Page 84 of Darlin'

"Shhh..." I shake my head, closing my eyes, refusing to leave the bubble of artificially constructed safety we've created. I place my hand in his, weaving our fingers together. "Let's not talk right now, okay?" I swallow, feeling the bubble on the verge of popping. "Let's just...enjoy."

"Okay." Jesse pulls me into his arms, my head nuzzling into his chest as he kisses my damp temple. "I missed you, princess."

"You were only gone for a couple of days," I mutter, relaxing into his hold.

"That's the problem," he whispers so quietly that I barely register his voice. A big problem. For both of us. "We uh—we gotta get going soon." He swallows, and I feel the ripples through his chest. "The hospital's expecting us at noon."

"Almost forgot about that." I glance up at him, fighting the urge to fall asleep. Jesse's distant expression catches me off guard. "You okay?"

"Yeah," he says, his grip around my shoulder tightening. "Just not a big fan of hospitals."

"Wh—" I close my mouth immediately. His mother. That must be it. I stretch up, giving his cheek a gentle kiss. "We don't have to go if you don't want to."

"No, I think it's time. Can't avoid it forever." He manages a weak smile. "Plus, you're coming, right?"

"Mhmm," I hum, guilt creeping up in my stomach as my phone chimes, and I'm reminded of the incriminating evidence stored in my photo gallery. "Of course."

"Then I'll be fine," he says, sitting up. "It's like a band-aid. Just gotta rip it off."

"Right," I agree half-heartedly, knowing my band-aid is holding together a wound that would make everyone around me bleed out in seconds.

I can't rip this band-aid.

Not yet.

Not now.

Billy's truckbeeps as he backs up into the side entrance of San Diego Children's Hospital, boxes upon boxes of toys stacked in the bed. Jesse nervously puffson a cigarette while he paces back and forth beside me, my brother motioning for Billy to put on the brakes.

"That's good, Billy!" Beau hollers, tapping the side of the truck. He unlocks the tailgate, leaping into the box. "All right, boys, all hands on deck."

Tiny, Rocco, Ryder, and the rest of The Sons converge around the truck and begin unloading all the gifts, passing them to Pippa and Jo, who place 'em on a rolling cart decorated with glitter and colorful stickers.

"Sav!" Marlow calls out, clipboard in hand, as Jesse lights up another smoke. That's his fourth one in twenty minutes. "Could use your help here!"

"One second!" I yell back before tugging on Jesse's sleeve. He almost jumps as if he hasn't seen me standing beside him the entire time. "Hey, are you okay? We can go home if you want."

"What?" Jesse straightens his posture, casting me a concealed side-eye. "I'm fine, princess. Go help Marlow." I hesitate, pursing my lips. He sighs. "I'm fine, Savannah, okay? Just go. I'm good here."

"Okay," I hum, not believing him for a second. Marlow waves frantically at me, the Minnie Mouse ears on her head nearly falling to the floor. I snort. "She's like a walking sugar crash, ain't she?"

"Huh?" Jesse's brows scrunch up as he follows my gaze, his mind absent once again. "Oh, yeah. A total character."

"Jesse..."

"Go," he states, giving me a nudge as he flicks hissmoke away. "I'm good."

I join Marlow and the girls, unable to stop thinking about Jesse and his new-fangled dictionary.

"I want the red one!"Liam yells, beaming as he points to the monster trucks in Beau's hand. He glances up at his mom, who's hovering by his bedside. "Or is the blue one cooler?"

"Whichever one you want, sweetie." His mother laughs, but there's an undeniable sadness in her voice as she rubs her child's back. "I think the red one's nice too."

"Can I have both?" Liam whispers, gaze whipping between the two toys.

"Don't be?—"

"Of course, you can." Beau smiles, passing Liam both trucks. He winks at the child. "Make sure you share, though, okay?"

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