“You’re not going to like my answer, Jake, but I’m not really sure what I want where you are concerned.”
“I think you’re just afraid to admit what you want.”
“What kind of future could we ever have, Jake? Your life is on the road and my life is still here.”
“Let me show you. I promise you won’t regret it.”
“I’m positive I will.”
“Then let’s start with this. Old friends just holding each other through the night—nothing more and nothing less.”
“Why do I feel like the fly to your spider?” she mutters.
“I promise I’ll be on my best behavior.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
Shit. My heart is beating like crazy. She’s going to let me sleep with her tonight. Sure, I’ve got to keep my clothes on, and sex is off the table, but she’s letting me in a little more and that’s everything.
Now, I just have to figure out how to get her to trust me.
And fall in love with me again.
CHAPTER 32
Katie
Something is off. I can feel it, but I’m having trouble pulling myself awake. I’m so comfortable and warm and all I want to do is ignore whatever it is. I lift my hand up to rub my face, and that feels unnatural—almost too heavy. The lure of sleep is so strong that I almost succumb again.
“Mommy?”
“Yeah,” I respond, my voice hoarse with sleep so it comes out more like a whisper.
“Why is Jake sleeping with you?”
My body goes solid, my eyes opening immediately. Jake is in bed beside me, his arm wrapped over me, my head on his chest. I look beside me and there’s Lennon staring at me. My throat goes dry. This wasn’t something I foresaw last night—mostly because I was stupid. I just really wanted Jake to hold me through the night. It was selfish and weak, but it’s true just the same.
“I… uh…”
Jake lets out a snore as his hand moves up to rest against my breast. Instantly my nipple hardens against his palm. I close my eyes in shame because my son is standing beside my bed.God, I’m a mess.
I elbow Jake and try to sit up in the bed.
“Ow,” he mutters, his voice gruff and lethargic, proving he’s still fighting with sleep himself. “It’s okay, sunshine. Go back to sleep. I got you,” he murmurs, and I frown. I had a few nightmares last night. Each time he’d whisper that into my ear, I’d feel safe enough to go back out. The nightmares have been kind of common since the accident. I don’t think I realized how much they had kept me awake until last night.
“Jake, wake up,” I hiss, trying to smile at my son and reassure him.
“What’s wrong?” he says when I slap at his stomach.
He rubs his eyes, his hair ruffled and messy. He’s stunning and beautiful.
He’s lethal.
“Did you have bad dreams, Jake?” Lennon asks and that’s when Jake goes solid as the reality of the situation finally hits him.
“Hey, little man. What are you doing awake?” he asks.
I expected him to take the arm away that he has wrapped around me. He doesn’t. I guess I should be thankful he doesn’t try to squeeze my boob again.