to be in the restroom before he could see me get sick. Well, thanks for small favors, I barely made it to the first stall before I lost what little there was in my stomach. Once that passed, I sat on the floor with a cold, wet paper towel pressed against my face, hoping my stomach would settle. After about ten minutes, I heard the bathroom door open, and a female called my name.
“Lainie? Are you in here?”
“Yeah,” I croaked as I tried to get to my feet. I leaned heavily on my cane so I could make my way to the sinks.
“You okay, hon? There’s a terribly worried guy waiting for you outside.” She looked me up and down, noticing my pallor. “I’ll let him know you’ll be a few minutes. Can I get you anything?”
“No, thanks.” I tried to smile but didn’t quite make it happen. “I’ll be ready in a minute. Just a little motion sickness.”
I heard the door shut as she left, and I sank back down to the floor completely exhausted, and I rested my head on my good knee.
“Hey, Lainie.” I looked up and saw Jax standing over me. “You okay?”
I sat up straighter. “Yes, I’ll have myself together in a minute. Everything just hit me all at once.” I couldn’t help the tear that escaped and ran down my face.
He bent down and wiped it away as he reached down and swooped me up in his arms and carried me out of the restroom. “Thanks for checking on her. I really appreciate it,” he said to the woman outside the door. “Lainie, how about a soda? Maybe that will help. The sugar should give you a bit of energy. I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to eat much now, but we’ll stop for something after your stomach settles, okay?” I nodded yes, and he went to the vending machines after checking that he had enough change.
When he got back, I saw the bags under his eyes. He must be exhausted.
“Thanks, Jax. I’m sorry to be such a pain in the neck.”
“Why don’t you try to get some sleep and we’ll stop for breakfast in a couple hours.” He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a package of crackers. “These should help.” He bent down and pulled me into a hug, whispering in my ear, “I’ll do anything to keep you safe, Lainie. Never forget that.”
Without another word, we resumed our flight westward.
Jax
Watching her go through this was killing me. The anguish on her face when she thought I wasn’t looking hurt me to the core. Until the other day, I hadn’t seen her for ten years, but now it was as if those ten years disappeared into ten minutes. Her situation tore at my gut, making me want to pull her to me and never let go. I needed to figure out if this was just unresolved feelings from back then or if they were real adult ones. Once we get to the cabin and rest for a couple of days, we’re going to sit down and discuss everything.
Well, the crackers and soda seemed to have done the trick. Her color was better, and she appeared more relaxed. I couldn’t imagine what the last ten years had been like for her. Every day worrying that Keith would get out and come after her. I reached over and held her hand, feeling the same old spark every time I touched her. I don’t think she knows how her touch affects me. It’s even stronger now than it was all those years ago. How can that be? Falling for this damsel in distress seems to have become a habit with me. But what if it’s just my desire to save the world, one girl at a time?
Chapter 8
Lainie
Sitting on the bed in a hotel who knows where, I was propped up against the headboard with a notebook on my lap. The idea of keeping a journal of our journey was a good one, maybe it would help me remember that this was real. Jax was asleep next to me on the bed, his hair falling over his forehead. My fingers itched to brush it back. I wondered if it felt the same.
First journal entry: The last two days have been exhausting and stressful for both of us. I saw how the long hours of driving wore Jax down. My driving
“Lainie? Are you in here?”
“Yeah,” I croaked as I tried to get to my feet. I leaned heavily on my cane so I could make my way to the sinks.
“You okay, hon? There’s a terribly worried guy waiting for you outside.” She looked me up and down, noticing my pallor. “I’ll let him know you’ll be a few minutes. Can I get you anything?”
“No, thanks.” I tried to smile but didn’t quite make it happen. “I’ll be ready in a minute. Just a little motion sickness.”
I heard the door shut as she left, and I sank back down to the floor completely exhausted, and I rested my head on my good knee.
“Hey, Lainie.” I looked up and saw Jax standing over me. “You okay?”
I sat up straighter. “Yes, I’ll have myself together in a minute. Everything just hit me all at once.” I couldn’t help the tear that escaped and ran down my face.
He bent down and wiped it away as he reached down and swooped me up in his arms and carried me out of the restroom. “Thanks for checking on her. I really appreciate it,” he said to the woman outside the door. “Lainie, how about a soda? Maybe that will help. The sugar should give you a bit of energy. I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to eat much now, but we’ll stop for something after your stomach settles, okay?” I nodded yes, and he went to the vending machines after checking that he had enough change.
When he got back, I saw the bags under his eyes. He must be exhausted.
“Thanks, Jax. I’m sorry to be such a pain in the neck.”
“Why don’t you try to get some sleep and we’ll stop for breakfast in a couple hours.” He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a package of crackers. “These should help.” He bent down and pulled me into a hug, whispering in my ear, “I’ll do anything to keep you safe, Lainie. Never forget that.”
Without another word, we resumed our flight westward.
Jax
Watching her go through this was killing me. The anguish on her face when she thought I wasn’t looking hurt me to the core. Until the other day, I hadn’t seen her for ten years, but now it was as if those ten years disappeared into ten minutes. Her situation tore at my gut, making me want to pull her to me and never let go. I needed to figure out if this was just unresolved feelings from back then or if they were real adult ones. Once we get to the cabin and rest for a couple of days, we’re going to sit down and discuss everything.
Well, the crackers and soda seemed to have done the trick. Her color was better, and she appeared more relaxed. I couldn’t imagine what the last ten years had been like for her. Every day worrying that Keith would get out and come after her. I reached over and held her hand, feeling the same old spark every time I touched her. I don’t think she knows how her touch affects me. It’s even stronger now than it was all those years ago. How can that be? Falling for this damsel in distress seems to have become a habit with me. But what if it’s just my desire to save the world, one girl at a time?
Chapter 8
Lainie
Sitting on the bed in a hotel who knows where, I was propped up against the headboard with a notebook on my lap. The idea of keeping a journal of our journey was a good one, maybe it would help me remember that this was real. Jax was asleep next to me on the bed, his hair falling over his forehead. My fingers itched to brush it back. I wondered if it felt the same.
First journal entry: The last two days have been exhausting and stressful for both of us. I saw how the long hours of driving wore Jax down. My driving
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