the one Chapter 7
The following week I was laid up on the couch in the living room, so I wasn't able to work. Fortunately I hadn’t used any of my sick or vacation days, and since the manager loved me, it was no problem taking the time off. Jason called me almost every day to check on me, and I came to really look forward to his calls.
As soon as the phone rang, I grabbed it.
“Hey, Jason,” I said.
"How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Better now that I hear your voice.”
Jason chuckled. “Careful. You’re going to give me a big head. Glad to hear how much better you sound.”
“I do feel better. The medications help a lot, though they do make me drowsy.”
“Well, I'm on my lunch break, so I have to make this quick. I was wondering if you were feeling up to hanging out with Max and me on Friday."
It was all I could do to keep from shouting for joy. "I’d love to Jason," I said.
"That’s great,” he said. “I've finally gotten a decent shift and now that I finish at five, I thought you could come over around six and we could watch a movie."
"I can’t wait,” I said excitedly.
“Okay, then. Got to run. I’ll check up on you later.” He paused, the tone of his voice making me think there was something on his mind. “I’m really looking forward to Friday.”
“Me, too,” I said, thinking about the call long after I hung up.
***
By the time Friday afternoon arrived, I was buzzing with anticipation at seeing Jason. My mother came into to my room while I was getting ready.
"You look very nice,” she said. “Where are you going?"
"Going over Jason's to hang out."
"Oh," she said quietly. “Well, I’m glad you’re up to it.”
"What's wrong, Mom?" I asked, curious about her odd mood.
"Nothing, sweetheart. Have a great time."
I watched her quietly slip out of the room. Lately, both my mother and Ethan had been acting strangely every time I mentioned Jason, yet whenever I asked them about it, they denied it. I decided to shrug it off. Nothing was going to spoil my evening with Jason, so I quickly finished getting ready.
It took me only about half an hour to get to Jason’s condo. I was fumbling like a grade schooler getting ready for the Christmas play by the time I got to the door of his ground floor unit. When I rang the bell, I heard Max barking and the scuttling of his claws as he raced toward the door.
Footsteps followed, and when Jason opened the door, my mouth must have dropped to the ground before I realized I was staring. But what wasn’t there to stare at ... Jason's scruff look was back in action, and he had never looked more hot in his snug jeans and black shirt with rolled up sleeves.
Jason smiled as he noticed the direction of my eyes. “Linds, he said, “you look amazing. Please come in.”
“You look ... amazing, too,” I said, petting chubby little Max, his happily wagging tail slapping against the floor.
I rolled into a beautifully decorated contemporary space. “Jason, this place is amazing,” I said.
He laughed. “Believe me, if I actually lived here instead of just slept here, it wouldn’t be so tidy.”
Motioning toward a glass coffee table, my eyes widened at the selection of movie snacks ... popcorn, candy, soft drinks, hot dogs. Beyond, a huge flat screen television was turned on with the volume off. I grinned. Jason and I both shared a passion for theater food and the effort he made to recreate the environment really touched me.
“Have a seat,” Jason said. “The feature’s about to begin.”
We settled beside each other on the couch, while Max made himself comfortable between us. Jason seemed to be ill at ease, as though there were something he wanted to say but didn’t know how to broach the subject.
"Jason, is everything okay?" I asked as he poured us a couple of sodas.
"I'm fine."
"No, seriously. You know you can trust me with all your secrets.”
"I know, Linds."
I gazed down at Max, impersonating a fat cushion with legs, snoring away in my lap.
"My mom teases me all time,” Jason said, gently playing with Max’s ears. “Says she doesn't know who snores the loudest, me or him."
"Jason, come on. What’s wrong?"
"Okay, do you remember last week when I told you those painkillers would make you drowsy?” he finally said.
"Oh, no. Did I say something embarrassing?"
"No at all, though you did play with my hair a lot."
I suddenly saw a vivid image of replacing that stubborn strand of hair back into his ponytail.
"Oh, Jason, I'm so sorry," I said, trying to keep the blush from my face.
"Don't be. I'm use to girls wanting to play with my hair."
He fell silent once again, but now it was making me very anxious.
"Jason, maybe it would be easier if you just came out and said what’s on your mind.”
"You confessed your feelings for me."
“I said what?”
"Lindsey, you told me you were in love with me."
At that moment, I felt so mortified all I could do was stare at Max while the heat rose to my face.
“You really opened yourself to me,” he said quietly, “and I knew then that it wasn’t the medication speaking, but your heart.”
His words resonated in my mind. It was the truth. I couldn’t deny it, but I was still horrified that I had opened up to him like that in a hospital room.
“Linds, are you okay?” Jason asked.
At first I could only shake my head, then I finally mustered the courage to look at him.
“I’m so sorry if I embarrassed you,” I said, unable to stem the tears flowing from my eyes.
Jason reached over and gently wiped the tears away. “What are those for?”
“I can only guess what you must think of me,” I murmured, terrified by the possibility that he didn’t feel the same.
