Five Minutes to Love

by Jennifer Wilck

  Aviva didn’t answer. She sank lower in the bed.

  Hannah nodded her head. “You should call him. Or text him. Or do something to let him know. Regardless of his exams, he’d want to know.”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  She patted her leg and rose. “I’ll let you rest. Anything you want me to report to the office?”

  “No, but tell Meryl I’m sorry to miss everything. I know how much work there is and—”

  “Relax, it will all get done. You need to rest so when you do go to work you’re able to function. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  Hannah left. Aviva looked at her phone. Three o’clock. Should she contact Jacob? Before she could make up her mind, her mom returned. “Dad sends his love. He’ll try to be here tonight.”

  “It’s not necessary for you guys to uproot your lives like this. Really, I’m fine.”

  “I know, but I still want to be here for you. However, I’ll go out for a little while and give you some time on your own. Do you want anything from your apartment?”

  “Oh, yeah.” Aviva gave her a list and told her how to find everything, including the key in her purse.

  With a wave, her mom left. Aviva turned off the TV and listened to the silence in the room. The throbbing in her head receded and the dizziness was gone. The silence was a relief. She needed to make a decision about Jacob. She couldn’t get over the guilt of disturbing him, when there was nothing he could do for her anyway.

  Her phone buzzed. She reached for it.

  —hey, done for the day. how r u?—

  She swallowed. It was now or never. But there was no way she could put this in a text. She dialed his number and waited for him to answer.

  “Hey, Avs, I’m glad you called. I’ve been dying to hear your voice all day.”

  “Hi. Did your exam go okay?”

  “You don’t sound right. Is everything okay?”

  Her throat tightened. Tears threatened. He could tell something was wrong by the few words she said?

  “Aviva? What’s wrong?”

  She swallowed as tears rolled down her cheeks.

  “Talk to me, Aviva. What’s going on?”

  “The cab I was in was in an accident. I’m okay, but I’m in the hospital.”

  “Where are you? I’m on my way.”

  She cried harder. “No!”

  “Why not? Aviva, where are you?”

  “I’m in Hoboken University Medical Center, but you shouldn’t come here. You’ve got too much work to do.”

  He scoffed through the phone. “Don’t be ridiculous. Of course I’m coming.” He paused. She tried to think what to say. “I’ll be there in about twenty minutes, okay?”

  He shouldn’t come. He should stay home and study. She wanted to tell him, but she couldn’t. So she nodded.

  “Aviva?”

  “Okay.”

  ****

  For the first time since hearing Aviva’s voice, Jacob stopped and took a deep breath. Standing in the fluorescent glow of the hospital hallway, he leaned against the wall. It was a little like swimming against the tide as a parade of doctors, nurses, and others passed him in the opposite direction. Overhead, announcements filtered through in some sort of a muted, yet audible, tone. Disinfectant wafted around him. Everyone seemed to know where they were going and what they were doing.

  He didn’t.

  Without the rush to get here, the knowledge she hadn’t called filled the spaces in his brain. Why? Pushing away from the wall, he searched for Aviva’s room, stopping in the doorway. She lay in the bed, tiny against all the bags, monitors, and machines. Her face, a mottled blue and red and purple, was the only splash of color against the white hospital linens. He swallowed as his stomach dropped. On shaking knees, with a steadying breath and a silent prayer thanking God she was all right, he walked in.

  She turned toward him and winced. He strode to the bedside and grasped her hand. It was tiny, or maybe it felt that way because she was vulnerable. “Hi, sweetheart.”

  “Hi.”

  Connected to the IV bags by lines and drips, she looked trapped. He cradled her hand, taking a seat in the chair beside her. “How do you feel?”

  Her lips parted in a small smile. “Sore and tired.”

  “I’ll bet. Can you tell me what happened?”

  She relayed the events of the day. He must have shown his horror because she paused mid-sentence. “I’m okay, really.”

  No matter how bad the events sounded, she’d somehow escaped serious injury. With a deep breath and a silent thank you, he nodded. “I know. It could have been much worse.”

