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“I think this will be easier for your mom than managing stairs with those crutches,” Jay explains, and something warm settles in my chest as I realize exactly what he’s doing for us. He’s even giving up his room.
My mom plops onto the bed, and I can tell that she’s exhausted. “Do you want me to help you unpack?” I offer, even though all I want to do is collapse on my own bed and go to sleep.
My mother smiles wanly at me. “No, I think I want to rest. Hiding in that hallway for hours was not ideal for my body. I’m not old yet, but I’m starting to feel like it.”
I shut the door behind me as I leave, then look up and find Jay right in front of me. I swallow as I realize that despite what happened less than two hours ago, I want him. Again.
“Um, which room is mine then?” I ask, trying to put a little more space between the two of us.
“I’ll show you,” Jay offers, and I follow him up the stairs. The upstairs isn’t huge. There’s a hallway with a bathroom directly across from the stairs. On either end of the hallway is a bedroom. Jay leads me to the right.
I realize then that we’ll be in close quarters. “You and I are going to be sharing a bathroom?”
“Not at the same time,” Jay replies with a smile that makes his lips quirk up.
I raise an eyebrow at him.
Jay just laughs. “Unless you want to,” he whispers.
I don’t know why I can't control it, but I feel my cheeks flushing at the thought of showering together. My mother would never know if Jay and I stripped down and ran our fingers all over each other as the water pounded into my back.
“Do you need anything?” Jay asks, his voice gentle.
I shake my head. “No, I’m okay. Thank you, Jay. Really.” I force my thoughts away from the co-showering idea. “I’ve got it from here.”
Jay hovers in the doorway. “You and your mom are welcome here for as long as you need.” He smiles at me; a soft, genuine quirk of his lips, and then he retreats downstairs.
Once I’ve had a chance to unpack, I head downstairs and find Jay and my mom in the living room with the TV on. Apparently, my mom and Jay have hit it off, and I find myself watching them interact with a mixture of amusement and something else I can’t quite name. It’s clear my mom appreciates Jay’s kindness, and he, in turn, treats her with the utmost respect.
Later that night, after my mom has retired to her temporary bedroom, Jay and I find ourselves alone in the living room. The atmosphere is relaxed, and I don’t want to be the first one to leave the room. Jay sits beside me on the couch, his presence comforting.
“You okay? I know the house is damaged and having to move out can’t be easy.”
I nod. “Yeah, just a lot to process.”
He reaches out and takes my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’m here for you, Violet. Whatever you need.”
His touch sends a jolt of warmth through me, and I look up at him, our eyes meeting. The moment feels intimate, and I wonder if he can read what I’m feeling just by touching my hand. Without thinking, I lean in and kiss him, needing the connection, the reassurance that we are in this together.
Just as our lips meet, I hear a noise from the hallway. My mom’s hobbling footsteps approach, and we quickly pull apart, our faces flushed with embarrassment. She appears in the doorway, her expression unreadable.
“I think your glasses are too high, Jay. I can’t reach them. Could you get a few down from the cabinet so I can get water whenever I need?”
Jay hops to his feet. “Of course. I’ll get those down for you.”
As he heads to the kitchen, my mom turns to me, raising an eyebrow. “I see you two are getting along well.”
I feel my cheeks heat up. “Mom, it’s not like that. Jay’s just being kind, letting us stay here.”
She gives me a knowing smile. “Sure, Violet. Whatever you say.”
Jay returns with the water, after placing a few glasses on the counter, and my mom takes it with a grateful nod. “Thank you, Jay. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” we both echo, watching as she disappears back into the bedroom.
Jay and I exchange a glance. “Well, that was awkward,” he says with a chuckle.
I can’t help but laugh. “Just a bit.”
