Chapter 13

JAX

I answerthe door and some dude wearing headphones nods at me, then hands me a bag. Before I can ask him if this is what I ordered, he points at me, turns, and jogs off.

I peek into the bag.

After shutting and locking the door I walk to Willow's room.

She's forcing herself to sit up in her bed, shaking her head. "I can't do this, Jax. I can't be sick."

"Damn, Willow, you are pathetic right now."

"Hey. Fuck you."

"We tried that… or we were going to try that… didn't work…"

"Yeah. I feel like hell and you won't sleep with me. Way to kick someone when they're down."

"Want me to whisper in your ear what I would do to you?" I ask.

"No. It's weird now. We're… friends…?"

"Friends still fuck. I think we're just… this."

"Tell me it's not because I'm sick and ugly."

I stand at the side of the bed. "Ugly? Not even close, Willow. You're pretty as fuck."

"Pretty as fuck," she nods. "Okay. I'll take that."

"And you're going to take this too," I say as I reach into the bag. "Ordered you some cold medicine. The good stuff that will knock you on your ass. You're not allergic to anything, are you?"

"Just decent guys," she says and giggles.

"Lame joke. I'll blame it on the sickness. I have something else arriving any minute too."

"Oh?"

"Soup. Got to have soup when you're sick."

"Soup…" She smiles.

"What?" I ask.

"Nothing, Jax."

"Confess. You're sick. Whatever you say doesn't count."

"Okay. Fair enough. You're a big hockey player. Like physically big. You look mean. You act mean. You need a tutor because you don't care about anything but hockey. You're almost like this old soul. This grumpy old soul. Yet the second you see me sick you want to help me. Now, granted, you saw me vulnerable and debated making a move. Which I appreciate. But you're taking care of me. Medicine. Soup. Like… really?"

"Maybe I'm just secretly a nice guy," I say. "And I want you to feel better." I lean down closer to Willow. "Or maybe I'm just a selfish prick and I need you alive and healthy to tutor me so I can get everyone off my back. I guess you'll never know."

Willow shakes her head. "Damn you."

There's another knock at the door.

This time it's a woman holding two bags.

Lots of soup. Lots of crackers.

I thank her and I repeat the same move as before…

Shut the door. Lock the door. Go to Willow's room.

She has a point about me. This really isn't like me. To be a caretaker.

"There's no other choice of soup when you're sick," I say to Willow.

"Ut-oh…"

I take the large container out of the bag and take off the lid.

Willow looks and groans. Like a legit orgasmic groan.

"Is that chicken noodle?"

"That's right," I say. "That's all you need when you're sick. Well, that and some medicine."

I leave the lid off the soup and I open the medicine.

I pour the dark green, syrupy liquid into a small cup and hand it to Willow.

She throws it back like a shot of whiskey.

Even here… like this… watching her neck… her throat… I want to be turned on by her but I'm not. And it's not against her at all. Honestly. Willow is beautiful. I just don't think of her like that. I'm not sure I've ever had this happen before.

"Okay," Willow says. "That tasted awful. I need water. Then soup."

I hand her a bottle of water.

She takes a big drink.

I pick up the soup and as I turn to switch out the bottle of water with the soup, Willow smacks the water bottle against the soup.

It's by accident, but the splash of chick noodle soup that hits my chest… doesn't feel that great.

"Sorry!" Willow cries out.

I quickly put the soup down and I grab the bottom of my shirt and take it off.

The intense heat instantly goes away, which is good.

"Jax, are you okay?" Willow asks.

"That's a creative way to get me shirtless," I say with a wink.

"Are you okay? Answer me."

"I'm fine. Just my shirt. No worries. I'm going to pick up the soup again. Please don't punch it."

Willow puts her hands up in the air.

"You need to take the soup from me," I say. "I'm not feeding you. That's where I draw the line here with being nice."

"What if my arms were broken?"

"Both of them?"

Willow nods.

"If both of your arms were broken at the same time, having soup would be the least of your problems."

Willow sighs.

I hand her the soup.

Next thing I know, I'm offering to break up crackers into the soup for her.

All this work for a girl I'm not going to fool around with.

"I have some stuff out on the table for you to study," Willow says. "If you feel like it."

"Oh, sure. I'll get right on that. Can't wait to sit and study."

"You need to get the work done, Jax."

"And I will. When you're back on your feet. So you can tutor me."

"You don't even really need a tutor."

"Just enjoy your soup."

Willow smiles. "I think the medicine is kicking in. I feel… good."

"That's good. Eat. And then doze off. Okay?"

"I will. Thank you, Jax."

"No worries, Willow."

I tossed my shirt over my shoulder and moved toward her bedroom door.

"Hey, Jax," Willow calls out.

"Yeah?"

"You look really good without a shirt on."

"I'm going to assume that's the medicine talking."

"Even if it is, it's the truth."

I smile. "Enjoy your soup and some sleep."

I hear a noise as I step out of the bedroom.

Willow's dorm room door opens.

I'm standing there, shirtless.

Wondering who is showing up right now…

Mila is here.