Page 26 of Jase

My eyes closed while minutes passed. I tossed and turned, fighting what I knew I couldn’t face. Biting down, my teeth clenched, and I lifted my good hand above my head. Tears were automatic, but so was something else. Not quite peace, but an odd, warped comfort I couldn’t deny. I gripped one of the bars of my headboard, squeezing until I didn’t have the strength to fight. Until I was asleep.

Chapter 11

Jase

Pink. For too many days to count, all I saw was pink. The post-it she’d used to separate us was still sticking strong, and aside from a few good mornings or good nights, Kody was keeping to herself. Maybe she thought I was gone. I hadn’t replied back to her. Not that I didn’t want to. I just thought if she assumed I was gone, she’d take down the damn post-it. It didn’t matter though. I still got to watch her sleep. There was solace in that. There was also pain. Curiosity.Lust.

“I’m better. Look, the colors are fading a little. I can wear makeup. Come on, Tiff, help me out.”

“Help? Girl.”

“Don’t girl me. I’m better now.”

“You’re not. You’re just bored. We both know you’re not ready to go back to work.”

I listened, annoyed I didn’t get to watch their conversation. My life was visual. I was a creator. Everything I did, I brought to life on the screen. The one thing I wanted to see, I couldn’t. How was I to know how Kody truly was, if I couldn’t see her? Sure, there was sleeping, and she did plenty of that, but I needed more. I wanted to see her again.

“Talk to Greg, please. Try to explain to him that I need this. I can even work from home. I told him that. Just…give me something to do.”

“You know that’s not possible, Kody.”

“I know.”She grunted.

“What about movies? Have you checked out any of the new series I told you about?”

“Not yet. You know I’ve never been much into TV.”

“What about books?”

Kody made another sound.“I’ve tried a few. Nothing is really keeping my attention. What…do you know about social media? Is it worth all the hype?”

“I think so. I enjoy it.”The friend got quiet, only to continue.“Are you thinking about opening an account somewhere?”

“I don’t know. Probably not. It just crossed my mind.”

“You should do it. I think it’ll be good for you. If anything, it’ll give you stuff to look at. There’s all sorts of sites available.”

“Ones with groups?”

The friend laughed.“For sure. Which sort of groups are you thinking about joining? Ooh! Wait. I have the perfect site for you.”

Footsteps sounded, only for color to flood my screen. Kody’s living room was back, and my girl was frowning from her sofa. Hell, she was looking right at me with her lips slightly puckered in disapproval.

“Kody, what’s this? Were you covering your webcam?”

“What? No. Yes…I’m weird about that stuff now, I guess. I’ve had too much time to think.”

“I’d say.”The friend laughed, pulling up the web browser. The moment she typed in the address, I couldn’t help but smile.“You2 is the best thing out. It has everything you can think of. Let’s open you an account, and then you can add me as a friend.”

“What will that do?”

Tiffany looked over her shoulder.“We really should have got you set up years ago. You have so much to learn.” She turned back, clicking the button to open an account. Her fingers moved fast, filling out the blanks.“As friends, you can see my posts, and I’ll be able to see yours. You can do as many as you want a day. Every minute if you feel like it. They’re like updates. You can post pictures, videos. You can even post about the books you’re reading. I bet there’s some great local groups you can join for that.”

“Like book clubs?”

“Exactly.”

Kody moved in closer, genuinely looking more intrigued.