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I smiled up at him. My heart slammed around in my chest as our eyes met. For a split second, the past melted away and it was like none of it had ever happened.
We were just Holly and Jack, together, peaceful. It was almost like a bubble formed around us, freezing us in time. Jack’s eyes drifted to my lips and my heart raced faster. He leaned down, moving in slow motion, but stopped short of my lips.
He pulled back, almost like he was startled, and then hurried to get off the couch. “Looks like Carly brought enough sandwiches and wraps to feed an entire squad and there’s a huge bakery box in here that I’m a little scared to open,” he told me, tracking his steps back to the fridge.
A sting of disappointment pricked at my heart and then a wave of irritation with myself. What did I expect? Just to fall back together? To pretend like we hadn’t broken up and we could just pick up where we left off? Nothing had changed. Had it? I knew couples ended up staying together or getting married upon finding out about a baby, and sadly, most of those relationships had ended in disaster. I didn’t want that for Jack and me. We’d finally reached a truce. That had to be good enough.
But damn it, I wanted my old Jack back.
Jack stayed most of the day, helping me get around and keeping my mind occupied with an HGTV marathon on TV. He ordered pizza from our favorite place for dinner and we ate together, each sitting at opposite ends of the couch with Hunter sprawled between us. When the last slice was gone, Jack gathered the box and plates and went back to the kitchen. I listened to the sound of the water running as he washed up the dishes. He returned to the living room a few minutes later, wiping his hands dry on his dark jeans. “I probably should get going,” he said. “Was there anything you needed before I headed out?”
“Actually…well…no. No, don’t worry about it.”
“What is it? Come on, name it.”
I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and peered up at him. “I was kind of hoping to take a bath. The nurse said it would be easier than trying to cover up my arm to keep it from getting wet in the shower. Besides that, I think a nice soak would do me some good. But I’ll call Carly and have her come help me. I don’t wanna hang you up from any…plans…” My own statement conjured the image of him and Bitch Busty. Jack hadn’t mentioned her, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t anything going on with them. Maybe she was the reason why it was easy for him to leave our relationship at co-parenting and not pushing for more. It would certainly explain the way he’d practically levitated off the couch right before it looked like he was ready to kiss me.
“I don’t mind sticking around if you need help. I figured you were getting ready to call it a night and wanted me out of your hair.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Tell you what, I’ll run upstairs and get everything ready and then I’ll come help you up.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yeah,” he replied, already starting for the staircase.
He returned a few minutes later and as promised, helped me up the stairs. I was able to walk, but gingerly and the effort of going up the full flight of stairs had me worn out halfway up. “You sure you’re okay?” Jack asked, noting my slow pace. “I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”
“I’m just sore,” I said, forcing myself upward.
Jack wrapped an arm around my waist. “Want me to carry you?”
I shook my head a little too hard. “No. I’m fine. We’re almost there. The last thing we need is both of us to crash down the stairs.”
Jack frowned at me. “It’s not like I haven’t done it before.”
Heat flushed over me at the memories that popped and flashed behind my eyes. “I’m fine,” I insisted, shoving the steamy images aside.
We made it to the bathroom and I smiled sadly at the spread Jack had laid out. The tub was nearly full of hot, steaming water and from the fragrance heavy in the air, he’d used my favorite vanilla and lavender bath salts. He’d even lit the candles I kept on a small iron table beside the tub. “Thank you, Jack,” I said, my voice thick.
“Sure. Do you—uh—need help getting undressed?”
I sighed and gave a slight nod. “A little.”
Luckily, I was wearing thin cotton shorts with an oversize sweater that was easy to maneuver around the bulky cast on my arm. When it came time to strip off my panties, I flushed. It was a sight Jack had seen hundreds, if not a thousand times before, but things were different now. I kept one arm over my breasts and smiled over at him. “I can manage…” I said, relieving the pressure as we awkwardly danced around the issue.
