Page 49 of Until Waverly

“What? What the fuck are you talking about?”

I met his gaze, arching a brow. His shoulders rounded. His gaze dropped to the floor as he shook his head. A derisive chuckle slipped from his lips, hurting my soul.

“I can’t keep doing this. I don’t want to, either.”

“That makes two of us,” I whispered. “I think I can take care of things now, Jackson. You can go home.”To her.I left the last part off, feeling my heart shatter in my chest for the second time in as many months.

“Not happening, sunshine. I’m staying to help you and Alandria. I’m here so we can figure out where shit went sideways and get us on the right track.” The determination in his gaze warred with the anguish. I didn’t understand how he could be so damn contrary. He had a ready-made life waiting for him at home. He didn’t need to be with me anymore.

Alandria was our priority now.

“Look, Jackson, I—” A knock came at the front door, breaking the moment. “Could you get that? I’m famished.”

He grunted, pushing off the sink to grab the door. He stopped at my side as another knock came. “We’re not done with this conversation. Not by a long shot, sunshine. I will learn the truth.”

I didn’t answer, instead choosing to stick a fork filled with hot food into my mouth.Idiot.I couldn’t think about Jackson’s words or how despondent he’d been. I couldn’t remember the good times or how much I wanted his hands on me again for fear of giving into the desires I’d had for him. I could never have him. Even if I loved him. Why couldn’t he see I was trying to do the right thing?

“Cobi?” Jackson said, drawing my attention away from my meal.

“Hey Jackson,” Cobi said. “Are we interrupting? We need to speak with Waverly.”

“Let them in, Jackson.” I knew this moment was coming. Like I’d done with Jackson, I’d avoided talking to the police while laid up in the hospital, not mentally ready to do so. I had to untangle my memories. Push back the dark curtains covering those last moments before my world had been upended, and I’d woken up in a hospital bed.

Jackson stood aside. His rangy frame filled with tension as he glared at both men. “I’ll ask that you don’t upset Waverly. She is still tired and not eating well. Also, Alandria is napping.” The growly edge of his voice made me tingle. I shouldn’t find him or that attractive, yet here we were.

Cobi lifted his hand, as if understanding Jackson while dismissing him. “We’ve already been over this with Mack, kid. We get it.”

“I’m not a kid,” Jackson said. Some of the strain from our conversation bled into his words, and he winced.

Cobi glanced at him, then frowned. “Sorry. You’re absolutely right. This case has us all a little fucked up right now. My apologies, Jackson.”

He nodded. “Accepted. Can I get you anything to drink? Coffee? Water?”

The smug asshole had gone out the other morning and bought me a proper coffee maker with an espresso press. He also brought his French press from home. He disgusted me.Pretentious asshole.

Still, I drank the coffee.

“Coffee sounds great,” Franks said. “Thanks, Jackson.”

“My pleasure.” He went to the fridge first and grabbed a bottle of water out, then placed it beside me before kissing the crown of my head, raising the ire in me. I swallowed down the snappy retort building and went back to eating. He was right. The dick had been so sure about everything. Yes, I could pump for Alandria, but it appeared, because I wasn’t fully following doctor’s orders, i.e., getting enough sleep, eating properly, and taking my pain meds when I should, my supply had dwindled, and we were using donor milk along with supplementing with formula. Another thing to add to the list of failures for me.Stubborn is as stubborn does.

“How are you feeling, Waverly?” Cobi asked, pulling me from my fractured thoughts.

“Sore but better.” I shrugged. “How is baby boy?”

Cobi frowned. “As best as expected right now.”

Yeah, I feared as much. Traumatic births like his, especially when mom died on the way to the hospital, then was brought back, never went as well as they did, if mom died on the table and not in the field. It was a miracle the little boy was still fighting. “Good. His father should cling to that knowledge.”

“That’s why we’re here,” Cobi said. “The DA is thinking of dropping the charges to something lesser.”

Sounded responsible to me. The man had been out of his mind with grief. He wasn’t thinking straight. He’d taken the L&D hostage because that was where his wife should have been. Not in an OR or on the roof of the hospital, dying from the impact of the accident. “The situation is messed up, Cobi. I can’t say I know what I’d do in that position, but having Alandria taught me one thing—she comes first. Always.”

He nodded. “As it should be.” He accepted the coffee from Jackson, as did Franks. “Thanks, man. Congrats, I guess, are in order for you. Couldn’t say as much that night. Too busy.”

Jackson grunted again. Damn caveman. “Thanks, man. I appreciate it.” He grinned, slipping his phone from his pocket as pride and love filled his features. “She is a spitting image of me and her momma.” He turned his phone to Cobi.

“Ah hell, kid. You’re going to have your hands full with a redhead.” Cobi chuckled.

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