Breathe

by Abbi Glines

  I laughed, and Jax gave me one last sexy grin before walking out the door to get my friends.

  Ms. Mary entered first with the anxious frown of a worried mother on her face. “Oh, Sadie, honey, I am so glad to see those eyes. Girl, you have given me the scare of my life. Lord, if I had known things were so bad I would have done something.” She touched my hand, leaned down, and kissed my forehead.

  “I’m fine now. How’s Sam?”

  She smiled and sat down beside me in the chair Jax had been in earlier. “He is wonderful. I started him on some rice cereal, and he is sleeping all night long now. He is such a happy baby.”

  “Thank you, so much. I don’t have to worry about him when I know he is with you. It means a lot that you’re taking care of him.” Tears stung my eyes.

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way. Sadie, honey, you’re my family now too. I love you just like I do my own kids. Don’t you go thanking me for nothing.”

  At her words, the tears spilled over. I had a family now. It had always been me and Jessica against the world, but now I had others to love and who loved me back.

  “Oh, lordy, if Master Jax catches you crying, he is gonna shoo me out of here for good. Stop that now. You got Marcus outside with Jax, and the way they are glaring at each other, it won’t be long before we have a fight on our hands. I’m gonna go.” She squeezed my hand. “I’m so happy you came back to us, sweetie. You’re very loved.” She turned to leave.

  “Ms. Mary.”

  She stopped and said, “Yes, honey?”

  I smiled through my tears. “I love you too.”

  She sniffed and wiped a tear from her eye. “I know you do, girl, I know you do.” She walked out of the room.

  Jax stepped back inside and frowned at me, concerned. “Are you all right? Ms. Mary is crying, and so are you.” He came over and wiped the tears from my face.

  I smiled through them. “These are happy tears. Now stop fussing over me and let Marcus in.”

  Jax nodded, but didn’t smile, and went back into the hallway.

  Marcus came in with a fierce frown on his face. “I swear, Sadie, if you ever scare me like that again, I’m not sure I can live through it.”

  I grinned. “I don’t intend to ever scare anyone like this again.”

  He managed a smile and sat down beside me. “I didn’t get to come in here but once while you were um...out of it.... Jax refused to leave your side, and they only allowed one at a time. However, Jax let me in once, but he didn’t leave, he kept sitting in the seat over there playing his guitar and singing. I swear, he has every woman in this hospital in love with him.”

  He rolled his eyes, and I laughed. “Don’t let it get to you, Marcus. He is a rock star. They would have been in love with him even if he hadn’t sung to me.”

  Marcus sighed and leaned back in the chair. “I don’t know, Sadie. I’m a guy, and I will be honest with you, seeing someone like him in a corner of a hospital room, playing love song after love song and refusing to leave your side, was pretty touching. I’ve managed to let go of most of my resentment towards him.”

  I pictured Jax singing to me, and I wished I had been awake to watch him. “I love him,” I whispered.

  Marcus nodded. “I know you do. You have loved him about as long as I have known you. It’s something I have come to grips with. I never stood a chance. He stole your heart first.”

  I smiled sadly at the friend I would also always love. He had been my knight in shining armor when I needed one.

  “I love you too,” I said, almost without choking up.

  He smiled at me. “I know you do. Just not the way you love him.”

  “You’re the best friend I have ever had, Marcus. You have been there for me when I needed someone the most. I will never forget that. But he stole my breath away the moment we first spoke. He’s my air.”

  Marcus stared down at the floor for a moment, and I gave him time. Finally, he looked back up at me. “I used to think he didn’t deserve your love, but now I think he may just be as in love with you as you are with him. I want you to be happy, and if he makes you happy, then that’s all that matters.”

  “He affects all my emotions. My happiness is connected to him.”

  Marcus nodded and stood up. “Yeah, I figured as much.” He glanced at the door. “He is going to come bursting in here any minute and make me go back to disliking him, so I had better leave before that happens.”

  I laughed. “Okay, thank you for everything.”

