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I'm still reeling from the fact that Jake is here at Oakside. Beyond that, what I’m feeling for him is very new. He was always my boyfriend's older brother and kind of like a brother to me.
After Caden and I broke up, I realized I missed his family more than him. I loved spending time with Jake, North, and Brantley just as much.
Caden, his brothers, his mom, and I would have dinner, then sit around and play board games and talk about what was going on at school, in life, or whatever the headlines were in the world. I miss that more than anything.
A knock on the door pulls my attention away from the past. I am thankful for whoever it is from stopping me from heading down the downward spiral of my life. Looking up, I check to see who it is.
"Got a minute to chat?" Lexi peeks her head in.
Lexi and her husband run Oakside, and they seem like nice people. Lexi's husband, Noah, was in the service when he was in an explosion overseas and was horribly injured. He had some pretty bad scarring. Unfortunately, back then, there was no place like Oakside for him. This place was born from his need. I will say I'd much rather be here than in a hospital.
My room feels more like a bed-and-breakfast than a medical facility. I have my own bathroom for which I’m grateful. The room is decorated to feel comfortable and rustic. I have a bed, a desk, and even a living space with a couch and a TV.
"I don't know. Let me check my super busy social calendar," I say, stopping the eye roll I wanted to include.
In reality, Lexi knows my calendar better than I do. She is super involved with all the patients here at Oakside and makes sure they are keeping up with treatments and have everything they need.
Ignoring my sarcastic comment, she smiles, joining me on the couch.
"Rumor has it that you know Jake?" she asks.
Good lord, Oakside's rumor mills work faster than most small towns. It's been less than an hour since I had lunch with Jake in the dining room.
"What rumor?" I ask.
"The one where he came and told me," she laughs.
My heart thunders in my chest. Why would he do that? It's not a big deal that we know each other. I like to think we were friends way back when I dated his brother, so it was nothing more than friends catching up, right?
"What did he say?" I ask, not wanting to give away more than he already did.
"That you dated his brother, and he wanted us to know. After talking to him, I wanted to come and make sure you are okay with him being around while you are here. He wanted to make sure as well. If you would rather not see him or run into him, I can make that happen. He was adamant that he doesn't want to be the reason you aren't healing or feel like you can't open up to the staff here."
That is oddly sweet of him. But If I had a problem with him, I wouldn't have gone and had lunch with him. Then a thought hits me. What if this is his way of looking for an out because he doesn't want to run into me while here?
"I won't be the reason he loses his job." I shake my head not knowing what else to say.
"Oh no, he's a good guy. I wouldn't do that. I'll just reassign him while you are here. We have plenty to do in the offices we need help with."
Somehow, I don't think he'd be overly happy working in an office all day. That never seemed like him.
"Well, I don't mind him being here. It was nice to see him and catch up."
"And here I thought you only talked to me." She acts offended, but there is a smile on her face.
She isn't wrong. Before Jake, I really didn't talk to anyone other than her. Lexi has a way of making you feel comfortable. We didn't talk about my accident or even my military time. She just wanted to get to know me, and she made it really easy to like her.
"So, how long have you known Jake?" she asks, getting comfortable on the couch.
"My family moved to town in middle school, and I became friends with his twin brothers Brentley and Caden. Then Caden and I started to date in our junior year. I spent a lot of time at his place, and that was when I got to know Jake as well. He was in a different grade, so until then, we didn't cross paths much. Same with their younger brother North."
"Did you and his brother end on good terms?"
"Yeah. We were going our separate ways. Wanted different things." I shrug, not really wanting to get into it.
"But you and Jake left it on good terms?" she asks hesitantly.
"By the time Caden and I broke up, he was in boot camp. This is the first time I've seen him since."
