going to do the MRI and some other tests first thing in the morning. They couldn’t tell us anything beyond that.” I paused, looking down. “I think the stress of the day got to Jillian and knocked her out.”
Her mom reached over and swiped Jillian’s hair from her forehead. “Grant, is there any way you could drive her home? We want to stay and page the doctor again and try to get in to at least see Ella for a minute, but Jillian should get some rest. I’m sure tomorrow will be just as stressful for her.”
I nodded. “I’d be happy to.”
I gently shook Jillian’s shoulder to rouse her, and after a twenty-minute conversation with her dad, a lot of hugs, and a few more tears, we made our way to the car. Even though it was a mild night outside, I turned on the seat warmer for her. Anything I could do to bring some comfort, I was willing to try. I remembered those long, stressful nights in the hospital and hated that I couldn’t do more to help. As I turned the key and started the engine, she slid down into the seat and lay back, staring at the stars through the sunroof.
“Do you want to enter your address in the GPS, Jillian?”
She sat up slightly, biting the corner of her bottom lip. “I don’t want to be alone right now. I don’t think I could handle the emptiness of my house right now.”
She didn’t say anything further. I hesitated for a moment, nervous about her reaction to what I was about to ask. “Do you want to stay at my place?”
Her eyes opened, and she looked at me. I quickly followed up before she got the wrong idea. “Of course, you can take my bed and I’ll take the couch.”
“Really? That would be okay? I don’t want to trouble you, you’ve already done so much for me today.”
Her fragile voice clenched at my heart. Of course I wanted to help her. I would cut off my own fuckin’ arm if it would take the sadness out of her eyes. “Just lay back and let me take care of you, okay?”
She nodded and resumed looking at the stars as I drove. It was a comfortable silence, broken only by the hum of the engine. We pulled into my parking garage, parked the car, and stepped into the elevator to ride the three flights to my apartment. Jillian looked dead on her feet, and I knew she’d be out the second her head hit the pillow.
“Your place is nice,” she quipped, looking around as we entered.
I was so glad I had cleaned up yesterday and didn’t have used socks or dirty dishes covering various surfaces. I kicked a stray shoe under the couch and led her into the living room. “It’s not much, but it’s home for now.”
We stood staring at each other, neither exactly sure how to proceed. We’d agreed to be just friends, but then shared an intense kiss and now she was spending the night at my house. It wasn’t the most common of circumstances. She bit the side of her thumb, which I now recognized as a nervous habit, and shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
“Um, I don’t have anything to sleep in. I didn’t even think of stopping by my house and grabbing an overnight bag.”
“Do you want to borrow a T-shirt or anything?”
“Could I?”
I walked to my bedroom and plucked an old Georgia Tech Crew shirt from my dresser. “Bathroom’s through there. Clean towels are under the sink. I think I have an extra toothbrush in the medicine cabinet too from my last trip to the dentist. Feel free to use whatever you need.”
“Thanks again, Grant. I really appreciate everything you’ve done today. It means a lot that you gave up your Friday night to sit in uncomfortable plastic chairs in a hospital waiting room.” She stepped closer, wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug. I squeezed back, breathing in that amazing coconut smell I’d come to associate with her.
“Tout le plaisir êtait pour moi,” I recited. I cupped her face in my hands and stared into her eyes. “It will always be my pleasure, Jillian.”
Tears pooled, but I didn’t mean to make her cry, so I quickly changed the subject. “Okay, let’s get you to bed. I know how exhausted you are.”
I led her to my bedroom. “Here you go. I’ll close the door so you can