Page 183 of Don't Leave Me

“Sweetheart? You awake?” Jack asked loudly as they entered.

I slowly lifted my head up, faking tired eyes as I lifted the comforter off my head. I could see Emily looking around the loft and Jack heading straight for me.

“Hello, love. You sure are a heavy sleeper, aren’t you?” Jack teased gently, a smile on his face as he sat on the bed next to me.

I gave my best confused look as I glanced over at Emily, her smile wide and relieved.

“There you are! I’ve been trying to call you all day, sleepy head,” she laughed. “I knocked like two minutes ago, did you not hear me?”

“I was passed out. Jack doesn’t let me sleep much,” I smiled crookedly, lifting myself up and holding the comforter to my body.

“Oh god, I don’t want to hear it,” Emily covered her ears. “Anyway, get up. I wanna take you out to eat, or shop, or something. I need my Hana time,” she demanded, pointing at the rose gold watch on her left wrist.

I raised my eyebrows as I glanced at Jack, silently asking for approval.

“Go on. I only came home for lunch. Adam and I are heading back to the studio in an hour or so,” he explained, putting his hand atop mine.

“See? I’ve been without my babe the past few days, all alone when we could have been having quality sister time,” Emily put her hands to her hips, scolding me.

I started to grow more and more excited. I was finally going to be out in the real world without Jack. Why did he have so much trust in me? What was his plan?

“Let me just get ready real quick,” I hopped up out of bed and headed for the bathroom – the door was still removed, but that could be explained away.

Jack was behind me as I looked in the mirror after rinsing my face off, grabbing my makeup from the corner of the sink.

“I want you to have your phone on you at all times. You will text me right away if I text you. I have a tracker on it so I will know where you’re at at all times. Don’t do anything stupid, Hana, my dear wife,” he whispered ominously into my ear, pressing his hands onto my each of my arms, then gently pressed his lips to my neck.

“Okay. I won’t. I promise,” I nodded to his reflection in the mirror, my heart rate sped up.

Jack eyed me for a moment and then was gone, back in the kitchen of the loft and happily making small talk with Emily. I quickly applied my matte red lipstick, some mascara and blush and then quickly walked to the duffle bag next to our bed that we had yet to unpack from upstate. I listened as Emily went on about some film festival she wanted to go to next month as I quickly slipped some jeans and a plain white tee on, my near-naked body unfazing both Jack and Emily – they had both seen me naked plenty of times. I grabbed my usual black boots and slipped them on, realizing Jack was now watching me as he half-listened to Emily.

“Do you know where I put my phone, babe?” I eyed Jack, trying to be casual, realizing it was the first time I had ever called him that. I rendered myself frozen as I realized this.

Jack beamed at me. “I think I saw it in the bathroom, sweetheart. One minute,” he walked away and into the bathroom.

Emily watched me grab my coat from the coat hanger near our door. “Have you guys been to that ramen place a few blocks up by Houston Street?” she asked, not realizing that anything had just happened.

“I don’t think so,” I shook my head, watching Jack as he walked out of the bathroom with my phone in his hand; I knew it was in his pocket the whole time, but that would’ve raised some flags with Emily.

“Here you are, sweetheart,” he smiled at me as he handed me my phone.

“Thank you.” I slipped my phone into my pea coat pocket.

“We should go. I’ve heard it’s really good,” Emily went on, heading for the door. “Bye, Jack! Thanks for letting me borrow your wife,” she laughed, opening the door.

I turned to look at Jack. “I love you,” I said, my eyes wide – I don’t know why, but I was suddenly nervous.

“I love you, Hana. I’ll see you back here tonight?” he questioned, now obviously nervous as well.

I nodded. “Of course,” I took a step towards him, then put my hand to his face.

Jack grabbed my waist with both of his hands and gave me a sweet, soft kiss. I wanted him again already.

I smiled as Jack let go of me and I followed Emily out the door – and out into the real world.

* * *

I was so happy to be out of that loft that I wanted to cry. The sun was low in the sky and the late chilly, afternoon air felt like a tiny million frozen kisses on my cheek. It would be hard to get me out of what such a good mood I was in. Emily turned and smiled at me as we hurriedly walked down the busy street, headed for the ramen restaurant.

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