“Actually, I’d like to tell you what I think,” Jason said. “Look at me, Linds.”
I shook my head, my eyes fixed on Max.
"Lindsey, please.”
“No."
Jason slipped onto the floor and looked up at me. “I wouldn’t have embarrassed you like this if I didn’t feel the same.”
Now he had my undivided attention.
“You feel the same way about me?”
He nodded with a huge grin. “For quite a while now,” he said. “That’s why it never really worked with anyone else, because no one else was like you.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” I asked.
“Come here,” he said, motioning me to the floor beside him. “I didn’t tell you because I wanted you to feel strongly enough to tell me first.”
Jason pulled me in his lap and brushed his lips against mine. I pulled away, a little unsure of myself.
“It’s okay,” he whispered against my ear. “Don’t worry. Everything’s going to be okay. I promise.”
With his encouragement, I relaxed into his kiss. His lips were soft against the stubble of his face. He lay me back on the carpet, and we fell into an embrace.
“I know,” he said. “I need to shave.”
“No, don’t shave,” I said, rubbing my cheek against his sexy stubble. “I love it.”
We entwined our bodies and started making out like a couple of teenagers in a dark theater, which was pretty appropriate considering the setting. When we finally came up for air and lay companionably side by side, Jason simply stared at me for a few moments.
“You know, Linds, no matter what’s happened in our lives or who we were around, somehow we always ended up back in each other’s lives. Did you ever think that was the universe’s way of telling us something?”
I placed my fingers on Jason’s lips. “Don’t talk about it,” I said. “I just want to enjoy the moment and not think about the whys or why nots. We’re here with each other now. That’s all that matters.”
My fingers found their way Jason hair. “Can I take the ponytail out?”
Jason nodded with a smile. “That does seem to be an obsession with you.”
I slowly removed the band from his ponytail and ran my hands through his hair.
“I don’t what it is with you girls and my hair,” Jason said. “Practically every woman who sees it wants to play with it.”
“As long as I’m the only way playing with, the others can still look,” I said. I placed a kiss on Jason’s forehead, then our lips met. “I really do love you, Jason. I wish I’d had the courage to tell you before now.”
“I love you, too, Lindsey. We’ve been through enough to know that if we’ve been able to deal with the past and still be strong, we can face anything the future throws at us.”
His words touched me in a way that almost brought me to tears. Though the past few years had been a struggle, it was all worth it to find myself safe in Jason’s arms, where I wanted to be.
***
It was getting late so Jason invited me to stay the night if I wanted to. As far as I was concerned, I wasn’t going anywhere, so he got me a T-shirt and a pair of sweat pants to change into. We snuggled together on the couch and stuffed ourselves with goodies while we finally got around to watching our movie.
When we finally went to bed around two in the morning, Jason scooped me up in his arms and carried me to his bed. Large and comfortable, I settled against the oversized pillows and against his strong, warm body. It was like heaven laying beside him, and for a while, I watched him as he slept, his face illuminated by the soft glow of a night light.
The next morning I awoke to sunshine streaming through the windows and the irresistible aroma of coffee. I lay in bed enjoying the moment, the feel of the sheets against my skin, and the instant replay of the night before in my mind. I still couldn’t believe Jason and I were now a couple.
I got in my wheelchair and rolled down the hall into the living room to find Max curled up on Jason’s feet as Jason sipped his coffee and caught up with the news on his Mac. If I had to choose when Jason looked his hottest, it had to be his morning look.
“Why good morning, beautiful,” Jason said with a sexy smile.
“Good, morning, handsome," I replied.
“There’s more coffee if you’d like some. Also some goodies on the counter at your level.” He grinned at my stare. “That is, unless you have an appetite for something else.”
I couldn’t help but giggle. “Well, you know I have a sweet tooth.”
I went to get some coffee and a plate of pastries before returning to sit beside him on the couch.
Relaxing in each other’s company, we played with Max for a while before Jason showed some tricks he taught Max.
“Okay now, Max, show Lindsey how you shake.”
Max did his version of a doggy grin and placed his paw on Jason’s palm. Jason then rewarded Max with a treat, which he promptly gobbled up.
"Now Max, show her how you sit."
Jason grabbed another treat from the bag and held it in front of Max, who patiently sat waiting for the treat.
"Good boy, Max!" Jason said. "Want to see something funny, Linds?"
I nodded, more than enjoying the morning show.
Jason softy barked at Max. The dog cocked his head to the left and whimpered at Jason. Jason barked again, but this time Max cocked his head to the right.
"Jason, stop confusing the poor thing," I said.
We showered Max with attention and more than a few doggy treats before Jason leaned back on the back of the couch and looked at me.
"So what would like to do today?" Jason said. “I took the day off so we’ll do whatever you want.”
"Why don’t we just stay here and finish where we left off last night?” I asked.
“Hmmm ...” Jason said, leaning toward me and gathering me into his arms.
Our lips melted into a kiss.
“Is this where we left off last night?” he asked.
"I love you," I whispered against his ear.
I love you, more, Lindsey.”