  Marcus smiled. “It was my pleasure.” He left the room.

  I knew he would always be there when I needed him, but in a way, I had just set him free.

  Jax stepped back in the room, smiling at me. “Can you try to eat something?”

  I thought about food, and, suddenly, I was very hungry. I nodded. “Yes, I think so.”

  He broke out into a very happy grin, opened the door, and signaled for a nurse. “She wants food.”

  The nurse stuck her head and smiled. “You ready to try some Jello?”

  Jello was not what I had been thinking, but apparently I had to start somewhere. “Yes, please.”

  She nodded and stepped back out of the room. Jax picked up his guitar from the corner and sat down and began to play. He smiled, and the smooth voice that had made him famous joined the guitar.

  * * *

  Chapter Twenty

  I spent another week in the hospital, but I didn’t mind it. Having Jax with me all day long made the days go by quicker. Once they allowed more visitors, Mr. Greg came, and we played chess. He let me win, and he didn’t realize I knew what he was doing. I spoke with Jessica on the phone several times, and she seemed happy and more like herself. She also desperately wanted to see Sam. She was really having a hard time dealing with what she’d done to him. Jax assured me she would be getting help for her guilt as well. Ms. Mary brought me chicken fingers and mashed potatoes and apple pie, which came as a wonderful relief from the hospital food. Jax continued to sing to me. The nurses peeked in the door and sighed at the sight of him. I understood. The guy I loved also happened to be the world’s heartthrob. I had accepted it.

  Jax refused to let me go back to my apartment, and Ms. Mary refused to let Jax take me home with him. So I ended up going home with Ms. Mary. I was anxious to see Sam. He had managed to wedge his little self deep inside my heart. I had to keep reminding myself the roll I played in his life every time I began to think about his future and worry over things that were not my place to worry about. Holding him again and letting his chubby, little fingers curl tightly around my finger made everything seem right.

  Jax sat down beside me on Ms. Mary’s couch and looked down at Sam. “He’s a cute kid. He has your eyes.”

  I smiled up at Jax and nodded. “Apparently, Jessica has really strong genes.”

  Jax touched Sam’s nose gently. “Well, fella, you’re going to be one of the prettiest guys I have ever seen, then.”

  I laughed, and so did Ms. Mary.

  “All right, you’ve seen him, now, you need to say your goodbyes to Jax and get some rest.” She stared at Jax.

  “You’ve been with her for two weeks straight. She needs a break.”

  I started to argue, and Jax shook his head. “No, she’s right. You need some rest. Monday you will be able to go back to school, and I want you rested up before then.”

  I didn’t think I could be any more rested. I’d been in a bed for two weeks. “Okay, fine,” I muttered and sank back against the couch.

  Jax chuckled and leaned down to kiss my forehead. “I have cancelled two concerts on my tour, and I need to go get them rescheduled. I won’t stay gone long. I just need to go home and deal with the thousand phone calls I have put off.”

  I didn’t want him to leave, but I knew he had given up everything to stay by my side the past two weeks. “All right.” I forced a smile.

  He sighed. “Come on, Sadie, don’t look like that. You’re making this so hard. You have school o
n Monday, and I am going to have to be on a plane to New York by tomorrow evening.”

  I knew this. We had already talked about his schedule the next few months. I was not going to make this any harder. I had sworn to myself to make things as easy as possible for him.

  “I know, you’re right. I won’t sulk anymore, I promise.”

  He laughed, leaned down, and kissed my lips this time. I instantly responded, and he moaned and broke the kiss.

  “Come on, don’t do that to me in Ms. Mary’s house. I will get all the blame if she catches us.”

  I grinned. “Sorry.”

  He raised his eyebrows and smirked. “Sure you are.”

  He stood up and walked toward the door where he stopped and said, “I am going to be back as soon as I can. In the mean time, sleep, so when I get back we can talk without Ms. Mary breathing down my neck.”

  I nodded, and he blew me a kiss, turned, and continued out the door.

  Our last day together went fast. Before I knew it, Jax was gone again, and I was getting ready to go back to high school.

