you. And I might be head over heels for you, too." There was no "might" about it. "Is that weird? Is that moving too fast? I’m not used to this feeling, but it seems right. Being here today… every day, every moment I spend with you and Damon, it all feels so right. Do you think I’m being crazy?"
Eli held his gaze for what felt like an eternity, then slowly shook his head. "Not at all because I’m pretty sure I’m head over heels for you, too."
Jack felt like he imagined Olympians did when they won gold… like they’d waited their whole life for it, and here it was.
He got up and pushed the chair back, then took Eli’s hand and pulled him to his feet. He cupped Eli’s chin in his palm and leaned in for a kiss, Saying, "Definitely head over heels," before sealing their lips together.
"Right here with you is just perfect," Jack whispered when he pulled back, then kissed him again.
When they pulled back from the kiss, Eli had a strange look on his face. He covered his mouth and just stood there for a minute, unmoving.
"Jackkkk, where are you?"
Eli pulled his hand away and smiled. "I think someone else wants your attention."
"Coming," Jack called out to Damon.
Eli looked a little green. He was proven right when Eli pressed his hand to his stomach and then slowly released a breath.
"Are you alright?" Jack asked. "You look a little queasy."
"Yeah, I think I probably just ate too much pizza," he said. "I’m fine."
"Jackkkkkkk." Damon sounded like he was five seconds away from a minor meltdown, but Eli looked like he was about to toss his cookies.
Jack tilted his head. Eli’s words said one thing, but his face said another. He reached out to touch Eli’s hand when Damon called out again. "Go to him. Kids tend to get impatient. I’m really alright."
"Okay." Jack reluctantly turned away from him and left the kitchen, heading back to the living room. Before he could reach Damon, though, he heard a thud. "Eli?" he called out. He rushed back to the kitchen to find that Eli was on the floor, his hand on the kitchen table leg.
"I’m okay." He swatted Jack away.
"You’re not okay!" Jack argued, kneeling down beside him. "Did you fall?"
"I got dizzy. I’m okay," he said. "Probably just too much excitement."
"We need to get you to the hospital," Jack said. "And no arguing. Let me get Damon."
"Give me my phone, and I’ll text my mom to meet us." Eli reached his hand out. "I’m not going to argue."
The fact that he didn’t argue actually made Jack a little more worried. It probably meant that Eli was concerned about the dizzy spell, too. "Has this happened before?" Jack asked.
"A few times," Eli said. "But it usually passes pretty quickly. This is an anomaly. Don’t worry."
Jack wasn’t so convinced. He handed Eli his phone, then left the kitchen to get Damon ready.
Eli had to be okay. He just had to be.
18
Eli
"Does my mom have Damon?" Eli asked.
Jack looked at him. "Yes. We’ve been through this before, Eli. Your mom came. She got Damon. She took him back to her place. I got her number, and I will keep her informed of what’s happening. You don’t need to worry. It’s my place to worry about you."
Eli had been telling Jack not to worry, but he wasn’t listening. Then again, he had made it a point to get to the hospital to get checked out—at least before it got so bad that he practically fainted.
But he’d just been feeling off, not quite sick. And his temperature was fine.
"Please let them make sure you’re okay, for me?" Jack’s eyes on his were pleading, and he actually looked scared.
"Okay. fine," He let out a sigh, I’m fine, and when the doctors say it too, then you’ll feel silly for worrying." Eli said as he let his head fall back against the pillow.
"It’s my job now, remember? And I will gladly feel silly as long you’re fine." Jack leaned in closer. "I love you." He brushed a kiss against Eli’s lips. “And I need you to be okay."
"You better stop. I don’t want you to catch whatever it is I have," Eli said. He covered his eyes with his arms and heaved a sigh. "I so can’t be sick right now."
"Not a chance of that happening." the doctor said as he entered the hospital room.
They both turned to face him. "What do you mean?" Jack