Haze - By Andrea Wolfe Page 0,111

more and more. My lips tasted salty from the spillage of tears taking place along my skin.

Jack straightened up at once. "I want to say something."

"Please don't say that." It was purely a gut reaction. I already knew what was going to happen—and I knew how dangerous it felt.

"Why?" he asked, his beautiful green eyes burning into mine.

"If you say it, I won't be able to say no to you." He was unfazed.

"I love you, Effie. I do. I have since the beginning." He kissed my forehead as I cried even more. "Shh. Just relax. Don't say anything."

Yeah, I was right. Now, I didn't know what to do about all of this.

"Don't answer me. Just think, Effie. Be calm. Relax." He whispered the words into my ear and my brain accepted them like gospel. Jack stood and disappeared for a second, my body feeling like my bones had vanished when he wasn't supporting me.

He returned with tissue that I used up immediately, discarding it in a small trash bin that he had brought as well and left on the floor beside me. Jack held me again, my mental and physical support system that I had tried to deny.

"My... my... my phone is busted," I said miserably. I wasn't sure why I announced it, but I did.

"What happened?" He perked up, ready to act.

"I dropped it right after Sam fired me. I haven't been able to text anyone and I can barely make calls." In my depressed state, it all felt so utterly hopeless. "I was running out of money when you paid for my apartment." I felt so small, so tiny and helpless—and with him, it was okay.

"I'll take care of it tomorrow. Let's just relax. Are you hungry?"

My stomach growled in response to his inquiry. "I guess," I said, downplaying my organ's very bold input.

"I'll make you some eggs."

I groaned. "That's all I've been eating. Eggs."

"Not like these. Just sit down and chill out. Stop worrying so much. I don't want to hear you talk again until you're saying 'Wow, Jack, these are the best eggs I've ever had in my life!'"

I started laughing uncontrollably, my emotions strapped in on this wild rollercoaster that had just gone down another steep hill and then turned upside down.

I didn't feel like I needed to say anything just yet. For once, I was just going to do what he told me to do and not be such a control freak.

He finished the food a few minutes later, bringing a huge pan of eggs out and setting them on the monstrous, empty table. Two plates were out a couple seconds later, and then I was taking my first bite.

"It's eggs with goat cheese and fresh roma tomatoes," he declared proudly.

I chewed and swallowed, marveling at how tasty they were. "You're so predictable at being too good," I said. It was so very true.

"So that means they are the best eggs you've ever had?"

I laughed again, the feeling so therapeutic. "You narcissist. I don't know if I should be honest."

After I said it, he took a very long, drawn out, exaggerated bite where he pretended to be overwhelmed by flavor. "Wow, I can't believe someone actually made something like this! It's incredible!"

I shook my head and continued eating, polishing off more food than he did. I was really surprised at how hungry sadness could make you.

Dinner behind us, he tidied up the enormous walnut dining table—if we had been a dozen people instead of two, the huge table still would have been adequate—and dumped the dishes in the kitchen. We ended up sitting on the couch near the window, the blinds open and the visuals of the city pouring into our eyes.

I was calm and relaxed for the first time in days, my emotions neutral, numb in a way. I was apathetic, just taking a break from the turmoil inside my body. Jack seemed to understand, our tacit agreement to just be exactly what I needed. The usual flourishes of desire were silent tonight—and he seemed to be okay with that as well.

We eventually moved to the bedroom, our bodies curling up until he was spooning with me. His arm around my waist, I fell asleep peacefully, ready to face the uncertainty of the next day.

Chapter 20

Buzz!

I shot awake, my eyes staring in every possible direction until I found the source of the sound. There was an incoming call—and I couldn't read the full number. I didn't recognize it anyway, so I guess the