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“Oh yes, she did, and she’s totally right, too.” Yasmin grins, lifting her hand for a high five.
Nixon gets up and slips his arms around his wife’s waist. “Well, you’ll still love me even when I have a dad bod, right?”
“She has to suffer through your personality. I think the dad bod is the least of her worries.”
Nixon’s mouth falls open at Jade’s taunt. “Oh, now you went and done it.” He tries to walk around Yasmin, but she doesn’t let him pass, giving Jade enough time to slip away.
“You left yourself wide open for that one. Don’t blame me!” Her blue eyes shine with mischief when they meet mine. “I’m going to grab a sweater, and we can get going.”
With that, she leaves the kitchen. Nixon watches her go, a small smile on his lips. “She seems to be doing better today.”
“She is,” I agree.
“It’s just so hard for me to wrap my head around it. Two days ago, I was helping her as she was throwing up in the bathroom, her body so weak she couldn’t get to her feet and into the bed on her own, and today she’s… fine.”
Yasmin grabs his hand, giving it a firm squeeze. “This is a rough patch, but she’s going to get better.”
“I hope you’re right. I can’t lose her, Yas.”
My throat tightens at his words.
He isn’t the only one.
* * *
“You were right.Those are the best pancakes I’ve ever tried.”
Jade looks over her shoulder, a smile on her lips. “I told you so.”
The need to lean down and kiss her is so strong it’s almost overwhelming. I must have it written on my face because Jade’s blue eyes turn dark, as her gaze drops to my lips.
Unfortunately, our moment is broken when somebody clears their throat.Loudly.
“You planning to get out anytime soon?” Nixon asks, his narrowed gaze meeting mine.
“Cockblocker,” Jade mutters, pushing the door open.
“Did she just…”
“Call you a cockblocker? Yes, I did,” Jade says just as an older couple exits their car, wide eyes and horrified looks on their faces.
“You’re crazy!”
“What? I’m dying; if I’m not going to be unapologetic about what I say now, when will I be?”
“You’re not—” I don’t get to finish because Jade comes to a sudden stop.
An older guy is staring at her a few yards away. There is something familiar about him, but I’m not sure where to place him. His mostly gray hair is a mess, and the lines on his face are hardened. His dark eyes are bloodshot, and heavy stubble covers his jaw. He looks like somebody who has had a few rough weeks and decided to drink his weight in alcohol to solve it.
“Jade, what…” He takes her in from head to toe, his eyes finally settling on the beanie covering her head.
I close the distance between us, my hand going protectively to the small of her back just as Nixon moves in front of her and throws a menacing glare at the man.
“What are you doing here?”
“I live here.” The guy takes a step closer, his eyes still on Jade. “What happened to you?”
Jade’s body goes stiff under my touch, but she doesn’t cower. Instead, she lifts her chin, meeting the guy head-on. “Cancer. Which you’d know if you were ever around. Oh, that’s right. You don’t do well when your family members are sick, right, Dad? You walk away because it’stoo hard.”
