Page 72 of Yours to Lose
“And when she feels better, bring her to Boston. If Jo is important to you, she’s important to us too. Mom’s birthday is coming up. She’ll freak out if you come for it. In the good way.”
I roll that around in my brain for a few seconds, and for the first time in two years, the idea of going to Boston is appealing, rather than overwhelming, if Jo is there with me. I think maybe I could do anything, as long as I have her with me. And that tells me everything I need to know.
“I think I’d like to bring her. But I think I need to have a conversation with her first.”
“Do that and be in touch.”
“I will. Thanks for the talk, El.”
“Always. Later, big brother.”
“Later.”
I hit end on the call and look down at Jo’s sleeping form. At the way her chestnut hair tumbles over the pillow in wild waves and her dark lashes fan across her cheeks. At her face flushed from her fever and the spray of freckles across her nose that scrunches when she laughs. At her full lips I live to see turned up in a grin, and fingers I like to feel threaded through mine when she’s pulling me towards whatever activity she dreamed up for us to do.
My anxious heartbeat calms as I take her in, and the rhythm it beats sounds a lot likemine.
Jo is mine.
I think maybe she has been all this time, and it’s as thrilling as it is terrifying, thinking of giving myself over to feelings like this for a second time in my life, when I live every day with the reminder of how the first time ended.
I reach out and wrap my hand around Jo’s wrist, feeling the comforting beat of her pulse against my palm. And I think maybe I don’t have to be quite so scared as long as I have her right here with me.
CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
JORDAN
I shut the apartment door and carry the bag of stuff Lucas dropped off back to Jo’s bedroom, detouring to the kitchen to grab a glass of ice water.
Back in Jo’s room, I set everything on her nightstand and sit on the edge of her bed. Leaning down, I press a kiss to her forehead, feeling the heat radiating off her. When I smooth her hair back from her face, tucking it behind her ear, she stirs, and her eyes flutter open.
“Jordan?” Her voice is barely a whisper, but just hearing it has a cascade of relief flooding my system.
“Hey, Hurricane.” I lay a hand on her cheek, and she closes her eyes again, wincing as she lets out another deep, raspy cough.
“I don’t feel good,” she whispers, her eyes opening again. “Everything hurts.”
“I know, sweetheart. I’ll take care of you, I promise. Do you think you can sit up and drink some water for me? I’ll help you.” Jo nods, and I slide an arm under her, helping her sit up against her pillows. I pick up the ice water and bring the glass to her lips, helping her take a couple of sips until she pushes it away and lays her head back against the pillow, as if the effort of drinking exhausted her.
“How are you here?” she mumbles, her eyes dropping closed.
“You didn’t text me all day, and when I tried to call, you didn’t answer, so I came over when I was done at the hospital. Your door was unlocked, and I came in and found you here.”
Jo’s eyes open again, and her hand reaches out and grasps mine. I flip my hand over and link our fingers together, laying my free hand on top of hers. When she looks at me, there’s an apology in her eyes. “I’m so sorry I didn’t text you or answer your calls. You must have been really worried.”
That she understands I would have been worried where a typical person probably wouldn’t have been has my chest tightening with emotion, those roots digging themselves in a little deeper. Keeping one of my hands in hers, I cup her face with my other hand and kiss her forehead again, then lean my forehead against hers, needing to be close to her. To reassure myself.
She’s here.
She’s safe.
She’ll be okay.
“Don’t be sorry, Jo Jo. You’re right here, and so am I.”
She lets out a sigh that ends in a coughing fit, and I sit up, my hand still on her cheek. “I want to test you for the flu and listen to your lungs, okay? Then I have some meds that should make you feel better.”
She gives me a weak smile, and a shiver wracks her body. I pull the covers up higher and tuck them around her shoulders. “I guess if I have to be sick, it’s a good thing my bestie is a doctor.”
