Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 115737 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115737 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Once we’ve reached my flat, Jack gets out of the car, rounding to meet me on the pavement. ‘Okay?’
‘Okay,’ I assure him as he relieves me of my bag. I head straight for the kitchen and flick the kettle on while Jack throws my bags on the floor next to the sofa.
‘I’ll do that.’ He muscles in, confiscating the teaspoon from me. ‘You go get on the couch.’
‘Jack, I’m fine.’
‘You look a little pale.’ He scans my face, pouting. ‘How d’you feel?’ His palm meets my forehead, feeling for my temperature.
Oh my God! ‘Perfect.’ I laugh, reclaiming my spoon and loading my mug with sugar. ‘You’re not going to be irritating and smother me, are you? Because, just so you know, that’s going to drive me mad.’
‘I can’t make any promises.’ Jack seizes me from behind and whirls me around, pushing me up onto the worktop.
I drop my spoon on a tiny gasp of surprise. Given the circumstances, is it wrong that I’m reduced to a pool of lust? I’m not sure. I can’t think. He nuzzles into my cheek and breathes me into him.
‘I’ve got you back,’ he says quietly. ‘Thank God I’ve got you back.’ Pulling away, he holds my hips and gazes at me like he can’t quite believe it’s me. ‘I’m going to make it up to you,’ he vows. ‘For everything I’ve put you through.’
‘Jack . . .’
‘No.’ His finger meets my lips, silencing me. ‘It’s not up for discussion. Now’ – he drops a light peck on my cheek – ‘go and get into some comfy clothes so we can slob out. I’ll finish the tea.’ He leads me by the backs of my shoulders to the door. ‘Go.’
I submit, looking over my shoulder as I leave. ‘Jack,’ I say as he goes to turn, hindering his return to the kitchen.
He looks at me questioningly. ‘What?’
‘What are you going to do about Stephanie?’ I don’t actually mean her; I mean more about her condition, and he knows it.
‘I haven’t figured it all out yet,’ he admits. ‘I honestly don’t know where to start.’
‘And what about me?’
‘I’ll have to tell her about you eventually.’ He nods to my stomach with a small smile. ‘Not yet, but soon. Once the dust settles.’
‘Okay.’ But I wonder if the dust will ever settle.
‘But maybe first I’ll move you to another country.’
I smile, despite it not being a laughing matter. He’s worried. I’m worried. ‘I think I’ll like you fussing over me,’ I tell him, loving the elation that springs onto his face. I have to let him do his thing. And I want to. I want to let him fuss over me. Who would have thought?
‘And I’m going to love doing it.’ He winks and continues on his way. ‘Brace yourself, baby.’
I chuckle and go to the bathroom to freshen up and find some cosy clothes. Once I’ve brushed my teeth, washed my face and dragged on some sweatpants and a vest, I find my slouchy bag by the couch where Jack dumped it and grab my phone before making my way to join him in the kitchen, colliding with him as I enter. ‘Oh!’ I drop my mobile and it hits my bare foot. ‘Fuck!’ I yell, bringing it up and hopping around with a screwed-up face.
‘Ouch!’ Jack says on my behalf. ‘Come here, clumsy.’ He picks me up and carries me into the lounge, putting me on the couch. ‘Let’s see.’ He claims my foot, crouching by the sofa.
‘It hurts,’ I complain, feeling a throb begin to set in, peeking down to my foot as Jack rubs the sharp pain away.
‘Let me get some ice.’ Setting my foot on the cushion, he hands me the remote and disappears, returning seconds later with my phone and the ice. After he’s fussed over my foot, he hovers over me, bracing his arm on the chair and lowering his face close to mine. ‘Don’t move until I’m back.’
‘Where are you going?’ I ask, sounding affronted. We just got here.
‘Shop. My sweet tooth is raging. I want to curl up on this couch with you and stuff myself stupid with Giant Strawbs. Then I’ll cook that meal I owe you.’
He’s going to cook for me. In my kitchen. ‘Get extra Strawbs,’ I order, giggling when he dips, crowding me and smothering my face with wet kisses. ‘Stop!’
‘I love you.’
‘I love you too!’ I laugh, pushing him away. ‘Hurry up.’ The sooner he goes, the sooner he’ll be back. I need to stick myself to him and I don’t plan on unsticking myself for a while.
Jack laughs as he leaves, and I flick through the channels . . . and flick . . . and flick, searching for anything decent to watch. ‘Rubbish,’ I grunt, tossing the remote control aside and scooping up my phone when it rings. It’s Lizzy.