Breathe In (Just Breathe, #1)(81)
“Not for a long time.” Jared positions his arm around me.
I immediately rotate into his chest.
“I should probably wake her soon to try to get her to eat.”
“She had a smoothie,” Joe mentions. “I’m surprised she drank it when I gave it to her.”
“Good. That’s a good sign.” They sit quietly for a while before Jared inquires, “How did you know she was dreaming?”
“Sadie came into the den and woke me up. When I saw Emma, I tried to wake her before coming to get you.”
“It’s usually not hard to wake her, but the way it was tonight, I’m not surprised,” Jared explains.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure man,” Jared encourages.
“What is the dream about?”
Jared takes a weighted breath in, releases it and kisses me. “You can’t let her know that I told you,” Jared begins.
He’s going to tell him. Why? I know that I avoid talking to him about the dream reoccurring and brush it off each time. But why tell Joe? I can understand him talking to Maggie or Nathan — but Joe?
“I was the first to know,” he breathes in with a shiver. “It took her almost six months after we first met for her to finally tell me what they were about,” Jared informs. “Maggie and Nathan are the only other people who know.” Jared squeezes me tighter in his arms. “I don’t like the fact that she’s been having them this much again.”
I can tell that Jared is deciding on what to say.
“It’s about her parents.”
“What about them?” Joe timidly inquires.
“Emma was in the car when it happened . . .” he sniffs. With a horse voice, Jared continues. “She told me she doesn’t remember what really happened. She woke up in the hospital three days later from this very dream. She’s never been sure if the accident really happened the way the nightmare depicts,” Jared painfully explains.
“Wow . . .” Joe answers in bewilderment. “That explains a lot.”
“Yeah,” Jared nervously chuckles.
They sit quietly as the memories of the hospital formulate in my head. Fighting off the pain, I moan and twist into Jared tighter.
“I’m here, Kitten,” Jared assures me. “I’m here.”
I arise some time later from the excruciating need to pee and the sound of laughter coming from another room. Opening my eyes, I discover that Sadie is the only one with me in the living room. After using the closest bathroom, I stagger to the dining room and prepare myself mentally and physically before rounding the corner.
“There she is!” shouts Jimmy. “We were hoping you’d make it before all the food is gone.”
I give my best fake smile that sneaks by everyone but Jared, but I see a questioning glance from Joe.
As I sit down in the same chair I was in last night for dinner, Jared, who is to my right, asks, “Hungry?”
“Sure,” I return with another smile.
Jared squeezes my hand which reinforces my speculation that I haven’t fooled him. Without a word, Jared stands up, takes my plate and starts putting food on it. After placing the plate in front of me, he then proceeds to pour me a glass of orange juice. I hope he isn’t planning on doting on me too much.
“We were all talking about what to do today, Emma,” Maggie says. “We thought that today we could show Jimmy and Allen around town, have lunch somewhere, maybe see one of the museums or see a show at the playhouse, have dinner . . . and tomorrow we can all go trampolining.”
“Sure,” I agree, taking a small bit of egg.
My right hand continues to hold Jared’s and from the corner of my I can see him watching me. I listen to everyone talking while I pretend to eat, only taking a few small bites here and there while keeping my eyes down most of the time. I’m grateful when no one inquires about my episode. It’s nice to hear everyone joking and laughing.
“Would you like me to heat that up for you, Ms. Emma?” Anna startles me.
“What? Oh, no. I’m fine. Thank you.”
Jared leans over, “Do you want something else?”
“No. I’m good.”
At least he’s being as discrete as he can be at the moment.
Eventually everyone gets up and heads to shower, then change for our daily excursion around Pasadena. Jared hovers, following me into Joe’s bedroom and lays down on the bed with Sadie. I decide to join him rather than jump in the shower right away. I don’t want to recount this morning or give him a reason to think that I’m as bad as I am, but I do feel like I need my Jared.
Joe wanders through the open door and finds us snuggling. I suggest that he showers first and he obliges without debate. While Joe’s in the bathroom, Maggie pops into the room and piles into the bed with Jared, Sadie and me. She’s still in her pajamas which surprises me because I would think she’d be naked and wet with Henry by now. Regardless, I can feel my mood improving with my family all around me — this is what I need.
Exiting the bathroom with nothing but a towel around his waist, Joe tries to have a silent conversation with Jared right in front of me. What the hell is going on?
Jared studies me before kissing me and then leaves. I’m left with Maggie, Sadie and a practically naked Joe.