Page 5 of Love for the Holiday

The sudden touch felt like a thousand volts rushing through every nerve-ending within me. His hands were large and masculine, yet, soft and gentle. I couldn’t help looking down at our now joined hands. A giddy feeling began to rise from within me. I was acting as though no one had ever held my hand before.

My hand had been held plenty of times, but this feeling was something new. It was something indescribable.

“You going to be okay?” Jacob asked rubbing his thumb across the top of my hand.

My words were lodged in my throat from girliness so I could only nod in response.

“You sure?” he laughed.

“Ye—yes. Sorry. I’m just spacey right now.”

“I understand.” He continued rubbing my hand. “Want me to turn the tv on?”

“I doubt there is anything good on right now. It’s pretty late.”

“True. We could watch a movie on my phone.”

He withdrew his hand from mine. I found myself wanting to reach out and grab his hand, but I refrained from doing so. It was like my body had a mind of its own

Jacob pulled his phone out of his pocket and scooted his chair right up against the bed.

“What kind of movies do you like?” he asked opening up an app on his phone.

“I rarely watch movies.”

He gasped dramatically and clutched at his chest. His sudden theatrics made me laugh. He smiled.

“What about something funny with action in it?” He looked up from his phone and over at me.

“Sounds good to me,” I smiled.

Honestly, he could put on anything. I doubted I’d be able to pay much attention to whatever he put on. My mind would be too busy dealing with the girly feelings which were rising inside me. It was like my body had been taken over by a teenage girl.

***

My sleep had ended too soon. It felt like Jacob had just dropped me off from the hospital. My body ached from my head to my toes. I walked around my house like a ninety-year-old. My feet scuffled across the floor because it hurt to lift them. Jacob had carried me everywhere, so I hadn’t realized how painful it was to walk.

My head felt like it was being used as a drum for a heavy metal band. Several times, I closed my eyes in an attempt to ease the pain or to stop the room for spinning. I felt like hell. Absolute hell.

Before my body decided to give out on me, I took my pills and ate a banana since the doctorandJacob told me to be sure to not take them on an empty stomach. The thought of Jacob made me smile.

He had remained faithfully by my side the entire time and he didn’t get anything out of it. I had tried to give him money since he gave me a ride home, but he insisted I keep my money and just allow him to take me out for coffee when I was feeling up to it.

Ding. Ding. Ding.

My phone’s notifications reminded me that I was once again off inJacob La La Land.I had drifted off toJacob La La Landseveral times since meeting him. It was like a spell was put on me.

I grabbed my phone off the coffee table and leaned back in the recliner. It was a text from… Jacob.

A huge smile broke across my face. The kind of smile which made me thankful I was alone. It had to be the cheesiest smile ever.

Hopefully, you are still resting, but when you wake up, make sure you eat before you take your medicine. And, let me know how you are doing — Jacob.

His text made me feel like the luckiest woman on the planet. He wasn’t even my boyfriend and he had messaged me.

I replied,Morning. I just ate a banana and took my medicine, doc.

It wasn’t long before my phone was ringing. Jacob was calling.

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