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I sighed softly as he wrapped his arm around me and gently tugged me toward him so I was pressed against him. He readjusted the bag of ice on my side before he tucked my head under his chin. “Go on to sleep, baby. I’ll be here when you wake up,” he softly promised.
I slowly opened my eyes. Jessie was standing in the kitchen, quiet music playing as he made breakfast, sipping at his coffee as he did so. He was shirtless, his tattoos and muscles rippling as he moved around my kitchen.
He really was perfect. I didn’t know what I ever did to deserve someone that was as perfect as him, but I knew I would do everything in my power to keep him with me.
Jessie turned around to face me as I sat up. He grinned at me. “Good morning, babe,” he greeted. “Coffee?”
I smiled at him and nodded. He made me a cup exactly how I liked it and brought it over to me. Once I took the mug from him, he tenderly cupped my face in his hands and softly kissed me, drawing a soft moan from the back of my throat. He smiled at me once he pulled back. “Cheek is a little bruised, but not bad,” he told me. “How’s your side feel?”
“A lot better than it did yesterday,” I told him honestly.
“You feel up to going out to get lunch later, going to the zoo, and then getting dinner after?” he asked as he walked back into the kitchen.
My eyes lit up with excitement. “You’re taking me to the zoo?” I asked him.
He grinned as he flipped the grilled cheese sandwich he was making. “I remember you mentioning to me a few years ago that you had always wanted to go to the zoo, but never got a chance to go. Your mom would never take you. You still want to go?”
“Yes!” I exclaimed.
I couldn’t believe he remembered that. I was fifteen when I confessed to always wanting to go. God, it was almost ten whole years ago. Was there anything this man didn’t remember about me?
Jessie brought my food to the bed. He pecked my lips in a quick kiss before he handed me my plate of eggs and grilled cheese with the perfect amount of ketchup on the eggs. “Eat up, baby girl.”
My phone vibrated on the nightstand. I sighed and reached over to grab it. My boss at the bar was calling. I worked two jobs—well, used to. The restaurant and the bar. The bar was now the only job I had.
“Yes?” I asked when I answered.
“Beth quit last night,” Gregory told me. “I really need you to come in to work her shift today.”
I blew out a soft breath. “I would Gregory, but my boyfriend is in town this weekend.”
“Fuck,” Gregory swore. “Alright, thanks anyway.”
He hung up before I had a chance to respond. I frowned as I set my phone beside me on the bed. Jessie arched an eyebrow at me. “Everything okay?” he asked.
I shrugged. “Boss wanted me to come in today to cover for a girl that quit last night.” I set my food aside. “Damn, I should have taken that shift,” I grumbled. Being down one job meant money was about to be extremely tight.
Jessie gently gripped my chin and turned my head to face him. “West, how tight is money for you?” he asked me.
I clenched my jaw. “Jessie—”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “West, how tight is money?” he asked again, not backing down.
I blew out a harsh breath. “My life is a shit show right now,” I told him honestly. “Thankfully, mom’s car was paid off, but the damn insurance is ridiculous on it. I’m two months behind on rent, and my landlord is on the verge of selling this building because he’s not making enough money with the shop. I’m a hairsbreadth away from being homeless.”
“Jesus Christ, West,” Jessie grumbled as he set his food aside with a shake of his head. “Babe, I know you don’t want to be in Farley, but maybe you need to come back home.” I opened my mouth to protest, my eyes narrowing at him, but he placed a finger over my lips, silencing me. “Just hear me out,” he pleaded. “You can stay at my place and work at the garage. If you want to get your own place, you can do that, but I really don’t mind if you live with me—prefer it actually—but I know how you are about independence. And if you just want to stay out of sight, you can stay at home. I don’t mind. But baby girl, knowing what you’re going through, I can’t just let you stay here, babe.”
Before I could respond, a knock sounded on my door. Grumbling under my breath about never having any peace, I moved off the bed and opened it. Mr. Rolland gave me a frail smile. He handed me a slip of paper, his eyes sad. I swallowed thickly. “The bank is foreclosing,” he told me gruffly, his old smoker’s rasp making his voice sound a bit strangled. “You have seven days to vacate the premises. Anything left behind will be sold with the property.”
