Take a Breath (Take #1) - Jaimie Roberts Page 0,126

it. Ana, please. I have never begged for anything in my life before, but I’m begging you now. Please wake up, and tell me that you love me.”

My head’s screaming at me at this point. He just told me he loves me. He finally says the three precious words I have been longing to hear for what seems like a lifetime, and I have to be fucking in a coma or something!

Wake up, goddammit! Just wake up already!

I will my body to move, and my eyes open, but nothing happens, and then the blackness takes over again. My body has no choice but to give in to the silent command.

Lights are hurting my eyes. I try to open one and realize that I actually can. I look around the room feeling disorientated and blurry. I manage to open the other eye and see a fan above my head. The only sound I can hear is the faint humming noise as it whizzes around.

To the left I see a window, and as usual, the sun’s shining brightly. I move my head, and it’s then I notice how much my throat hurts. It’s excruciating. My hand flies to my throat, trying to rub the pain away, but my hand’s just as sore. It’s then I realize I can feel a weight on my chest. I look down to find the back of Jake’s head leaning on me. He must be asleep.

Smiling, I stroke his hair and try to speak. I manage to whisper, “I love you, too, Jake,” when he stirs.

“What?” he asks, clearly only half awake.

“I love you too.”

The pain in my throat makes talking excruciating, but I have to get those words out. I need him to know that I do love him. I’ve always loved him.

He turns to face me, startled when I notice his unshaven state. He looks exhausted but still somehow manages to be as sexy as hell. It makes me want to reach out and touch his perfection.

“Thank fuck you’re awake. I started to think you never would.” He then scrambles up and runs to the door. Opening it, he frantically screams and gestures at someone to come in. A lovely nurse with shiny brown hair steps in and starts to take my vitals.

“I’m Betty. How are you feeling this morning?”

I try to shake my head, and I point to my throat. “It feels sore,” I manage to whisper.

“It will for a while. That’s normal. You had a lot of people scared, but you pulled through. You’re a fighter, Miss Sinclair. We’ll have you up and running around the ward in no time.”

I try to smile, but that also hurts like hell. “Water,” I whisper.

Betty pats my shoulder. “Try not to talk too much. You need your rest.”

She pours me a glass and brings the cup to my mouth. I attempt to sip. The pain is evident in my face once I swallow. I motion to the nurse that I want a pen and paper. She nods and walks out the door.

Jake sinks down onto the chair next to me and grabs my hand. “I was so scared when I realized you were gone. I don’t know what I would have done if we hadn’t found you when we did.”

The nurse comes back in, and I free my hand to grab the pen, eager to write down the words I have been longing to tell him.

I Love you, Jake ‘Caveman’ Bennett.

I turn the paper over so Jake can see. He smiles and starts stroking my cheek. “I love you too, Ana ‘Insubordinate’ Sinclair.”

A tear falls down my cheek, and the nurse looks at us with glassy-eyed endearment. “I’m going to leave you two alone for a few minutes. I will let the doctor know that you’re awake, but I think I can safely say that you’re well on the road to recovery.”

Jake thanks her and she leaves. I grab my pen and start writing.

What happened? How did you find me?

Jake lets out a deep breath and looks at my watch. Picking my hand up, he starts playing with it. “This watch is what saved your life. I know you’re going to be angry with me. The watch does mean more. I swear. I just didn’t want you to know something about it.”

He closes his eyes briefly like he’s trying hard to think about what he should say next. “I bought the watch for you that Sunday when I saw that poor woman and what that bastard