Resting my forehead against his, I take a deep breath. “You don’t have to apologise. I get it, believe me, I do.”
Pulling back, he kisses me before turning to the coffee machine.
“Morning.”
I spin and do a double take. Standing in front of me is Jessica, dressed and freshly showered.
Smiling, I walk over to greet her with a kiss. “Morning, you look nice.”
She blushes and gives me a shy smile as Caleb comes over, handing me my coffee before he grips the back of her neck and steals a kiss. “Morning, beautiful. Breakfast?” he asks.
Moving around him, she replies, “I can do it.”
I raise my eyebrows and look back to Caleb, who shrugs.
Pulling the loaf of bread from the bread bin, she peers over her shoulder. “Do you want some toast?”
We both shake our heads. “We’ve already eaten. Thank you, though,” Caleb replies.
Leaving her in bed wasn’t easy by any means, but working out is also a release, so Caleb and I got a session in this morning while she still slept.
Popping the bread into the toaster, she flicks the kettle on and then turns to face us. We’re both standing there staring, and she flushes at the attention.
She takes a deep breath and stills herself before speaking. “So, I have a session with Greta this afternoon at five,” she says, fiddling with her hands, eyes flicking between Caleb and me.
I nod and see Caleb do the same out of my peripheral vision. It will be the first time she’s left the house.
“That’s great?” I say, but it comes out more like a question.
Licking her lips, I can tell she’s nervous, and as much as I want to pull her into my arms, I also feel as though she needs the space.
Squaring her shoulders, and on a rushed breath, she says, “And I’m going to go alone.” It’s impossible not to hear the worry in her voice as she speaks and then quickly averts her eyes. Then surprisingly, Caleb is in front of her in three quick strides, placing his coffee cup behind her on the counter. She squeezes her eyes closed.
He nudges her chin with his index finger until her eyes flutter open, and she stares at him.
“Then we’ll support you,” he says firmly.
She blinks, taken back, her hazel eyes soft. “You will?”
“Of course, we will,” I say as I move up beside him until she is caged in by the two of us.
I reach for her hand and squeeze it gently. Her palm is scabbed over now and healing well.
“Really? You’re not going to tell me how selfish I am, especially after what happened last time?”
“Hell no,” Caleb replies. “Your strength fucking slays me.” I couldn’t agree more.
This is a huge milestone for her, and it makes me proud to know that Caleb and I are on the same page.
“I just… I don’t know. I thought you might be cross with me because of last time.” Her teeth dig into her bottom lip.
I shake my head. “No, sweet girl, not at all. We’ve been worried about you. What happened was traumatic. We know you need this.”
Caleb cups the back of her head. “It’s hard to see you suffering in silence, Jessica.”
Because that’s what she’s been doing.
“I’m sorry,” she says, her eyes filling with tears.