  “But it wasn’t. Please don’t worry.”

  “I didn’t mean to interrupt. Continue.”

  She bit her lip, as if afraid to tell him the rest, but he remained silent. When she was finished, he wished he hadn’t asked. Images of the accident paraded through his head. Though he hadn’t been there, it was as if he were an eyewitness. He stared at her until the images in his brain receded. “I’m glad you’re okay.” On his way to the hospital, he’d been consumed with two thoughts. One was her condition. The other was why she hadn’t told him. But he didn’t want to upset her while she recovered.

  “I’m sorry you’re wasting your time here.”

  But, given the opening…he leaned forward and gripped the bedding. “Why do you think I’m wasting my time?”

  “Because you should study. That’s much more important than babysitting me.”

  He reared back. Babysitting? She thought he was here to babysit her? “Why exactly do you think I came, Aviva?”

  She slumped against the pillow, picked at the blanket. “Because you care about me.”

  Leaning forward, he rested his hand on her leg, hoping he wasn’t hurting her more. “That’s right. I care about you. You’re much more important than studying. I’m not here because I want to be your babysitter.” He spit out the word in disgust. “You’re my girlfriend.”

  She shifted and winced at the movement. He rose out of the chair to help, but she waved him away. “Nothing is more important than your studying, Jacob.”

  He shook his head.

  “You’ve worked too hard to mess it all up now.”

  “You sound like my mother,” he said with a grimace. “I’m in good shape for my exams. They’re almost over.” He cupped her face, as if she was the most precious thing in the world. To him, she was. “You’re infinitely more important to me than some stupid test.” He kept his gaze focused on her, preventing her from looking away.

  After a moment, tears pooled in her eyes. “I can’t be.” Tears rolled down her cheeks.

  “Why not?”

  “Because if you don’t do well on your exams, it affects your future. If it’s my fault, I’ll have to live with the guilt.”

  He wanted to wrap his arms around her in a hug, but her damaged body wouldn’t allow him to. At the same time, he wanted to shake some sense into her until she put herself on a higher footing.

  “Do you remember when I said you are a priority for me?”

  She nodded and swiped at her tears.

  “I am capable of balancing multiple priorities. I’m not perfect. Sometimes things will get skewed one way or the other, but in this case, when it’s a matter of your health versus my exams, there’s no contest. I need you to trust I can do this. If for some reason I can’t, I need you to understand it’s not your fault. Okay?”

  Her sigh reminded him of a balloon deflating. He didn’t know if he’d convinced her or worn her out, but she nodded and squeezed his hand, and for now, it would have to be enough.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The next day, Aviva sat in the hospital-issued wheelchair in the lobby. Jacob hadn’t left her side since yesterday afternoon.

  Not when her mom came back and lit the Shabbat candles with her. Across a hospital bed was not how she’d envisioned the first meeting of her boyfriend and mother to go, but go it had. When her mom found Jacob sitting with her, he
r smile had stretched to the limits of her face. The two hit it off immediately, chatting for an hour, while Aviva watched and dozed.

  Not when Hannah returned last night. She gave Jacob a hug, leaned over, and hugged her as well, before sitting in the seat Jacob vacated. Aviva expected him to make excuses and leave. Instead, he’d crossed his arms, leaned against the wall and continued his conversation with her mom.

  Not when the nurse announced the end of visiting hours. Her mom left with the promise her dad would visit today. Jacob frowned but remained silent. He’d moved into the waiting room and camped out on what Aviva supposed were very uncomfortable sofas. As soon as visiting hours began today, he’d been in her room, looking tired and stiff, but refusing to leave.

  When the nurse announced her release, Jacob and her mom conspired like generals planning the coup de grace in a battle. They’d ignored her protestations and called her roommates, her dad and her boss, making plans for tonight and tomorrow.

  Now Aviva and Jacob sat in the lobby waiting for her parents. Although her father never made it to the hospital yesterday, he arrived in time to transport her home.

  “You don’t have to do this, you know,” Aviva said to Jacob.

