Breathe (Sea Breeze #1)(63)

I smiled through them. “These are happy tears. Now stop fussing over me and let Marcus in.”

Jax nodded, but didn’t smile, and went back into the hallway.

Marcus came in with a fierce frown on his face. “I swear, Sadie, if you ever scare me like that again, I’m not sure I can live through it.”

I grinned. “I don’t intend to ever scare anyone like this again.”

He managed a smile and sat down beside me. “I didn’t get to come in here but once while you were um...out of it.... Jax refused to leave your side, and they only allowed one at a time. However, Jax let me in once, but he didn’t leave, he kept sitting in the seat over there playing his guitar and singing. I swear, he has every woman in this hospital in love with him.”

He rolled his eyes, and I laughed. “Don’t let it get to you, Marcus. He is a rock star. They would have been in love with him even if he hadn’t sung to me.”

Marcus sighed and leaned back in the chair. “I don’t know, Sadie. I’m a guy, and I will be honest with you, seeing someone like him in a corner of a hospital room, playing love song after love song and refusing to leave your side, was pretty touching. I’ve managed to let go of most of my resentment towards him.”

I pictured Jax singing to me, and I wished I had been awake to watch him. “I love him,” I whispered.

Marcus nodded. “I know you do. You have loved him about as long as I have known you. It’s something I have come to grips with. I never stood a chance. He stole your heart first.”

I smiled sadly at the friend I would also always love. He had been my knight in shining armor when I needed one.

“I love you too,” I said, almost without choking up.

He smiled at me. “I know you do. Just not the way you love him.”

“You’re the best friend I have ever had, Marcus. You have been there for me when I needed someone the most. I will never forget that. But he stole my breath away the moment we first spoke. He’s my air.”

Marcus stared down at the floor for a moment, and I gave him time. Finally, he looked back up at me. “I used to think he didn’t deserve your love, but now I think he may just be as in love with you as you are with him. I want you to be happy, and if he makes you happy, then that’s all that matters.”

“He affects all my emotions. My happiness is connected to him.”

Marcus nodded and stood up. “Yeah, I figured as much.” He glanced at the door. “He is going to come bursting in here any minute and make me go back to disliking him, so I had better leave before that happens.”

I laughed. “Okay, thank you for everything.”

Marcus smiled. “It was my pleasure.” He left the room.

I knew he would always be there when I needed him, but in a way, I had just set him free.

Jax stepped back in the room, smiling at me. “Can you try to eat something?”

I thought about food, and, suddenly, I was very hungry. I nodded. “Yes, I think so.”

He broke out into a very happy grin, opened the door, and signaled for a nurse. “She wants food.”

The nurse stuck her head and smiled. “You ready to try some Jello?”

Jello was not what I had been thinking, but apparently I had to start somewhere. “Yes, please.”

She nodded and stepped back out of the room. Jax picked up his guitar from the corner and sat down and began to play. He smiled, and the smooth voice that had made him famous joined the guitar.

* * *

Chapter Twenty

I spent another week in the hospital, but I didn’t mind it. Having Jax with me all day long made the days go by quicker. Once they allowed more visitors, Mr. Greg came, and we played chess. He let me win, and he didn’t realize I knew what he was doing. I spoke with Jessica on the phone several times, and she seemed happy and more like herself. She also desperately wanted to see Sam. She was really having a hard time dealing with what she’d done to him. Jax assured me she would be getting help for her guilt as well. Ms. Mary brought me chicken fingers and mashed potatoes and apple pie, which came as a wonderful relief from the hospital food. Jax continued to sing to me. The nurses peeked in the door and sighed at the sight of him. I understood. The guy I loved also happened to be the world’s heartthrob. I had accepted it.

Jax refused to let me go back to my apartment, and Ms. Mary refused to let Jax take me home with him. So I ended up going home with Ms. Mary. I was anxious to see Sam. He had managed to wedge his little self deep inside my heart. I had to keep reminding myself the roll I played in his life every time I began to think about his future and worry over things that were not my place to worry about. Holding him again and letting his chubby, little fingers curl tightly around my finger made everything seem right.

Jax sat down beside me on Ms. Mary’s couch and looked down at Sam. “He’s a cute kid. He has your eyes.”

I smiled up at Jax and nodded. “Apparently, Jessica has really strong genes.”

Jax touched Sam’s nose gently. “Well, fella, you’re going to be one of the prettiest guys I have ever seen, then.”

I laughed, and so did Ms. Mary.

“All right, you’ve seen him, now, you need to say your goodbyes to Jax and get some rest.” She stared at Jax.

“You’ve been with her for two weeks straight. She needs a break.”