Page 109 of Diluted Truths
She pouted at me for a moment. “Fine.”
“Don’t look so upset. We have all thetime in the world.”
I pulled her to my chest and laid down on the bed. She quickly fell asleep on top of me and I followed shortly behind.
Chapter 30Skin and Bones by. David Kushner
Jackie
After a very boring yet busy morning at the hospital, I was home. Well, I guess Will’s home, but I knew he would refuse to let me sleep at home alone ever again. I was okay with it. He even had my cat Jedi settled into the library here.
I sat on the couch in the living room and watched the rain through the windows. It was a beautiful day, the perfect kind of day, but I felt…off. The doctors said I would feel this way for a while. My body had been through a lot and it would take a long time for the shock to wear off.
Truthfully, my body felt fine. I felt tired and hungry, but other than that I was fine.
It was my mind that couldn’t seem to stop running.
The doctors explained that I had been awake for days when they had found me. It would explain the memory loss about what had happened. What it didn’t explain were the dreams I remembered. None of them made a lot of sense, but they were clear. I hadn’t told anyone the details, they would probably think I was insane.
There were moments from the dreams I couldn’t explain. Things Nate said that I couldn’t have come up with.
I asked Kai this morning if he had called Nate before Nate’s accident. Kai was shocked I knew and told me yes. He hadn’t told anyone. Noteven Theo knew. So how did I? It was small things like that, that made no sense.
I took another sip of the chai Theo had made me when we got to Will’s. No one really knew how to help me, but were all trying in their own ways. Theo was constantly trying to feed me, Kai had made it his duty to make sure Will’s house was safe. Will refused to leave my side.
I turned to look at him as he sat next to me and graded papers. Apparently he had barely worked in the last month and not at all this last week. His TA showed up this morning with the stack of papers, dropped it in Will’s hands and stomped away. Will had his glasses on and a short-sleeve shirt on so his tattoos were on full display. I was happy with him wanting to stay close.
He made me feel safe.
Sarah and Oliver were here as well. Sarah was playing with Violet on the living room floor. Oliver was with Theo. If the bickering I heard was any indicator, they were getting along as usual.
The only person I had yet to see was Fai.
I sighed thinking about him. I hated where things were with us, but I did know Sarah said I still had a job. At least I would see him there. They all said he felt guilty for how we left things and didn’t know how to make it right.
I had an inclination that there was something else going on. The last month we had been more distant because of this case, but the last almost year had been different as well. I hadn’t noticed it at first and in the moment, but looking back, he had seemed… different.
“Sunshine?”
I looked up to see Will staring at me with his gorgeous blue eyes. They were lighter today, almost clearer. “Yeah?”
“I love you.”
I smiled.
Damn was I lucky to have him. Theo explained all he did to find me. He was apparently a force to be reckoned with. He also had barely slept or eaten the entire time. I hated hearing that. Kai said he actually broke Griffin’s hand as well. I fully supported that.
“I know.”
“Did you just Han Solo me?” he asked, faking offense. He even had a hand over his heart. Bless his dramatic flair.
“Yeah, I did,” I responded with a smile.
“Oh you’re going to get it!” he joked as he lunged and pulled me down on the plush rug with him. He tickled me relentlessly as I laughed beneath him.
“Oof.” I looked up to see Violet on his back.
“I’ll save you, Auntie Jack!” she yelled with passion. I watched as Will faked being taken down by my five-year-old niece. At one point he even had a dramatic death scene.