  He didn’t bother to answer. Jacob wasn’t an intimidating guy but his frown made her shrink. His brow furrowed and he fisted his hands.

  “Sorry,” she whispered.

  He took a deep breath, turned and caressed her cheek. Before he could speak, her mom entered the lobby.

  “Dad’s outside. I don’t want to keep him waiting. He has a conference call he has to get back for.”

  Jacob sat with her in the backseat of the car. She didn’t remember the accident, but the ride made her jumpy, with the lane changes and traffic. After she flinched for the second time, Jacob reached for her hand, stroking it with his thumb. His hand was warm and firm, a lifeline. She gripped it the rest of the ride.

  Once inside her apartment, her mom got her settled while her dad stood by the door and checked his phone. Her roommates made soup. Jacob refused to leave. Again.

  She’d never seen this stubborn side of him and didn’t quite know what to make of it.

  “Hey, sweetheart, Mom and I are going to head home. I have a client call in a couple of hours I need to prep for.” Her dad leaned over the bed, where Jacob had forced her to lay down, and kissed her gently on the forehead.

  She hugged him, grateful for his presence. “I’m okay, Dad. I know you’re busy.”

  A noise on the other side of the room made her look up. Jacob’s face was impassive.

  Her dad squeezed her good arm. “That’s my girl. Louisa, we should go.”

  Right before her mom followed him out the door, she hurried to Aviva’s bedside. “We really like him,” she whispered. With a wave at Jacob, she left the room.

  Her roommates poked their heads in the doorway. “We’re going out. Do you need anything before we leave?”

  She shook her head.

  “Okay, we’ll be really quiet when we come home. Glad you’re back.”

  Once everyone left, the silence bore down like an anvil. The air conditioner whirred as it kicked on, cooling off the room. Her breathing echoed in her ears. Jacob still leaned against the far wall, arms crossed, staring. He was dressed more casually than usual, in faded jeans and a black T-shirt. The thin fabric showed off a flat stomach. The sleeves emphasized amazing biceps. Although focusing on one thing still made her head ache, it was worth it to look at him. If only he didn’t look ominous.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “Other than the fact my girlfriend is lying injured in bed? Not a thing.” He pushed off the wall, sat on the side of the bed, and took her hand. “You should try to get some sleep. Is there anything I can get for you?”

  “No, I’m fine. Go home. You need to sleep too.”

  “I can sleep here.”

  Aviva’s pulse pounded. Possibilities filled her head. She patted the other side of the queen-sized bed, but he shook his head.

  “I’ll stay here tonight,” he said, “just not in your bed.”

  “You really don’t have to. My roommates will be back if I need anything.”

  He raised an eyebrow. Any further arguments died with that one look.

  “Smart girl. Do you want to wash up or anything?”

  “No, I really don’t.”

  He left the room, returning moments later with a pillow and blanket. He spread them out on the floor. She rose on her elbow with a grimace. “Wait, you’re sleeping on my floor?”

  “I want to be close by if you need me.” He turned out the light, silencing her opposition with darkness. But she had to try one last time.

  “Not even the sofa?”

  “Go to sleep, Aviva.”

  Who would have thought she’d find her knight in shining armor asleep on her floor?

  ****

  Jacob lay in the dark, his body shaking.

  The floor was hard, despite the wall-to-wall carpet beneath him. There was a draft from somewhere. His pillow no longer had a cool side to it; he’d punched and turned it multiple times to get comfortable. Aviva’s breathing evened out as she sank deeper into sleep. The clock next to her bed made a faint buzzing noise.

  None of those things kept him awake. A dull throb began behind his temples. His jaw ached from clenching it. His pulse pounded in his ears. No, what kept him awake was the sonofa-b father of hers. Every time Jacob closed his eyes, he saw his face—thick white hair, sharp blue eyes, hawk-like nose, thin lips. What kind of father didn’t sit at his daughter’s bedside in the hospital? What kind of a father left her at home to go to work? No wonder Aviva was gun shy about his spending time with her.

  For what seemed the gazillionth time, he tried to fall asleep.

