Chapter 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

KATE

T hump, thump, thump.

"Ugh, go away!" I groan from my bed, although it's pointless, given that the person hammering on the other side of my apartment door can definitely not hear me.

Thump, thump, thump.

"I'm sick, so please go away," I croak from under my comforter.

Thump, thump, thump.

Pushing back the cover, I climb out of bed.

This had better not be another delivery to the wrong apartment.

Thump, thump…

"Yes, okay!" I shout, but this time, I'm close enough so they can hear. I have no idea who's on the other side of that door, but whoever it is deserves to witness whatever state I'm in just for dragging me out of my bed. It might be two in the afternoon, but I haven't eaten anything other than ginger biscuits in days, and I'm just about keeping fluid down.

"Jessie?" Peering through the spy hole, I see him on the other side. His hands are in the pockets of his jeans, and he's looking from side to side down the hallway.

"Hey," I say, pulling the door open.

At the sight of me, his eyes go wide. "Kate, um." He scans my body, but not in an appreciative way, more taking in my mess. "Are you okay?"

"I've been better. Come in."

Once inside, he looks around my apartment, which he's never been to. "I hope you don't mind me saying this, but you don't look great, and your apartment isn't much better."

"Tell me something I don't know." I burp the final word. "I'm assuming Jensen's told you."

He nods. "That's why I'm here, actually. To check on you. He wanted me to make sure you were doing alright, but…" He casts his gaze around my apartment once more and then again on me. "Have you been eating the meals he prepared?"

"What is this?" I say, propping a hand on my hip.

Jessie winces. "He's just worried about you."

"I'm fine." Even I don't believe that anymore.

He makes his way over and into my kitchen. Heading for my freezer, he pulls the door open and then starts counting the meals Jensen left in there. "You haven't had any."

"This is crazy."

"You look dehydrated, Kate, and gray, and your hair is…" He circles his finger in my direction. "You just look like?—"

"Shit?" I finish for him. "Yes, I know, because that's exactly how I feel." Tears well in my eyes. I'm so fucking emotional all the time.

Jessie reaches into his back pocket, pulls out his phone, and begins scrolling.

"What are you doing?"

"I was under strict instruction to let him know how you are, so I'm doing that."

"Jessie…" I drawl.

"I can't lie to him, Kate, and seeing you like this is worrying me too. I think you need medication or something."

Right as he says it, the burning sensation in my chest sends up another wave of acid and I heave, running to my bathroom.

As I sit on the end of the bath, my hand rests on the side of the open toilet, and I feel the tears start to roll down my cheeks. I hear a murmur of a conversation, no doubt between Jessie and Jensen.

After a few minutes, Jessie appears in my doorway. "He's on his way. Who's your doctor?"

"I wish you hadn't called him. I've got this."

"No, Kate, you don't. You need someone to help. You could barely answer the door. How long has it been like this?"

"A couple of days."

He presses his lips together. "My mom was like this with me and my brother."

"You have a brother?"

He doesn't answer but instead grabs the empty water glass off the side and heads into the kitchen to refill it. "Take sips of this and get back into bed. Have you got anything ginger?"

I snort a laugh. "I ran out of the biscuits Felicity gave me. I was going to ask her to bring some more when she's finished at work. They're the only thing I can keep down and seem to help."

He smiles. "Leave it with me."

JENSEN

It took me four hours to get from my mom's living room to where I am now, standing outside Kate's door.

I'm pissed she lied to me, texting me to say she's fine when based on what Jessie told me, she's less than great.

Knocking a couple of times, I wait for her to answer the door. "Hang on," a familiar male voice echoes.

Jessie pulls the door open, and immediately, I'm inside, looking around for her. "Where is she?"

He points through to her bedroom. "In bed, sleeping. I went to the store to grab her some more ginger biscuits. It's the only thing she'll eat. The only thing she can keep down."

"The fuck ?!"

"She's stopped puking now, though, and had some water."

I drag my hands down my face. "I shouldn't have left her."

"You think she's going to let you fawn over her? That girl is shit scary."

Pulling open the freezer door, I count the meals left. "You weren't kidding. She hasn't eaten anything?"

Jessie shakes his head and looks around her apartment. "Never expected this."

"What?"

"I dunno, life? Plants?"

I snort a laugh. "Trust me, my girl's got layers."

"Oh, so you are dating?" He walks over to grab his bag from the couch.

Christ, I wish I could answer that question differently. "Nah. Not yet."

"Not yet?"

Twisting the cap on a bottle of water, I wipe the back of my hand across my mouth. "When she comes to her senses, she'll realize I'm the only guy for her. It's a matter of time."

He eyes me closely. "You sound unhinged. I mean, I thought you liked her, but, wow, you're in deep."

I shrug and take another sip of water. "Some people are made for each other. Our baby confirms it."

"She's it for you?"

"Yep." I throw the empty water bottle in the recycling can.

