Page 27

Chapter 27

Mikey

I tried to be quiet coming in Wednesday night. It was almost midnight, and Jessie would have been long asleep if she wasn’t having an insomnia episode.

The smell coming from Cole’s apartment was pretty foul, but luckily it didn’t leak into my bedroom too bad.

I was disappointed to find my bed empty. Part of me wished Jessie would have been there waiting for me. I’d gotten so used to my strange bedfellow that it looked sad without her there.

I moped while I brushed my teeth. We were just faking. I didn’t deserve her in my bed.

That didn’t mean I didn’t want her there. Selfishly, all I wanted was her warm, soft skin against mine after the long road trip. Her sweet peachy scent. The ultimate welcome home.

Unlike when she shared my bed, I just got down to my underwear, too bummed out to even jack off. I got in bed and turned out the light, almost instantly conking out in a mixture of loneliness and self-loathing.

* * *

A loud boom startled me from sleep. I struggled to orient myself in the dark. That happened sometimes after road trips.

Then a flash of light illuminated my room around the blackout shades. A muffled cry came from across the hall.

Oh God. Jessie.

I bolted out of bed and ran for my door, throwing it open and tearing across the hall to Jessie’s door. I didn’t bother knocking, pushing my way into her room. She sat curled into her grandma’s chair, her face streaked with tears and Yarn Wad around her neck. Her blinds were open, her gaze fixed on the storm. She had her phone in her hand, the weather radar continually cycling. I went straight for her, another boom shaking the windows and making her jump. I knelt in front of her, wrapping my arms around her trembling frame.

I kissed her cheek, the salt of her tears staining my lips. “You’re coming with me. Come on, hon.”

She nodded and stood as I did, letting me guide her into my room. I walked to her side of the bed and pulled down the sheets, fluffing a pillow for her. I kept a hand on her through everything. She didn’t seem to want to let me get too far away. “You’re okay, honey.”

Before she could get in the sheets, she clung to me, pressing her forehead to my bare chest. It took me that long to realize I had my mitts all over her while I was just in my underwear. It was irrelevant. She needed me. I held her tight to me, peppering the top of her head with kisses. She still hadn’t said anything even though she wasn’t dreaming. Her whole body shook. I hated that she was going through this, and I hated even more that she hadn’t come to get me when she was scared.

“Let’s get you in bed.”

I tucked her in and climbed over her to get on my side, sliding into the sheets next to her. I turned her to face me in the dark. “Always come get me, honey. You belong in here. You hear me? You don’t sit in there and suffer alone. Not for storms, not for anything. You come to me.”

Jessie’s voice was quiet and broken. “Okay.”

I had my hand on her shoulder, rubbing my thumb over the muscle and bone. “Get over here, Sweet Cheeks.”

“But you’re... naked.”

I chuckled. “I have on undies. I can put on a shirt if that’ll help.”

Thunder rumbled, and the sheets rustled from her quivering.

“C’mere, Jessie Girl. I’ve got you.”

She rested her head on my chest and I put my arm around her shoulders. I patted her arm with my other hand.

“This is embarrassing,” she said between sobs.

“Never, Jessie. It’s just me. You’re always safe with me.”

“Thanks, Benny,” she whispered.

There was more lightning and thunder. I reminded her that I was with her and that I had her. I rubbed her back, and kissed her hair, and hummed to soothe her.

When the storm slowed, she spoke again. “I’m glad you’re home.”

I was so thrilled and touched that I almost felt like crying. I dipped to put a soft kiss on the tip of her nose, and another on her forehead, then pulled her in tighter. “Me too, hon.”

And then we were asleep.

In the morning, Yarn Wad was on my pillow, proving it hadn’t all been a dream.