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I stood there indecisive. I didn’t know whether to tell him to buzz off or if I should suck it up and re-enter the world of the living for my sister.
“Blake!” I heard Ella’s voice yell through the door. “What’s taking you so long? Drake made us some chocolate cake.”
I heard a soft murmur. “Well, we have to eat dinner first,” she added.
I smiled softly. Her focus would be on a dessert and not dinner. She was so single-minded when it came to chocolate.
I had dwelled on me long enough. Time to stuff my feelings back in. I turned the water off. “Give me a minute, Noah,” I said through a raspy throat.
I patted my body dry and threw a towel over my head before slipping into Mr. Jace’s black sweatpants, pulling the drawstrings as tight as they could go. They were extremely comfortable and soft, but too big; I rolled the bottoms up so I could walk. I slipped on my black sports bra since it was the only bra I had the opportunity to pack in my trunk. I didn’t bother slipping on the white V-neck t-shirt because I knew Noah would want to see and heal all my bruises and abrasions.
“Ella, please go downstairs, I’ll be right there,” I said as loud as I could through the door.
“Okay,” she called back, but I could hear her ask Noah, “Why does her voice sound funny?”
“Must be all that steam. Run along squirt,” he said affectionately.
I had been too overwhelmed and touched-out after being released that I hadn’t wanted his touch, even though I knew my pain would go away. And I had no intentions of taking any of the drugs the hospital had sent me home with.
I opened the door, and I’m pretty sure I imagined a look of appreciation in Noah’s eyes before he came into the bathroom. “Holy, steam!” he said with a wink before looking at me with a frown. “I’m hoping this will no longer be necessary, soon,” he murmured before placing his warm hands on my raw throat. I immediately felt the pain recede from my bruises and crushed vocals chords.
“Your gift isn’t limited to physical contusion and abrasions?” I asked in wonder. My voice was back to normal, and it didn’t hurt to talk anymore!
He smiled at me, “Yes and no. I can heal most stuff, but the complicated things still elude me.”
He gently placed his hands on my face and I immediately felt that pain go away. Then he moved on to the bruises on my upper arms and wrists. “Anything else?”
I nodded as I turned around. “My head.”
The relief I felt in my head was groan-worthy. I felt the back of my head and was amazed that the lump was gone.
“How do you feel?” he asked, his hand cradling my face, so he could look me directly in the eye.
I rolled my shoulders. “So much better.” I impulsively hugged him and felt him stiffen for a moment before returning the embrace.
“Dinner’s ready,” Mr. Jace said coolly from the doorway, one eyebrow raised.
I took a hasty step back in embarrassment, feeling my cheeks warm. It probably didn’t look the best that I was embracing another man in my sports bra and his sweatpants.
I didn’t know what was expected of me now that I was separated from Heidi and Tom. Should I be actively trying to figure out this connection stuff? Should I avoid the other men that were in my life now? I felt comfortable with Mr. Jace, but was I ready to pursue a romantic relationship with him or Jax? I didn’t know if I could separate our preexisting relationship between teacher and student.
Drake held nothing back with dinner. He made a huge spread of lasagna, meat sauce, garlic bread, a tossed salad with homemade dressing, and finally for dessert a triple layer chocolate cake with chocolate frosting.
We decided to let our stomachs settle before digging into the cake. Ella begged to go back into the pool, and Jemmy, Jax, Troy, and Noah joined her. I didn’t have a swimsuit, and there was no way I was going to wear one of Jemmy’s, although she tried to convince me to. I was okay with wearing a two piece in front of others, but not the kind Jemmy wore. She was beautiful and could get away with the little scraps of fabric, but I liked my bathing suits slightly more modest.
I was shocked when Mr. Jace went over to one of the walls and pushed a button. As the door slid open, I noticed the room opened to a theater/game room combo. It was also attached to the pool and hot tub. Will challenged Remy to a game of pool which he reluctantly agreed to.
I had noticed Remy had been extremely quiet during dinner, and he seemed reluctant to meet my gaze. I wondered if he was upset with me for getting him involved in my family mess. When I quietly asked Jax if he was okay, he gave me a reassuring smile and squeezed my hand and told me not to worry about it. Remy was the only one who had any abrasions or marks from this afternoon, and I heard him tell Noah he didn’t need his help. I assumed he was the one who gave most of Tom’s beating.
The cops almost seemed approving of the way Tom was found once they arrived. Apparently, he had to have surgery and some bones set. I know from the earlier vibe I received from Remy today that walking into the trailer probably triggered some bad memories for him. It made me wonder what kind of life he had before joining the Bell crew. I had a feeling we had similar stories and experiences.
Drake settled on the floor and looked like he was studying for a math test. Mr. Jace walke
d back to the kitchen and began to clean.
I wanted to go back up to the room I was staying in and hide, but I knew I couldn’t. I needed to be surrounded by people, or I would sink into a deep place that wouldn’t want to release me. Drake was his normal quiet self during dinner, but I knew he was trying to help me in his own little way since he had cooked one of my favorite meals. Remy was avoiding my gaze, but I felt his worried eyes on me when he thought I wasn’t looking. Everyone else seemed to want to keep the conversation lively and inform me what was going to happen the next few days.
Drake, Jax, and Noah were taking Will’s private jet back to school tomorrow to take some test that was required of them. Remy was checking on some of his restaurants before heading back to Upstate New York. He had a total of five gastropubs; from the sound of it, he had the Midas touch when it came to business. He had taken one failing business and made it a success. Then he took another, and another until he built up his own name. His own empire.
