Page 56 of Heartless

Maybe just a hug and Ibuprofen.Ibuprofenthenhug.

I sensed Jake’s presence in the hallway before I saw him.Since he was taller than me, avoiding his eyes had been easy.All I had to do was keep my eyes half-mast, which wouldn’t be a problem today.

Every time you look at me, you do it with his eyes.

The wayward thought lashed through my shaky body, making the back of my throat burn.Today wasn’t a good day for these thoughts.Today, I couldn’t stop them.

Shitty blowjob.

A wave of renewed humiliation knotted my chest, and prickles of tears stung my nose.Focus on the hug, Sienna.Camila’s big, loving hug.My heart was drumming in my head.Just a few more steps.

A rectangle, flat box appeared in my line of vision a couple of feet ahead, and I sucked in a trembling breath.Now, I would have to let go of the wall to walk around it.

“Hi, Jake.”

God, was that my voice?

My heavy head spun, and I closed my eyes.I reopened them on big, black boots.

The warmth of Jake’s body was like a magnet, but I resisted it and stood as still as I could.He wasn’t moving.Maybe he hadn’t heard me.

“Good morn—”

“Sienna, what’s wrong?Baby, look at me.”Even his voice was warm.

“I’m okay.I just need Camila’s hug,” I croaked.And a whole bottle of Ibuprofen.

Strong fingers gently curled under my chin and pressed up.

“Fuck,” he muttered.Then his voice boomed, bringing shards of pain in my skull.“Cam, come here!”

My warm hug’s voice rose in the hallway.“What’s wrong?”

“Get the pharmacy box.She’s burning up.”

He was wrong, I was freezing.

Then, I was up, enveloped in strong arms and held against a solid wall of chest.

A warm chest.I needed more warmth.I pushed my face against his neck and looped my arms around warm skin.My body rocked as it was carried back to my room where Jake sat on my bed and settled me on his lap.Camila’s perfume drifted close.I shifted my sore body to reach for my hug, but my arms weighed a ton.

Her cool hand touched my forehead.“My sweet girl.”She frowned.“Jake, she needs a doctor.”

The light in my room was too bright, so I focused on her blurry, worried gaze.“Just...sleep.”

Before I closed my heavy lids, the room was plunged into darkness and Camila tiptoed out of the room.Two pills were placed in my palm, and a bottle of water was pushed into my other hand.

“Take these, baby.”

I did while his arms cradled me close.After I was laid down on soft sheets, the warmth of his body started moving away.

Twisting my fist in the material of his t-shirt, I held on.“No...please.Cold.I ...I’ll close my eyes...I’ll—”

The warmth came back and wrapped all around me.“Shh.I’m not going anywhere.Just rest, baby.”

I twined my arms and legs around him while pressing deeper against warm skin.

And I wasn’t cold anymore.