I had been nestled in Jared’s warm arms for twenty minutes when a nurse came out.
“He’s resting now. If you would like to freshen up and come back later, he may be ready for visitors then.”
“But…how is he?” I asked.
“It’s stil early, but he’s young and healthy. I’d say he’s going to recover quite nicely,” she smiled.
We shared a col ective sigh as she wheeled around and disappeared behind the double doors.
“I’m going to head home. Cal me when he wakes up,” Chad said.
“Can I catch a ride with you?” Kim asked. With that, Beth, Kim, Chad and Josh al stood up.
“You’re staying?” Beth asked.
I nodded and stood up to hug her.
“I’l stay with her,” Jared said.
Beth smiled through her fatigue before Chad led her out by the hand.
“You’re exhausted,” Jared said. “I should take you home.”
I shook my head. “I can’t leave him here alone. I almost got him kil ed.”
Jared’s faced twisted when he spoke. “He almost got himself kil ed.”
“He tried to keep them from attacking me!” I said, offended.
“Fat lot of good it did him,” Jared said dismissively, rol ing his eyes.
“I know, Jared. If you hadn’t shown up, Ryan would have bled out and I would have been left handed for the rest of my life, however brief.”
Anger played out across his face and he stood up, stopping just inches from me. “It’s not funny, Nina. You were in serious danger. Ryan should have diffused the situation instead of escalating it. He watches too much television. It’s the ones that try to impress the girl who end up.…”
“He didn’t do that to impress me!”
“His feelings for you clouded his judgment. He tried to be a hero….and here you are, feeling guilty.”
“You’re jealous?” I said, incredulous.
Jared’s rigid posture in the car replayed in my head. I was too worried to think about it at the time, but it made sense. He had mistaken my actions for intimacy. He thought Ryan and I were more than friends.
Jared rol ed his eyes. “If I were jealous, it wouldn’t be for that. I’m used to seeing you with someone else. It’s just a matter of enduring it, now.”
My eyes narrowed in suspicion. “What do you mean you’re used to it?”
Jared didn’t answer right away. He heaved an exasperated sigh and his jaws tensed.
“I just meant from before. I’ve had to see you with him before.”
“With Ryan?”
“Yes. At the pub, remember?” Jared eyes wandered everywhere but into mine.
“I remember,” I said, stil unconvinced.
He took my hand and worry shadowed his face. “I’m glad you’re okay. For a moment I thought I wouldn’t get there in time.”
“Was your judgment clouded?” I said acerbical y, stil incensed that he had snubbed Ryan’s bravery.
“Something like that,” he glowered, looking away from me.
“You’re not going to tel me the truth, are you?” I pul ed my hand from his and crossed my arms.
Jared’s head snapped back, and his eyes glared into mine. “And what truth would that be?”
“You know what I’m talking about. You took down four men—on your own—like they were little girls. The incomparable sense of timing you seem to have, the knowing where I am al the time….”
“I don’t know where you are al the time…and my sense of timing tonight was almost nonexistent.”
“Are you going to be honest with me or not?” I stood there for a moment, and when Jared seemed to deliberate, I walked back to the couch.
Jared sighed in resignation and then sat beside me. “I wanted to kiss you the other night. I knew that you were upset. I wanted to comfort you and I ended up just hurting you more.” He winced. “That wasn’t my intention, Nina. I would’ve given anything to lean into that kiss. It’s just…complicated.”
“You knew that I was upset?”
He looked down and sighed.
“Jared?” He looked up at me. “What do you want from me?” I asked, exasperated.
He didn’t look up. “I want you to be safe. I want you to be happy. I’m figuring out the rest.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
His head snapped up. “Okay?” he said, searching my eyes.
“Okay,” I shrugged.
Jared’s face was just a short distance from mine, so close that I could feel his warm breath gently blowing against my cheek. He stared at my lips, but I didn’t dare move for fear he would pul back and I would have to suffer humiliation al over again. I took in a breath and he looked into my eyes.
He leaned closer to me an infinitesimal amount, and his phone buzzed. We both heaved out a sigh and he leaned back to retrieve his phone.
“Ryel,” he snapped. I heard a quick chattering on the line, and then he clicked his phone closed, shaking his head. “I have to go.”
“It’s okay,” I smiled.
He kissed my forehead, and the warmth of his lips blazed into my skin.
“See you around,” he said, walking to the doorway.
“Jared?” I blurted out, scrambling to my feet. He turned to face me and I smiled. “Thank you. Thank you so much. For everything.”