Page 25 of Take Me Home

He felt my forehead with the back of his hand, looking concerned. I coughed into the trash can, my abs screaming as I did.

“My head hurts like hell. Tired, dizzy, dry mouth. I generally feel like shit,” I listed off, my voice turning teary on the last part. All of it was so overwhelming. I was supposed to be the one holding the farm together, and I couldn’t get out of bed without falling. Jake caught that I was teetering on the edge of a meltdown.

“Hey, it’s okay. I’m here to help you,” he said, lowering his head to look into my eyes and rubbing my arm. “One thing at a time. First, I’m going to put you back in bed, alright?”

I couldn’t say anything without crying, so I nodded my acceptance. Jake had already seen me cry once that week. I didn’t want to repeat it so soon. He slid his arms under my knees and behind my back, lifting me with ease into the bed. He fluffed the pillows behind me and tucked my legs under the sheets before going into my bathroom. Every movement was tender and gentle, yet confident.

He returned with a cool washcloth, which he put across my forehead. I leaned my head into his hand, trying to find a way to show him that I appreciated it without starting the cry fest of the year. The corners of his mouth turned up.

“I’m going to get you some drinks. Just small sips, though, or else they’ll come right back up. No getting out of bed until you’ve had them,” he instructed, catching my eyes to make sure I was hearing him. “Actually, try not to get out of bed without me here, okay? I don’t want you to fall when I’m not here.”

His words and take-charge attitude calmed me. “You don’t have to baby me,” I said hoarsely, “But thank you.”

He pinned me with a sympathetic look that said yes, I absolutely needed to be babied. “For today, let’s take off your Farm Boss hat and put on your Let A Nice Strapping Young Man Take Care of Me hat. You don’t have to have it all together. I’ve got you. Can you take a load off for today?”

His hazelly caramelly eyes glowed under the brim of his hat as he waited for me to concede.

“I suppose,” I sighed.

He patted my leg, disappearing downstairs with the soiled trash bag. A few minutes later, he was back with a giant glass of water and a bottle of Gatorade from who knows where, along with a fresh trash bag.

“What about Becca and Caleb?” I asked, feeling like my head was full of cotton. Jake sat on the edge of my bed, giving me his full attention.

“Becca’s starting late today since you took her to the market last night, remember? And I’m sure Caleb and I can come up with something to do.”

“Actually, we need to start peach picking today. Do you know how to do it?” Panic tinged my voice. It was a genuinely bad day to be incapacitated.

“I saw your uncle’s instructions downstairs,” Jake said in a soft voice, trying to soothe me. I had a vague memory of pulling them out the night before. He ran his hand down my arm again. I lolled my head toward him to show him that it felt nice.

“Thank you,” I said weakly.

“Don’t sweat it. I’ll be back to check on you after I take care of Selena and get Caleb started,” he said, squeezing my hand. “Stay there. I mean it!”

I sat back in my pillows. I tried to not give the whole encounter too much thought. Maybe his “thing” the night before went well and that’s why he was being so helpful. Or, in my wildest dreams, he liked me and wanted to take care of me. Either way, it felt nice to have someone look after me. I had probably overdone it the day before, but I was impressed with how easily he figured it out.

My phone had just enough signal to fire off a text to Brianna.

I’m in the house this morning. I’m a little sick. Text me all outside-world updates plz

Three dots appeared right away with her reply.

Brianna

Oh no! Poor baby! See if the certified hottie can be a certified nurse too

Actually…

SHUT. UP.

??

Act extra pathetic so he’ll give you mouth to mouth

I fucking wish. He just watched me puke for 10 minutes. And too bad I’m still the boss

Suit yourself. I’ll be there soon to suss it out for myself

Brianna wasn’t wrong. Nothing wrong with enjoying the plusses of this less-than-ideal situation.

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