“Hey,” he breathes, stopping right in front of me. “How are you doing?”
“Better now.” I pull him into me, his scent wafting all around.
His arms wrap around my middle, squeezing, and my throat constricts with emotion I’m not prepared to let out. We stand there like that for a while before eventually going back to the room. One of the nurses is in there when we enter, checking Lorelei’s vitals. Nothing’s changed, good or bad. She just needs to hold on for a few more hours.
As soon as the nurse leaves, I turn off the light and lay my head on Bodhi’s lap. We sit in comfortable silence as he runs his fingers through my hair gently. I’m used to being the comforter, not the one being comforted, but it’s like he knows how much I need to lean on him right now. Whatever’s going to happen in the next few days, whether she dies or holds on again, it’s going to be a whirlwind of high stress and emotion.
I couldn’t be more thankful to have him here.
Chapter Thirty
Bodhi King
“Jules…” Shaking his arm, I’m trying to wake him up while also being quiet. I don’t really know why. The only other person in the room is Lorelei, and I’m pretty sure she isn’t going to wake up no matter how loud I am. “Jules, wake up.”
Fuck, he’s a heavy sleeper. I don’t really want to leave before he’s awake. I’ve done that to him enough, and he doesn’t really need it right now.
“Jules,” I hiss a little louder, finally stirring him. “Wake up.”
“Hmm?” One of his deep brown eyes peels open, bloodshot and squinting. He looks so cute right now, all mussed up and out of it from sleep.
How we both managed to sleep on this pull-out couch is beyond me.
That’s not true… I do know how. He hogged the whole area while I stayed plastered to his side all night. Not that I’m complaining. My small size worked in my favor for once.
He’s managed to fall back asleep, so I shake him harder this time. “You gotta get up. I have to leave.”
“No, you don’t,” he grumbles, voice thick. “Stay.”
“Absolutely not.” Pulling his arm, I’m able to get him into a sitting position with both of his eyes open. “Ryan is probably going to be here in the next hour, and I don’t really think me being here when he arrives is the smartest move.”
He groans, rubbing his eye with the heel of his palm and yawning. “Fine. Let me at least walk you to your car.”
The hospital is pretty quiet this early, as it’s barely seven in the morning. We walk side by side, close enough that our hands touch sometimes. There are no words spoken between us, but like it always is with him lately, it’s not uncomfortable. Which is nice, considering I wasn’t sure if I should even come last night. I’m the last person who should be consoling someone about to lose a loved one. Fuck if I know how to properly be there for people.
We stop in front of my car, and it reminds me of the first night we kissed. We were standing just like we are now, me backed up against my car, him towering over me, intimidating as ever. It’s crazy to think how we went from that to where we are now.
“Thank you for coming.” He pulls me into him, my arms instinctually wrapping around his torso. “I don’t think you understand how much it means to me and how much you being here helped me.”
The sincerity and appreciation in his gentle tone hit me deep. Knowing I was able to help him. Knowing he needed me. I don’t think there’s ever been a time when I’ve been needed by someone like this. It’s got my throat tightening up as my eyes start to burn.
When I don’t say anything, he presses a kiss on top of my head. “What time are you going to Savannah?”
“Oh, uh.” Pulling back, I glance up at him. “I’m not anymore. When I got your message, I told Elias I wasn’t going to go.”
“You should go,” he offers. “I don’t want you to miss out on a fun time because of me.”
“It’s okay. He probably already left anyway, and the drive is long and pretty boring. I’ll probably just catch up on homework. I’m kind of behind since classes started back up.”
“Okay. I’ll give you a call or text you when I can.”
“It’s okay if you don’t,” I reply sheepishly. “You have a lot more important things going on than me.”
“Don’t you dare talk about yourself like that.” His palm wraps around the back of my neck, thumb pushing my chin up and forcing me to make eye contact with him. “If being here wouldn’t be weird for everyone involved, I’d have you stay the entire time.”
Funny thing is, I believe him.
My throat constricts tighter with emotion. All I manage to get out is a quiet, broken “okay.”
