Page 70 of Take Her On

After she’d taken them, Jamie placed a tray on her lap, one of Grandma’s classic chicken-patterned ones, with a bowl of steaming-hot tomato soup.

The delicious scent caused Maya’s belly to rumble. She glanced up at her. “Did you make this?”

“No need to look so surprised, Skip. I’m a mean cook.”

“You…cook?”

Jamie chuckled, taking a seat on the bed. “Just eat it.”

She managed a few mouthfuls. The warmth eased her throat and settled her stomach. It was flavourful too, not that she’d admit that to Jamie. When she couldn’t eat anymore, Jamie removed the tray from her lap and disappeared again to tidy downstairs.

Maya must’ve fallen asleep again.

“I’ve left the rest in the microwave for you and your grandpa,” Jamie said quietly when she returned. She joined Maya on the bed. “How are you feeling?”

“A little better. Thank you.”

Jamie smiled and opened her arm to her. “Want a cuddle?”

Pushing any reservations away, Maya leaned into her chest, burying herself in her warmth. Her aftershave was familiar, mixed with her coconut shampoo. She’d missed her more than she cared to admit. Her smell felt like home.

This damn illness is definitely kicking my arse. This was Jamie Mellor. The same Jamie Mellor who’d wound Maya up for years with her cheeky comments and arrogance. And now Maya was snuggled into her, calling this woman’s scent home.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” she whispered, instantly wondering why the hell she’d said those words out loud.

A low rumble came from Jamie’s chest. “What do you mean?”

“Nothing. It’s the…fever talking.”

Jamie brushed her arms with her fingertips. Her heartbeat thudded away inside her chest, grounding Maya.

“I had a little moment earlier myself too,” Jamie said. “Looking out the window at my parents’ house…I remembered the first day, when I saw you up here. Spying on me.”

Heat flushed Maya’s already hot face, and she squeezed her eyes shut. Jamie saw her. The day they moved in… Oh, god.

“So I guess I can’t quite believe I’m here either.” Jamie chuckled, holding Maya a little tighter. “I thought it was just another nosy neighbour, then when you walked in through the door…” She laughed a little louder. “I couldn’t believe it. I always loved playing Millton. It was so much fun winding you up and teasing you. Beating you, too, of course.”

If Maya had the energy, she’d pinch her. She settled for punching her with her eyes instead.

“You must be really unwell if you’re letting that go,” Jamie commented, the corners of her lips turning upwards.

“I’ll get you back for it later,” she mumbled, fighting a yawn.

“I hope so. Right, shall we watch something shit on Netflix?” Jamie rearranged the pillows and bedding, and Maya’s body curved into her, warm and safe.

She’d fallen asleep before they’d even chosen something to watch.

Jamie’s laugh disturbed her, along with the sharp rise and fall of her chest. Groggily, Maya leaned back, temporarily lost in this strange vision of Jamie in her bed.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“It’s alright.” Maya stretched her back, relieved some of the earlier head fog seemed to have dissipated, for now. And those damn demon air-hockey headaches.

“You’ve been asleep for an hour, though.”

“Have I?”

Oh, shit. That meant Grandma and her mum could be back any moment—and having them meet Jamie this way was so not the way Maya wanted it to happen.