Page 76 of Devoted

Chapter 23

Jess

“Hey, baby.” The strong hands that wrap around my waist from behind blanket me in a comfort that only Brooks can provide. When he’s touching me, I feel like nothing can hurt me.

“Hey, you. You’re getting pretty bold with your public displays of affection,” I say as I turn around and face him, wrapping my arms around his neck and pressing up on my toes to give me a few more inches of height. Those inches don’t matter much when we’re lying horizontally, but when we kiss, I’m not going to lie—my neck strains a little bit.

The past month of our relationship has been nothing but stolen kisses at work, meals shared in between shifts, and as much crazy sex as we can muster before we pass out from exhaustion. I’m so freaking happy, I don’t even recognize myself some days. Piper says I’m dick-struck, which I’m not lying, could be a possibility.

But ultimately, I think I’m just so confident in what we have that the threat of something derailing it hasn’t even crossed my mind. Usually by this point in a relationship, I’m anticipating the downfall, wondering when the proverbial shoe is going to drop. It’s usually a few months in when things start to unravel.

But with Brooks, I don’t feel that way. I just feel loved and adored, even though we’ve yet to say those words to each other.

“I’m pretty sure everyone knows we’re dating by now.” His eyes veer around the hospital and then land back on me.

“Yeah, it was only a matter of time.” That and Alice and Piper have trouble hiding their excitement when we’re around each other. Each time I exchange in girl talk, their squeals can be heard down the halls.

“I got you something,” I say as I release my hold on him and reach into my pocket, extracting the package of cinnamon gum.

Brooks’ grin stretches far and wide in one direction. “You’re giving me cinnamon gum? Are you feeling okay?”

I swat his chest. “Yes, I’m fine. I just know you’ll be with your mom during her treatment today, so I thought I’d give you this little bit of comfort. I’m sorry I have to work and can’t be there for you tonight, but I figured this little treat was the least I could do to help keep you happy.”

Brooks’ hand reaches up to caress my cheek. “You make me happy every day, baby. But thank you. This is really sweet.”

“I mean, we’ve tried virtually every flavor of gum or breath mint at this point, and I hate to say it, but I think we can both agree to go back to what we wholeheartedly enjoy.”

He throws his head back in exasperation. “Thank fuck. I was really beginning to think about giving up gum chewing completely.”

“Well, I’m not dating a quitter, so we can’t have that.”

“Damn right, I never quit,” he growls in my ear, reminding me of just how determined this man can get when he’s eager to please. Just the thought of Brooks working me over makes my entire body shiver and a bolt of arousal strike low in my belly.

“Oh, I know. I wish I could see you later,” I admit before Brooks moves to travel to the oncology department.

“Me too. But we have a date planned for two days from now, remember? Besides, tonight is gonna be bad for my mom, and I have to get some sleep before my shift tomorrow. We wouldn’t have been able to spend quality time together anyway.”

“I know. I just… I love sleeping in your arms.”

“I love that too, baby.” His lips find mind in a confirming kiss, his reassurance spreading throughout me as our mouths explore each other while I’m sure people passing by observe.

But I don’t care. I don’t want to hide. I want everyone to know that Brooks Bennet is mine.

“I’ll call you later,” he says when we part, giving me one last peck on the lips.

“Stay strong.” I release him from my grasp and watch him walk away, the wink he gives me over his shoulder builds a smile so quickly on my face, it takes hours for it to fade.

My shift goes by fairly quickly considering that in slow moments, my thoughts are focused solely on Brooks and how he’s doing. I remember sitting through just a few chemo sessions with my mom and how painful it was to watch her be pumped full of drugs that I knew weren’t going to make her feel better, but actually worse.

I’d give anything to be able to help Brooks through that. In the past month, I’ve managed to be there after her last session when he came to my apartment and broke down in my arms. I held him as he confessed how worried he is that she won’t make it after her latest scan showed no change in the amount of cancer in her body. He was feeling one-hundred percent comfortable to be honest and raw with me, and I’m glad that he feels that way. That’s what I wanted to be for him. I’m not going to lie and say that it’s easy to hear it though when it only brings back those emotions for me. But as I promised when he told me about his mother’s diagnosis, my goal was to be there for him—to give him what he needs so that he can give his mom what she needs.

“Jess, I could use your help in bay five,” Dr. Hill calls to me halfway through my shift as a mother holds her son that shoved a marble up his nose. It takes me and one other nurse to hold him down as the doctor pushes air through the nostril to extricate the glass orb. I swear it’s instances like these that make me question having kids someday.

And then the image of Brooks pushing a little girl on the swings or bouncing a baby in his arms pushes that silly notion out of my brain. Because watching that man be a father to a child of our own has now become my new favorite day dream.

By the time my shift ends, I have a full-fledged movie playing through my head of our house, our family, and the memories we will share in the years to come.

I clock out and drive home, barely keeping my eyes open. It’s early in the morning and my bed is calling my name, but a shower is necessary before I snuggle into my clean sheets.

---