Page 20 of Make You Love Me
“Is that normal?”
“I think it can happen after a brain injury. I’ve got him now. Call his doctor.”
She rushes back inside to grab her phone. By the time she’s connected to the on-call doctor at the hospital, Jordan’s trembling body calms. Gently, I turn his head to the left and run my hand over his hair.
“You’re okay,” I whisper. “Relax. We’ve got you.”
Josie lets out a long exhale and steps inside to talk privately with the doctor.
He lets out a moan before his eyes flutter open. Staying connected to him, I adjust my position so he can see me. “Hi, there. Everything’s okay. Josie’s here too, but she’s talking to your doctor. Don’t worry. You’re going to be fine.”
A tear escapes his eye, shattering any chance of me getting out of this arrangement unscathed. At a loss for words, I kiss his forehead, then his cheek, before pressing my lips softly to his. He’s too weak to react, and with his eyes glassy and distant,I’m not sure if he comprehends my words or presence. Then, he reaches for me, and I take his hand, holding it to my chest.
“You’re doing great, sweetheart.”
Chapter 6
Nora
After getting Jordan to the air mattress in the living room so we can watch over him, Josie and I huddle in the kitchen with a bottle of wine and a box of chocolate chip cookies.
“He looks peaceful,” Josie whispers, her hands wrapped loosely around one of the cups she bought earlier in the day.
I turn to take in the sight of him sleeping in the soft light of the sunset. “Did the doctor say he could have more seizures?”
“Yeah, but there’s nothing we can do except help him through it…like you did. How did you know what to do?”
“My last job was at a rec center, and we were required to keep up various training: CPR, first aid, diabetes. Seizure care wasn’t one of them, but I completed every certification I could find. It’s probably what helped me get the job at VETS.”
“Well, I’m eternally grateful. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
With a grin, I pat her arm. “Glad to help. But you would have figured it out.”
“Maybe. I’m an artist. I don’t deal—” Her ringing phone cuts her off, and she checks the ID. “I need to take this.”
“Sure. I should go home, anyway.”
“No. Please stay,” she says quickly. “I’ll be just a minute.” She pushes the button to answer the call but waits for my answer before speaking.
With my nod, she rushes to the bedroom to take the call. Looking around, I survey their living conditions, grateful Josie accepted my offer. The apartment is a cold, empty shell. With nothing to make it a home, or even comfortable, for that matter. No photos, decorations, furniture, curtains. My mother’s stash should remedy that soon enough, or at least give them a head start.
Before I can grab my phone to open a game or social media app to keep me company, Josie tiptoe runs back into the room. She trips on the threshold separating the hardwood area from the kitchen linoleum, catching herself on the edge of the counter. She barrels on as if it never happened, her eyes staying on me as she grabs my arm and drags me outside.
“Oh, my goddess. Oh, my goddess.”
“Goddess?” The strange saying stopped me in my tracks, and she waves it off.
“I don’t know what to do. Help.”
“Help with what? Who called?” I ask, trying to understand the root of her panic.
“Grant.”
“Who’s Grant?”
Her face scrunches as she realizes she’s talking in riddles. “Sorry. He’s my best friend and agent. I got in.” She squeals, then slaps a hand over her mouth. Her eyes dart back and forth over the concrete as she processes what she learned from this Grant guy.
“That’s great. Got in where?”
