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“Nav’s bringing a prescription over later.”
“For oxy?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you,” he says quietly. He opens his eyes slightly and looks at her. “I’m not an asshole.”
Jess smiles. “Then stop acting like one, Griffin.”
He nods, then winces. She reaches over and takes his hand, winding her fingers around his.
They lie like that for a while. Jess listens to his breathing. She hears the cars on the road. Conversation coming from the garage forecourt outside.
“Alice is coming out of the hospital today,” she says quietly.
Griffin doesn’t reply. She wonders if he’s asleep.
“I want to go and see her.”
“You should,” he mumbles.
“What if there are police there? I should stay with you.”
“I’ll be fine. You know what to look out for. Take the Land Rover. Borrow one of my credit cards in case you need money. And if you see anyone odd, just drive away.” He opens his eyes, his focus hazy, then indicates toward the bedside table. “Bottom drawer.”
He doesn’t elaborate, and she leans down to open it. Then she stops. Inside is a gray cotton sweater, an embroidered logo of a rainbow on the front. It’s soft, and smells clean and well looked after.
“You need something else to wear,” Griffin mutters.
Jess looks down at her top—the same sweater Nav had bought her all those days ago. She’s been washing it when she can, but Griffin’s right; it’s stained and dirty from nearly a week’s constant use.
“I can’t take this—” she begins, but he interrupts her.
“Please. She’d have wanted you to have it.”
“I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to repay you for all of this, Nate.” Jess holds the sweater tenderly, looking at him. He’s closed his eyes again, lying back on the pillow. “For keeping me safe, for looking after me.”
He opens one eye briefly. “Just write me an IOU,” he says quietly. “Services rendered for a damsel in distress.”
She reaches over and takes his hand again, squeezing it softly. He returns the gesture. Then she sits up on the bed, getting changed quickly and putting her shoes on. The sweater is slightly too big, but it’s warm and clean and she takes comfort from it being a part of him. She leans over, kissing him softly on the lips.
“I’ll be as quick as I can. Thank you, Nate.”
She’s almost out the door when she hears his voice again.
“Jess?”
“Hmm?” She turns. He’s pulled himself up slightly, looking at her.
“You called me Nate.”
“Do you mind?”
He lies back down on the bed. “No.”
She smiles, and picks up the keys to the Land Rover.
* * *
