24. Chapter 24
Jake
Ilay out the donuts and our coffees on the table in front of Lottie. I got a dozen of Dolly Donuts' new flavors with a couple of our favorites included. Lottie likes what she likes after all, and no doubt the new flavors won’t pass her judgement.
When she told me she’d recovered her first memory, even if it was small, I was elated. For that split second, I felt overwhelmed with hope my girl is in there and will come back to me.
Now, these donuts are no joke, trust me. Lottie and I have tried a lot over the years, but nowhere—and I mean nowhere—beats Dolly Donuts. Crumbl can keep their cookies, donuts are where it’s at.
They’re constantly designing new flavors so we never get bored—well, me more than Lottie.
“Ok, Lotts, this is serious business. I’m going to cut each donut in half and we’re going to rate them out of ten. I know you have your favorites, but please have an open mind and try them,” I plead with her.
“Wow, you’re taking this very seriously. It’s only donuts.”
“I’ll pretend you didn’t just say that. Ok, so some of the flavors we have are: PB&J, red velvet—which I know is your favorite—butterbeer, tiramisu, apple pie, Nutella, snickerdoodle, traditional jelly, and cookies and cream—which is my favorite.”
Lottie scans over the donuts spread across the table, her eyes zeroing in on that red velvet one. She can have that one at the end.
“Take your pick as to which one you want to try first.”
“Ok, let's go for traditional jelly because I know I like it. Plus, it’s a classic.”
I watch as Lottie takes a bite of the donut and some of the jelly clings to her lip. I’m done for when she swipes through the sticky goodness with her finger and sucks it into her mouth.
“Mmmmm,” she moans as she enjoys the rest of the treat.
Hopefully, she doesn’t notice me trying to adjust my rapidly hardening cock. I quickly shove my half of the donut into my mouth to distract myself.
Clearing my throat, I ask, “So, what did you think of the first one? I give it a solid ten out of ten. You just can’t go wrong with a classic.”
“I’d give it a seven out of ten. There was a bit too much jelly for me, it almost flooded the donut.”
And so, we go through all twelve donuts, giving our scores out of ten and saying what we liked and didn't like about them. Did I pretend to be indifferent about the red velvet one so Lottie could have the majority? Of course I did. My mama raised a gentleman, after all.
“Eugh, I feel so sick now,” Lottie groans, clutching her stomach. “If I don’t have diabetes by the morning, it’ll be a miracle!”
It’s taken us a while to get through them, to the point we’re now on the second to last film. You know, the one where Dobby dies. I’ve got the tissues ready because I know the waterworks are coming from both me and Lottie. What can I say? I’m a sucker for that little elf.
We watch the rest of the films and, when I check my watch, it’s nearly eight in the morning.
My eyes are barely open at this point and Lottie has, once again, fallen asleep.
Scooping her up in my arms, I carry her to her bedroom and lay her down.
Kissing her temple, I whisper, “I’ll see you in a bit, sweetheart. ”
As I go to leave, she grabs my arm and whispers back, “Stay.”
“I never left.”
Charlotte
Monsoon season finally appears to have ended, and I feel like I could sleep for a week.
We didn’t go to bed until the sun was up, and I can’t forget what Jake said.
I never left. He’s been staying here this whole time?
This man is incredibly special, and I’ve been so awful to him.
Well, not anymore. I’m even more determined to remember him or get to know him all over again.
He seems worth it, and by god is he hot. That has not slipped my mind one bit.
I wish I could just curl up and sleep the day away, but no such luck.
Bella is well rested and desperate to play outside, yipping and zooming all over the house.
Luckily, I can hear Jake’s awake, and the sound of the coffee machine is whirring loudly in the background.
Thank the heavens for the caffeine hit I’m about to get after only sleeping for a few hours.
Grabbing my crutches, I slowly follow the smells of the sweet nectar, which lead me to the kitchen and a very shirtless Jake. Does he not wear clothes inside anymore? Well, I’m certainly not about to point it out to him.
“Good morning,” he calls out as he makes my iced coffee.
I grunt out a response. I need to go back to bed but I have a PT session later, so no rest for me until that’s over.
Jake chuckles, “I forgot how much you are not a morning person.”
He rushes over to open the terrace door for me, so I can sit outside and journal. Once I’m settled, he passes me my coffee and some overnight oats. When did he have time to make those?
I turn to him. “Thank you, J.”
He freezes. What did I do?
The smile on his face is beautiful, it’s a full toothy grin and I can’t help but smile too.
“You called me J. You always used to call me that.”
“Wow, I did that unconsciously. Maybe I remembered somewhere deep down.” Biting my lip, I try to stop the grin on my face from growing even larger.
“I’m, ah, just going to take Bella for a walk,” he says, going toward the steps backwards with Bella behind him.
Picking up my pen, I get to writing about yesterday—the donuts, how I told Jake to stay, and all about the teeny, little crush I have on the man.
I glance up to see him running along the beach with Bella. Yep, still topless. This crush is going to get out of hand.
We’re in the car on the way to my PT session, but I would really rather be anywhere else. I’d take my CBT over this, and that is saying something as I really don’t see the point.
I’m sure Emily is lovely, but the way she always makes me stretch and hold my balance makes me feel like she’s the spawn of Satan. I’m so tired and functioning on only a few hours of sleep, so no doubt I’ll probably topple over while doing the exercises she gives me.
Arms folded like a sulking teenager, I’m staring out the window when Jake turns the radio up louder and I hear Celine Dion blasting out of the speakers.
This brings out a reluctant smile—I love this song.
I love Queen Celine full stop. He starts to sing “It’s All Coming Back To Me”, and let it be known: this guy cannot sing, but it’s making me laugh and taking my mind off of my impending doom.
Letting go, I join in with him, and this must have been the reaction he wanted because the next thing I know, we’re belting out the lyrics and arms are flying everywhere.
“I forgot what an amazing voice you have”.
That piques my interest. No one has heard me sing. Not even my parents. I’m assuming there’s a story there, but it’s not one that’s clear to me.
We arrive at the clinic, and I can’t make myself get out of the car. Jake offers to come in with me, and unlike usual—when I’d scoff at him and tell him no—I welcome him coming to see me in.
We arrive at Emily’s office, and she greets me and Jake before he starts asking her all sorts of questions about my recovery.
“Charlotte’s doing great. She’s actually ahead of schedule, a star student.” Emily’s beaming at me and I just want to go back to bed, not be tortured within an inch of my life.
“Lottie loves yoga, and she hasn’t been able to do any, for obvious reasons. Is there anything we could start doing now she has more mobility?” Jake queries.
My eyes light up—I love yoga. One of the things I’ve really missed is doing my morning flow and meditation.
“Obviously your movement is still restricted, so we need to be careful, but you could look into chair yoga for now?”
Chair yoga? I’ve not heard of that before, but if it gives me some of my morning routine back, I’ll take it. Yoga always makes me less grumpy.
“Great, I’ll look it up for you, Lotts. I’m sure I can find some YouTube videos,” Jake says, smiling at me. “Right, I’m off to the rink with the guys. Remember: Alyssa’s picking you up and taking you to CBT.”
He gives me a wink and saunters off. My eyes are glaring at the back of his head for leaving me here, but he doesn’t turn round, and I’m left with Emily the torturer.