Fever (Breathless #2)(129)

When he produced a bottle of orange juice, however, she lost the battle and burst into tears.

Ash looked horrified. Mia and Gabe exchanged panicked glances and Jace leaned in, concern flaring in his eyes.

“Baby, what’s the matter? Is that not what you wanted? I’ll get you whatever you want to eat.”

“It’s perfect,” she said with a sniffle. “It’s all my favorites and he remembered orange juice.”

Ash cracked a grin and Jace sat back, relief soaring in his eyes. Then Mia and Gabe burst into laughter and Ash joined them. Soon Jace was chuckling and Bethany giggled, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

“God, I’m such a dork,” she said. “I get the best food ever and I start crying like a moron.”

“I’m with you,” Mia said, settling down with her own plate of yummy goodness. “Best food evah!”

Ash took a seat at the end of her bed, his thigh resting against her feet. “Did you find out when she can go home?”

Jace sighed. “In a case like this—well, I should say, when suicide is actually attempted, they put the patient under psychiatric evaluation, have the shrink come, wait for him to sign off, et cetera, et cetera. But in this case, given the circumstances, if all her tests come back okay, she can go home as early as tomorrow. The police have already taken a statement from Kaden, and they’ll likely be around to see Bethany later on this afternoon, but she doesn’t remember much so she can only provide information on the events just prior to her blacking out.”

Bethany sighed, chewing on a cheese stick as sadness settled into her chest. Jace squeezed her knee and continued talking to the others about all the doctor had to say.

“Is he in jail now?” She spoke up when Jace had finished.

Jace gave her a look of sympathy. “Yeah, baby. They took him away right after I left your room to see about getting you something to eat. He agreed to go to rehab. I offered him a lawyer if he’d go into rehab and straighten out his shit. If the lawyer can work it out with the D.A., he’ll get probation under the condition that he checks into rehab.”

“Thank you,” she said. “You didn’t have to do that. I know you’re angry and you have every right to be. But thank you for doing that for him.”

“I did it for you, baby.”

“I know,” she whispered. “And I love you for that.”

His eyes went soft, like melting chocolate. “Love you too, baby.”

She stifled a yawn and stuffed a crab wonton in her mouth, savoring the yummy flavor. She followed it with a forkful of noodles and then got barbecue sauce all over her fingers when she devoured a riblet. By the time she’d put a sizeable dent in the food Ash had brought her, the yawns were coming faster than she could eat.

“We’re going to head out now,” Gabe said. “Bethany’s tired and we’re all exhausted as well. Going to head home and get some sleep.”

“Thank you for being here,” Bethany said again. “It means a lot to me. Thank you for caring.”

Gabe smiled and ruffled her hair before bending down to kiss her cheek. Mia gave her a huge hug and then Ash kissed her brow and gave her a big hug as well.

“Catch you later, sweetheart. Rest up so you can go home tomorrow.”

“That I can do,” she said with a smile.

They all left the room and Bethany sagged back on her bed, her food container still resting on her lap. Jace cleared it away, setting it aside, and then he began lowering her bed so it was fully reclined.

“Time for you to get some rest, baby.”

“Are you staying?” she asked, worried he would leave and she’d be alone.

He frowned. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to crawl onto this bed with you and you’re going to sleep in my arms.”

She sighed with contentment. “Good. I really didn’t want to be alone tonight. Hospitals give me the creeps.”

“You’ll never be alone again,” he said tenderly, his eyes full of love and promise.

He climbed into bed with her, fully dressed, and positioned himself on his side, instantly pulling her tight against his body just as he’d done before. He kissed her brow and then rested his cheek against her forehead.

“Love you,” she whispered.

“Love you too, baby. Almost lost you. Not ever going to do that again.”

She smiled and snuggled further into his embrace, feeling the security and comfort of his strong body. She was absolutely where she belonged.

Chapter forty-three

“Jace, where on earth are you taking me?”

He chuckled and led Bethany by the arm as they walked farther into the unknown.

“You’ll find out soon enough. Is that blindfold on right? I don’t want to ruin the surprise.”

“Yes, it’s on,” she said in exasperation. “I can’t see a thing! I’m going to kill myself in these shoes!”

“Not going to happen, baby. I’m not going to let you fall. Besides, you look killer in those heels. Later, I’m going to f**k you in those shoes and nothing else.”

A hot flush traveled from head to toe. Her ni**les hardened and her clit tingled in anticipation. Jace had bought her the most awesome shoes ever. Full of sparkle with a heel so high she hadn’t been sure she could walk in them. But she’d known instantly that these were shoes she’d get f**ked in later, which meant she was walking in them no matter what.