondering what's really going on here.
There's something more at play.
I know it .
We've been in a good place recently, getting to know each other, spending time together and enjoying ourselves.
She's started letting her guard down. She let me in on the truth about her real name, and although she's been vague, she has told me a little about her past and the predicament she's in.
She was cautious the first time we kissed, but then we had an enjoyable, passionate moment, and she didn't regret that at all, and for days after that, we continued being all over each other.
So, what is it that caused her to switch up?
I sigh as all of these thoughts swarm my mind, and a headache begins to form as I try to fit the puzzle pieces together but continue to fail because I'm missing so many pieces.
"I'm concerned that you've been sitting there in silence since you were told you'll be coming home tomorrow. Shouldn't you be a little happier?" Sophia asks, nudging my arm and jolting me back to reality.
I was so caught up with the thoughts in my head that I'd completely forgot she was even here.
"I am happy about it," I tell her, although I'm unsure if it's the truth. "I'm just… disappointed, I guess."
"Because you won't get to see Rory every day?"
"Yeah," I admit, turning to face her. "I don't want to have to leave her, Soph."
She frowns and tilts her head.
"You realise she has a life outside of this hospital, right? You won't have to leave her behind, you idiot. You can finally get to see her out of the hospital though. Maybe even invite her over so she can have dinner with us. "
"You don't get it," I scoff, shaking my head.
"Something's going on. She's distancing herself, I can feel it already, and now she's agreed for me to be discharged?
It seems like she's trying to get me out of the way, which means she's probably in trouble and trying to protect me in her own way.
So no, Soph, I probably won't see her outside of this hospital. "
Silence descends around us as she takes in what I've said, and then she slumps back against the chair she's sitting in and huffs.
"So, what are we gonna do?" she asks, leaning forward in her chair.
I shake my head and shrug.
"I don't know, Soph. I need to see her first. I need to try and see if she'll tell me what the hell's going on. If she doesn't, then, I guess I have to let things play out how she wants them to."
"So, we just leave her unprotected when we know she's in trouble?" she scoffs.
'"Of course not!" I shout. "You know that's not what I'm saying.
I'd never leave her unprotected. I'd be with her every second of every day if I could to make sure that she's never hurt again, but I'm not going to make decisions for her and take her choice away from her.
If she thinks that what she's doing is the right thing, then I'll respect that, and I'll follow her lead, but I want eyes on her at all times from now on. "
"Okay. What do you want me to do?"
"You personally? Nothing. You're in no condition to be involved with any of this."
"I'm pregnant, Jaylen. That doesn't automatically make me a liability or mean that I can't do anything."
"I would never put you in a position where you could be hurt," I state. "I never would've before, and I certainly won't now. "
She huffs and rolls her eyes, probably fed up with hearing Kaleb say similar things to her lately.
"What you can do is talk to Dom. Tell him that Leo needs to be watching Rory whenever he has the time spare, and if he's not available, then it has to be Charlie. They're the only two people besides myself and Kaleb that I can trust to keep her safe and out of harm's way."
She nods, stands from the chair and pulls her phone from her back pocket.
"Yeah, okay, I can do that. Anything else?"
"No. That's all I want you to do, Soph. We'll all handle the rest."
"I'm gonna go insane if people keep acting as if I'm fragile now," she snaps, glaring at me.
"You kind of are fragile at the moment."
"Shut up."
I chuckle, which seems to annoy her further because she practically growls at me.
"You know, I was gonna come here and tell you that we're planning on throwing you a welcome home party tomorrow with a feast prepared by Myra, but now, I think I might cancel those plans."
I gasp and bolt upright, shaking my head.
"No, no. I'm sorry. I take it back. Please, don't deprive me of Myra's food for even longer. My stomach has been begging me for weeks to have some good food, Soph. You can't deny me that any longer."
She arches a brow, pops a hip, and crosses her arms.
"I'm sorry. I swear I am."
She smirks, as I continue to plead with her .
"Okay, okay. I won't cancel the party, but that's purely for selfish reasons because I was hoping you wouldn't mind if I announce my pregnancy to everyone at said party."
"Announce whatever you want to, just promise me that I'll get some food," I tell her, desperate for her to say yes.
"Okay, deal," she says, holding out her hand and waiting for me to shake it, which I do.