often.”
For a second he looked at me like I’d lost my mind before sitting beside me once again. He began to tick off a list like it was something we’d done every day for years. “Okay, so here’s the deal for today. I already talked to Caroline and got everything worked out. I’m gonna drop Brant at that Mom’s Chance to Day Drink thing or whatever on my way to work—”
“Mother’s Day Out,” I corrected with a giggle.
He shot me a wink that made my belly flutter. “That too. When he gets out at one, I’ll pick him up and take him to grab some lunch. If it’s cool with you, after that I thought I might take him to the office with me. Your aunt put in a call to your girls, so Poppy and Farah said they’d be coming by around three to sanitize your place and do whatever else it is you need done around here. Caroline will swing by around noon to check on you and bring you some lunch. I’ll grab something for dinner when I bring Brant back home this evening. All you’re responsible for doing today is laying your ass in this bed and resting. That’s it.”
He’d said so much I was finding it hard to wrap my head around all of it, so I latched onto the first thing that stood out. “You talked to Caro?”
“Called her about an hour ago when it became clear by your Sleeping Beauty routine that you’d run yourself so ragged you were officially out of steam. Not trying to ride roughshod over you here, but you need to recharge, baby. Take the day. Take the help. These people love you and want to be here for you. You aren’t a burden. Never have been, never will be.”
I wasn’t the kind of woman who was prone to tears. Sure, I cried when I was incredibly sad and I had the embarrassing habit of blubbering when I was so pissed I wanted to put my fist through something, but usually those were extreme circumstances. However right in that moment I felt a burn behind my eyes as my sinuses started to sting.
I tried to tell myself that it was because I still wasn’t feeling my best and that being sick the past two days had taken a toll, but the truth was, it was all him. He’d gone above and beyond, reaching out to my aunt, a woman who, if you knew her, you knew she was as kind and gentle as they come, but if you didn’t or you crossed her, you’d think she was some kind of crazy gypsy lady who’d put a hex on you without even thinking. And he’d done that for me.
The memories that bombarded me just then were bittersweet. Years ago when we’d been living together, Jensen had a special knack for taking care of me. I wasn’t known to be the best patient when I didn’t feel well, but he had this ability of anticipating what I’d need before I needed it. He took care of me in a way no one else ever had. My aunt was a born caregiver, but she didn’t have anything on the man I’d loved.
I thought that part of my life was long past, so having him here now, knowing exactly what I needed before I knew myself, was overwhelming. This brand of sweet and thoughtful was too much to handle. And it hurt because I knew it wasn’t mine to have, not for the long run. It was a one-time thing, and the knowledge of that freaking killed me.
As if sensing my melancholy, Jensen leaned forward and reached out to tuck a lock of hair behind my ear before bringing his hand down to rest on the side of my neck, his thumb brushing back and forth against my jaw. “Hey. Everything okay?” he asked tenderly. “You got pale all of a sudden. You feeling sick again?”
A tidal wave of feelings I couldn’t control crashed over me. I was going under, gasping for air, but no matter how hard I kicked or flapped my arms, I kept getting sucked back down.
I managed to fake a smile that felt stiff and brittle as I lied, “No, I’m good. I just . . . I think you’re right, staying here is probably best. I’m still a little out of it.”
He regarded me with a closeness that left me unsettled and a little worried he’d seen right