He scratches the back of his neck. "This can't be new. Why didn't you tell me?"

"What's the point when she's dating another guy and can't stand the sight of me?"

He laughs. "Other than the other guy, I don't think much has changed."

"It has."

"What. Because you slept with her?"

"Nah, because she wants me too. I can feel it."

Shoulders shaking with silent humor, he walks toward the door to leave. "I gotta head out. I've been here way longer than I intended. I'll be back in a couple of weeks."

I pause on obsessing and take a long look at my best friend. "Why do I feel like you're holding out on me now?"

"Like you, there's not much to say. Mom's still struggling, and Dad's never around. It's down to me to care for her."

"Where is he this time?" God, he's a prick, and fuck knows how a man like Jessie Callaghan came from his DNA.

"Probably shacked up with another chick."

"Why doesn't she just leave him? You could set her up with everything she needs."

Jessie blows out a disbelieving breath. "You're kidding, right? They've been married for twenty-five years. She doesn't think she'd be able to cope on her own."

I nod. Families can be a fucking nightmare. I'm so grateful for the one I was blessed with. "Have you spoken to your dad?"

"Ha! I'm more likely to break his jaw than speak to him."

"Yeah, don't do that." Although I totally get why he would.

"I'm gonna head out and finish up packing for Dallas." He nods down the hallway to Kate's room. "Good luck with getting the girl."

I walk over and fist-bump him. "If all else fails, there's always handcuffs. Thanks for checking on her, bro. I owe you."

He pauses halfway out the door. "You're joking, aren't you?"

"Of course I am. It won't come to that. Another few weeks, and she'll be mine."

He shakes his head and walks down the hallway toward the elevators. "Later."

No sooner is the door closed than I'm striding into Kate's bedroom. Lying on her side, she faces me, her hair fluttering from the ceiling fan. How is it even possible to be that goddamn beautiful? I've only been away a couple of nights, but there's no doubt she's more gorgeous than when I left.

I know I shouldn't. I shouldn't climb under the comforter and lie beside her, but fuck it, I'm doing it anyway. How in the hell I manage to get my six-three frame in without waking her, I'll never know. She's fucking exhausted, I know that. Resting my head on her soft white pillow, the raw need to pull her into my chest and never let her or our baby go claws at me, testing every inch of willpower I have. I need to touch her again, need to taste the way she feels on my lips, on my tongue, the way she molds to me.

Conveniently, a piece of hair swirls and sticks to her upper lip, which protrudes just slightly above her lower. It always does, whether she's smiling, laughing, crying, or scowling, the latter being the version I get most often—for now.

Reaching up carefully, I pull the strand of hair away and tuck it behind her right ear. Her eyelids flutter slightly, but she stays perfectly asleep. Everything about her is perfect—even her snarky mouth.

"What is it going to take for you to fall for me?" I whisper the words so quietly I can barely hear them myself, though I've repeated them in my head more times than I can count. "Let me love you both like I know I can."

"I'm gonna need you to eat some of it for me, Princess."

I'm sitting next to Kate, who finally woke up around nine p.m. I watch her push the vegetable stir fry around her plate. "I just don't think I can stomach it."

"What else can I get you? If it continues like this, then we're going to the doctor." Walking the plate through to her kitchen, I pull out my phone and text the boys.

Me

Can someone with a key to my place head over and pack me a bag for at least a week? There's no way I'm leaving her like this.

Like the fine friends they all are, every single member of the group begins typing immediately.

Jon

How is she? Yeah, I can sort it.

Zach

What else do you need? Luna and I are headed to the store in a sec, so we can grab you anything you need.

Jessie

Say the word and it's yours. I don't fly until tomorrow.

Me

Jon, you're probably closest, so makes sense. Zach, I'm good. I just ordered in for me, and Kate has a lifetime supply of those god-awful ginger biscuits, thanks to Jessie.

Jon

I'll be there in an hour.

"Yeah. I think my schedule is free then." Kate's voice filters through to the kitchen.

"Who are you talking to?" As soon as I appear in the doorway, a guilty look crosses her face as she hits end on her work cell. And she thinks I'm insufferable? "Who was that?"

She shrugs. "Margo."

"At…" I check my watch. "Half past nine in the evening you're making work calls?"

She winces. "I didn't realize the time, but I always call her after hours if there's an important meeting coming up. I needed to deal with it now."

"Why not tomorrow, or better yet, when you're better?" I try not to sound like I'm barking orders, but I'm worried she's not putting herself first.

She takes a sip of water. Good. "That would be too late. The meeting's tomorrow."

Not good.

"You really think I'm going to allow you to work tomorrow when you've been this sick?"

She scoffs. "What are you going to do about it? Tie me up?" Her eyes flare at her own suggestion. "Wait, don't answer that. But seriously, you live on the other side of the city. You can't constantly keep me under watch."

Walking around to her side of the bed, I tip my finger under her chin and look her straight in the eyes. "Wanna bet? I'm moving in."