Page 73 of Bad Medicine

The space was cozy, and warm, and everything I would have expected a boy with a loving mother to provide for him, and in that moment, I felt a burning pride in my chest for who Mia was as a person. She had accomplished so much against such massive odds, and still, she had nothing but love in her heart for her kid.

She was the kind of mom I had always dreamed about having, and I hoped Jasper knew how lucky he was.

When I reached the side of the little bed, Jasper was already pretty well situated, with his head on the pillow and the blankets pulled up.

“So, what do I need to do?” I asked, not seeing anything that required my help.

“You just...tuck.” He shrugged, grabbing the blanket with one hand and moving it around under his chin.

“Just like that?” I asked, and he nodded. “Alright. You’re the boss.” Reaching out with both hands, I took hold of the blanket and give it a little wiggle, watching in wonder as Jasper seemed to completely relax under my ministrations. His eyes closed and a look of utter contentment came over his face, as if this simple act was the key to a good night’s sleep for him.

It was an incredible thing to witness.

When I was done and the blanket was sufficiently tucked, I stood up, watching the slow rise and fall of Jasper’s chest as he settled back into sleep, feeling myself fall deeper with each breath he took.

As I turned for the door, Jasper said quietly, “Night, Rocco,” and my fuckin’ heart kicked over.

Grabbing my phone once more, I fired off a couple of text messages to Lexi, knowing she was probably awake somewhere, and she’d get me all the things I was looking for.

Because as of right now, this incredible woman and her sweet son were never gonna want for anything again.

Chapter thirty-three

Rocco

“Knock,knock.”

I spun from the coffeemaker at the voice calling from the front door, reaching for my piece—which I’d left in the bedroom like an idiot—before I registered that it was a woman’s voice, so less likely to be a threat.

Usually.

“Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes,” the older lady drawled, her eyes shamelessly raking over my shirtless form, tapping a finger on her pursed lips as she did so.

“I assume you’re the neighbor,” I said with a smirk, pulling another mug from the dish rack and filling it for her. I couldn’t remember her name, but I knew Mia and Jasper adored her.

“That I am,” she replied, taking the cup with a smile and heading to the fridge for milk, helping herself like she owned the place. “And I guess I can assume you’re the reason the walls were shaking last night?” She winked at me, her eyes bright with mischief. “I gotta say, it’s been so long for me, listening to you two was almost as good as the real thing.”

I choked on my coffee, dribbling the hot liquid down my chest with a sputter, and the woman cackled.

Before I could respond, Jasper came flying down the stairs, his little feet somehow sounding like an entire herd of elephants instead of one small boy.

“Hi, Linny. I’m ready!” he called, racing over to Linny and throwing himself at her legs.

“Oof!” she huffed, holding her coffee mug out and away to avoid spilling. “I swear you get bigger every single day.”

“Dat’s because I do, silly!”

Their playful conversation was cut off by the sound of Mia shouting from upstairs.

“Holy smokes! I slept in.” Then she, too, came barreling down the stairs, just as loudly as her son had, hair disheveled and a pink cotton robe wrapped around her haphazardly. Flustered, Mia dashed for the fridge and yanked it open. “I’m so sorry, Lin. I’ll just feed Jasper real quick and then you guys can go.”

“I already ate,” Jasper said helpfully. “And brushed my teeth.”

Mia stared at him, puzzled. “You did?”

“Yup.”

“What...what did you eat, Jasper?”