Page 106 of Wrecked
I grab her purse, begin picking up the various items closest to us and then move onto the stairs where the rest fell out. As I'm putting the last item into her purse, I catch a glimpse of the writing and do a double-take. It's one of those cards you get at funerals that have the person's picture and information on it. This is Walter's. I still feel like absolute shit about missing his funeral and not being there for Jasmine. Just thinking about it reminds me how much I never deserved her and has my chest squeezing tight. I glance over my shoulder at her, but she's now focused on her ankle, rubbing her hand up and down the area.
Deep breaths.
Swallowing down the dryness in my throat, I place the card carefully in with the rest of her things and shuffle down the few steps, crouching beside her once again. “Ready?” She nods, reaching for her purse, but I pull it back. “I'll carry it. Just hold onto me, okay?”
I slide the strap over my shoulder and then maneuver my arms under her knees and behind her back, pushing to my feet a second later. Cool fingers slide around the skin of my neck, where she clasps them together. She suddenly feels so small in my arms, and I feel such a fierce protectiveness of her.
I cradle her closer to me as I push through the door to her building with my shoulder.
When Samson sees us, he steps closer, a confused and concerned look on his face.
“What happened?”
“She fell,” I answer, trying to step around him.
“I'll take her from here,” he says, reaching for her.
I pull her back from his grabby fingers and take a step away. No way am I handing her over. I don't hold a grudge against him for not letting me into the building that first week when everything went to shit, but she's mine to take care of, and I'm not leaving this building unless she's still in my arms.
“It's okay, Samson,” Jasmine tells him.
“You sure?” he asks, stepping closer again and flicking his eyes back and forth between the two of us before they narrow on me.
He's just caring for her, I tell myself.He's justdoing his job.
Deep breaths.
“Yes,” she replies with a soft smile, tightening her grip on me. It calms the rush of blood starting to flow through my system.
“Alright.” He moves out of the way and then goes and presses the button for the elevator. “Let me know if you need anything.”
Once we make it upstairs and into her apartment, I lay her down on the couch, adjusting the pillow behind her back, and then put one under her foot as well. “Do you have a bag of peas or something in your freezer?”
“Actually, I have an ice pack in there.”
I head toward her kitchen, feeling her gaze burning into my back the whole time. Once I turn around, she glances away and shifts her position as if she weren't just watching me. I catch her chewing on her full bottom lip before quickly releasing it as I take a seat on the coffee table in front of her.
“What else do you need?” I ask after carefully placing the pack on her ankle. Goosebumps travel up her leg and extend to each of her arms. The ice pack would be making her cold, so I pull the blanket draped over the back of the couch onto her. “Do you need some painkillers?”
Smiling softly at me, she pulls the blanket tighter. “Yeah. That's a good idea. Can you pass me my purse? I have some in there.” I go get it and then hold it open in front of her while she rummages through it and finds the pills.
“I'll go grab you some water. Wait here.”
“I'm not going anywhere.” Her soft amused voice follows me into the kitchen, along with her eyes. I feel them boring into me again while I fill up a glass and then bring it back to her. It's like she's trying to figure me out.
“You seem different,” she says quietly after taking her pill.
“I feel different,” I answer, tucking her blanket around her legs a little more. “You were right, you know. About everything.” I see her small hand poking out the side and reach for it, running my thumb along her knuckles. “I've been talking to someone – a therapist. It's helped a lot. And I've been working on myself, so I can be better. It'll still be a long road. I'm not fixed, but I'm working on it.”
She gives my fingers a gentle squeeze and drops her gaze to them. “I know I've told you before that I'm proud of you. But I really am, Cam. That's great news.” Her focus is still resting on our now intertwined fingers, but I'm sure if she were to look up, her eyes would be shiny. The pitch in her voice gives her emotions away.
“I still need you, Jaz.” I wait for her glossy eyes to lift and lock with mine before continuing. “Not in the way that I needed you to keep me afloat. But in the way that I'm in love with you, and I need you to love me back.”
I raise her hand to my lips for a soft kiss. There are a collection of tears sitting along her bottom lids that somehow manage not to spill over as she stares back at me. As the silent seconds tick by slower than usual, the beating in my chest increases to a wild tempo.
“I hope those aren't sad tears,” I whisper.
Slowly, she shakes her head back and forth. “I do love you, Cam.”