  I woke before the sun came up and took a shower. Facing high school after being with Jax so much was depressing. By the time I dressed and made it to the kitchen, Ms. Mary had a plate of pancakes and bacon on the table.

  “You got up early enough. What’s taking you so long? Come eat this before it gets cold.”

  I had never had a hot breakfast made for me before I went to school. I couldn’t help but smile at her through my sadness. “Thank you, Ms. Mary. I’m sorry it took me so long.”

  I didn’t elaborate, and she turned from washing the dishes in the sink and put a soapy hand on her hip. “Now, I know you miss that boy. I can completely understand it. However, you’ve done promised him you’d enjoy your last year in high school, and you ain’t gonna be able to do that if you’re moping around.” Her Aunt Bee frown was back, and I nodded.

  “You’re right, of course. I have so much to be happy about. Starting with you.”

  Her cheeks blushed and she waved her soapy hand at me. “Oh, you, goin’ and saying stuff like that. You’re special, girl, ain’t no doubt about it.”

  She turned around and finished washing dishes. I ate as much of my breakfast as I could and took it over to the sink.

  “Now, you go on and have a good day.”

  I nodded and grabbed my book bag. Sam let out a cry, and I walked over to him, bent down, and kissed his sweet little bald head.

  “You be good for Ms. Mary, squirt. I’ll see you after school.”

  His fat arms slapped at the air, and he kicked his feet. It was his favorite pastime. I walked into the kitchen and waved on my way out the door.

  Kane stood leaning against the Hummer. When he saw me, he glanced down at his watch as if I was late. I had stopped moving, confused as to his presence here. It was then that my phone rang. I reached into my pocket and pulled it out.

  “Hello?”

  “Good morning, beautiful. Now, I want you to do me a favor and go get into the vehicle for Kane. Do not argue with me. I happen to have doctors orders that you are not to ride your bicycle for at least another two months.”

  I stood staring at the now grinning Kane. “Doctor’s orders, huh? You wouldn’t happened to have paid the doctor for the orders would you?” I challenged.

  He chuckled. “Never, now go get in that Hummer before Kane does what he was instructed to do.”

  I froze and stared at the giant in front of me. “What were his instructions?”

  “To get you in that vehicle no matter what,” he countered.

  I grinned, shrugged in defeat, and walked to the Hummer. Kane opened the door, and I had to take his hand to step up into it. “Okay, Rock Star, I’m in your Hummer.”

  “Thank you.”

  I had been expecting him to gloat, so his simple thank you made my heart flutter. “You’re welcome.”

  “I miss you,” he said softly.

  “I miss you too.”

  “I have a concert Thursday night, and then one on Saturday, but after that, I am coming home to you for Sunday at least.”

  “I’ll be waiting.”

  “Have fun at school today for me, please. Remember, you’re experiencing high school for both of us.”

  I sighed. “I’ll keep that in mind when I am being picked on in the halls and eating bad cafeteria food.”

  He chuckled, and then his voice got very serious. “If anyone picks on you threaten them with me.”

  This time I laughed. “Sure thing, that will help me fit in real nicely.”

  “I love you, Sadie.”

  My heart still raced when he said those words. “I love you too.”

  “I am going to let you go because Kane should be pulling up at school.”

  I glanced outside the window and realized he was right. “Yes, he just stopped. Bye, have a good day.”

  “You, too, bye.”

  I pressed end on the phone and sighed. I reached for my backpack as Kane opened my door.

  Smiling at him, I said, “Thank you, Kane.”

  He nodded, and I could have sworn I saw him smile. I headed for my locker. I was going to have tons of makeup work. I needed to empty my book bag so it could hold it all.

  “Sadie, I’m glad you’re back at school. Bum thing that happened.” Dylan McCovey had come up beside me. He glanced back at Kane leaving and grinned. “You sure got a sweeter set of wheels now.”

  I had to try hard not to roll my eyes. Instead, I nodded. “I can’t ride my bike for a while.”