  “You sure you don’t want to sleep here?”

  Aviva’s sleepy voice startled him into a sitting position. In the darkened room, the only thing he could see were her eyes glittering in the blue-black light.

  “Why aren’t you asleep?”

  The bed shifted. She gave small whimpers of pain. “I was, but everything hurts now.”

  “Let me get you some pain medicine.”

  This was why he’d stayed. She needed someone to help when the pain got bad in the middle of the night. Someone like him.

  He went into the bathroom for pain meds and a cup of water. Bracing her shoulders, he held her while she swallowed the tablets. The knot that formed at the news of the accident finally loosened. Warmth flooded his chest and he buried his face in her hair. Its softness tickled his cheek. Eyes closed against a prickle behind his lids, he exhaled a shaky breath, for what seemed like the first time since news of the accident.

  His fingers covered hers around the cup. Her delicate bones awakened some long-buried ancient protector response, coupled with overwhelming desire. His pulse raced.

  She reached around with her good arm and cupped his neck. Her touch was killing him. Her fingers stroked his hairline, sent shivers down his back. He brushed light kisses along her jaw, tasting her. Her uninjured skin tantalized him with its softness. Their noses touched. In the darkness, her eyes were almost black, with a mossy green rim. Fatigue and pain showed in them and tamped down his lust.

  “Do you want me to rub your back?” he whispered. Confusion made her eyes narrow. He smiled. “Lay down.”

  She winced, so he helped her maneuver onto her side. He knelt by the side of the bed, stroking her hair away from her face. As a child, his mother had rubbed his back when sleep eluded him. He channeled that memory, swirling his hands against Aviva—light enough to be gentle, firm enough not to tickle, platonic enough not to make her think he wanted to have sex with her.

  Which he did, but not at this moment.

  Her breathing deepened. He continued, hoping to ease her tension and pain. Beneath the oversized cotton T-shirt, her spine was evident through the soft fabric. Her ribs expanded as she took a deep breath, let it out, and settled into a more
even rhythm. After a few minutes, she slept. Jacob continued to rub her back for another five minutes until her sleep deepened. Then he returned to his pallet on the floor and finally fell asleep.

  Whispered voices and muted sounds pulled him awake. He stifled a groan. His eyes were gritty, his mind sluggish. He’d swear he’d only fallen asleep a minute ago, but the clock showed it was morning. Early morning. Three hours of sleep wouldn’t help much today, but he’d have to make due. He rose, shuffled to the bathroom then slipped out of the bedroom, without waking Aviva.

  Her roommates were in the kitchen making breakfast.

  “How is she?” Erica asked.

  He reached for the mug of coffee she offered, held the steaming liquid, and breathed in the rich aroma.

  “Sleeping.” Blowing on it, he took a taste and swallowed, waiting for the caffeine to kick in. He supposed it would be unreasonable to expect an automatic jolt, but he paused anyway. Eyelids still droopy, brain still sluggish. He sighed.

  “Good, she needs it. I can stay with her for the morning if you want.”

  “Yeah,” added Maddy. “I can take the afternoon off. Would that help?”

  “That would actually be fantastic. I’ve got a paper I need to turn in today. Then all my finals are finished. I can get here tonight.”

  Maddy moved through the kitchen. “Don’t rush. Whenever you get here is fine.”

  As the roommates scattered, Jacob wondered why Aviva’s parents weren’t involved in this equation. If he lay injured, his mother would set up base camp next to his bed. She’d refuse to leave until she was satisfied he was completely back to normal. He shook his head at the image of his mother dressed like a drill sergeant flashed. On second thought, maybe her parents were onto something.

  Jacob worked out the day’s schedule in his head. He’d have a lot of catch-up today, but he could do it if he put his mind to it. He poured a cup of coffee for Aviva and returned to her bedroom. She stirred. When he closed the door behind him, she woke.

  “Hi,” she said. Her voice sounded like a screechy door.

  “How do you feel?”

  She moved with care, adjusting into a sitting position. “I think I’ll live.”