Page 93 of Jessica's Hero
“Jess.” Skepticism tinges his voice. “Are you just telling me you feel okay so I don’t worry?”
“Of course not.”
“You don’t have to hide things from me. I’m not going to freak out if you tell me your head is bothering you.”
This time I’m the one looking at him in disbelief.
“Fine,” Kane amends. “Maybe I’ll worry a little.”
I snort, which hurts my head, but I can’t help it.
“Can you blame me?” he asks. “I just want to make sure you’re okay. And I’d rather you tell me than keep it to yourself.” A beat, and then he busts out the one argument I can’t dispute. “If the positions were reversed and I was the one hurting, wouldn’t you want to know?”
“Yes,” I admit. “Of course I would.” A beat, and then, “Fine. I’m a little cold. And my head hurts a bit. But it’s nothing too bad. I don’t need to lay down or takeanother pain killer or have my feet rubbed for an hour. Really.”
“But you didn’t rule out the Michelin starred meal. Or the hot tub.”
“Kane. Do you even realize how much food we have here? I think everyone who visited brought something to eat. I think we’re stocked up on meals for a month, at least.”
Which makes me feel pretty awesome, when I think about it.
Ever since we got back home yesterday evening, we’ve had a steady stream of visitors bringing gifts and food and offers to help. Thea and Ben stopped by with a huge gift basket filled with recovery supplies, as Thea called them, like the chilled eye masks and herbal teas and aromatherapy candles. Grant came over loaded down with at least half a dozen casserole dishes from Scarlett and the promise to help build a fence around Kane’s house as soon as possible so I’d feel even safer. Ari brought over a sweet stuffed bunny this morning, with the explanation, “I know you have Kane to snuggle with. But this guy is stuffed with lavender and he’s weighted to help with anxiety. So I thought he might help, too.”
And they weren’t the only ones who stopped by for a quick visit. Cole and Zane came over once they got back from Plattsburgh to make sure I was okay. Ian and Rose stopped by with muffins and pastries from the Hungry Horseman this morning. Oliver and Shea brought over dinner from Antonio’s last night along with a gorgeous flowering plant that brightens the room.
Even Mrs. Plimpton got into the mix, knocking on the door at seven this morning with her own pile of casseroledishes to share. “You need anything,” she informed me, “don’t hesitate to ask. I know some of the people in this town are small-minded jerks, but they don’t speak for all of us.”
It’s kind of surreal, really.
All these years spent believing that no one liked me, that I’d never get out from underneath the shadow I created, and now I’m finally realizing the truth.
It wasn’t everyone.
I wasn’t a terrible person.
Therearepeople who want me here.
“Jess?” Kane touches my chin, gently tipping my head up to look at him. “Are you sure you’re not hurting worse than you said?”
“I’m not. Why?”
He brushes his thumb across my cheek. “Because you have tears in your eyes.” Worry darkens his gaze. “Maybe we should go to the hospital just to be safe. Or I can call Scarlett to come over, since she’s a nurse, if you’re really set on not going.”
Am I crying?
I guess I am; a little. But it’s not from pain. It’s from the warmth filling my heart.
“It’s not that,” I assure him. “I was just thinking about everyone who came over. And everything I used to think about living in Sleepy Hollow.”
Kane stares at me for a second. His lips thin. After a heavy exhale, he says, “I wasn’t going to bring this up yet. Not with everything else. But if it’s something weighing on you…”
“What do you mean?”
“I know living here hasn’t been easy for you. Shit.That’s a massive understatement. Some of the people, they’ve been horrible to you. It makes me so damn—” Pausing, Kane puffs out another breath. “Anyway. It doesn’t matter how I feel about it. The only thing that matters is howyoufeel.”
“Kane. What are you talking about?”
“I’ve been thinking about it a lot. You living in Sleepy Hollow. How, after everything, you might want to move someplace else. Get a fresh start.”