  Dylan laughed. “Yeah, well, I doubt you’re going to be riding your bike again ever. The whole town’s talking about the way Jax Stone sat in your hospital room and sang to you until you came out of your coma. Then he apparently wouldn’t leave you alone for a minute. The boy sounds hooked.”

  I smiled at Dylan’s words, but I didn’t respond. We stepped inside the school building.

  “I have to get to class. See ya later, Dylan,” I called over my shoulder as I walked away from him. I didn’t want to talk about my private life to anyone.

  The moment I stepped into the hallway, people stopped and stared. I wanted to turn around and run back outside. Instead, I forced my feet to walk to my locker. I didn’t make eye contact with anyone, but it didn’t seem to matter. Before

  I got five steps, people began to attack.

  “I’m so glad you’re better, Sadie.”

  “Sadie, is it true Jax Stone was with you in the hospital?”

  “Was that Jax’s Hummer that brought you to school?”

  “Are you living with him?”

  “Is Jax Stone going to move here?”

  I wanted to put my hands over my ears and scream for them all to go away. More voices joined in, and people kept asking questions that I didn’t want to answer since it was none of their business.

  “Move! You all have classes to be at, so I suggest you get to them,” Principal Farmer called over the vultures.

  They moved away, but they all did so reluctantly. I turned back to my locker and got what I needed.

  “Miss White, we are glad you’re back and doing well,” Mr. Farmer said from behind me.

  I turned and smiled at him. “Thank you.”

  He nodded and cleared his throat. “I want you to know, if you need anything or you are having problems like the one I just encountered, you can let me know, and I will fix it. I want your experience here at Sea Breeze High to be a great one.”

  He had never spoken to me before, so his sudden desire to make sure I was happy was strange.

  “Thank you, sir,” I said, despite my confusion.

  “Yes, well, I also want you to know that if your, uh, boyfriend wants to attend any of our functions here, we would love to have him. He is more than welcome.”

  It all made sense to me then, and I wanted to burst out laughing. Mr. Farmer was just as star crazed as everyone else. I didn’t trust myself to speak, so I nodded and headed toward class. I was probably
already late.

  Lunch in the cafeteria was some sort of tomato and pasta mixture that was hard to swallow. I did the best I could, but, after a few bites, I just resigned myself to drink my water. I found Amanda and sat with her. We were surrounded by her friends and people who wanted to know about Jax. I didn’t say much. I managed to ignore most everyone’s questions, and Amanda worked hard to get them to leave me alone.

  “So, who’s ready for Homecoming this Friday night?” Amanda asked trying to get everyone’s mind on something else.

  “I found the cutest dress last week in Mobile,” a girl on the other side of Amanda gushed. Several other girls started talking about their dresses and how they planned to wear their hair. I listened, but didn’t have anything to add to the conversation since I wasn’t going to go.

  “Sadie, are you coming to the game?” Amanda asked me before she bit into her apple.

  I started to say no, but then I remembered my promise to Jax and his wanting me to go to football games. “Um, I don’t know,” I said over my bottle of water.

  Amanda swallowed. “Please come with me. I am going to the dance afterwards with Jeff Garner, but he is on the football team, so I will be dateless during the game.”

  That sounded good to me. I could go to the game and tell Jax and maybe that would satisfy him for a while.

  “Sure sounds good.”

  Amanda beamed. “Great! You can come over to my house after school, and we can play around with those amazing curls I’m so jealous of, and we’ll find a way to style your hair, and then you can help me with my straight as a board head of hair!”

  I frowned. “Um, does it matter how my hair looks for the football game?”

  She grinned and nodded. “Yes, because you’re not going to have time to do anything but change before the dance.”

  “Oh, well I’m not going to the dance, so that isn’t a big deal.”

  Amanda frowned at me. “Why not?”

  Well, because I didn’t want to dance without Jax. I shrugged my shoulders instead of telling her the truth.

  She leaned over and whispered in my ear, “If you want a date, all you have to do is crook your finger and every guy will come running.”