Chapter Twenty-Eight
JESS
I opened my eyes to see my momma drinking a cup of coffee and staring down at me. She took a drink while I rubbed at my eyes and rolled back to find Jason no longer curled up against me on the sofa.
“Relax. Your white knight is outside on the phone dealing with our moving arrangements. He didn’t want to wake you.”
I sat up and looked out the small window. I could see Jason’s back as he stood there, talking on the phone. “Moving?” I asked.
“Yep. Glad we didn’t get around to unpacking most of the boxes, not that all that shit would’ve fit.”
“Where are we moving?” I asked her.
“Not sure. He’s been making all kinds of plans. I could only hear bits and pieces, but it sounds like they have the best doctors for my surgery and treatment in New York City. He’s moving you to be with me there. Then when I’m finished and have a clean bill of health, he’s making arrangements for me to have a nice gulf-front condo, and you’ll be with him.”
She had been listening to everything he said. “Not sure? Sounds like you know exactly what he’s doing,” I told her.
She shrugged. “He’s right outside the window, and he talks loud. He also isn’t a fan of this place. It makes him get all loud and angry when he mentions it.”
I ran a hand through my hair, trying to smooth it before walking to the door.
“Stop fussing with your hair. The boy is so sunk it ain’t even funny. I walked in here this morning to find him watching you sleep.”
Smiling, I opened the door and stepped outside.
Jason turned his head to me. “Yeah, I want it done today. Let me know when it’s handled. I have movers on their way now.” He didn’t say bye before ending his call and slipping the phone into his pocket and closing the distance between us. “Good morning, sleepyhead,” he teased, then pressed a gentle kiss to my lips.
“Good morning,” I said, wishing he would kiss me like I wasn’t about to break. He had treated me so tenderly last night, and now this. The memory of last night was one I would never forget, but that was then. I wasn’t fragile.
“We’ve got a lot to talk about, but right now why don’t you go get dressed and I’ll take you and your mother to breakfast.”
Letting him handle everything was easy, but it wasn’t right. Handing all my problems over to him wasn’t what this relationship was about. “What about the movers?” I asked, not sure where to start.
“They’re coming to pack your things and move them to Jax’s place in Sea Breeze for now.”
“We can’t stay at Jax’s place,” I said, thinking about his mother showing back up again. There was a good chance my momma would scratch her eyes out.
“We’re only staying tonight. We leave for New York in the morning, and your mother’s surgery is scheduled for the next day, with the best surgeon money can buy. Her recovery and chemo will also be held there, and you’re staying in the penthouse we stayed in when we were there together. It’s reserved for Jax when he needs it. He’s already got it booked for you and your mother. When she’s ready, her things will be waiting for her in a two-bedroom gulf-front condo at the Turquoise Place. Complete with maid service.”
“Jason, you can’t.”
“I can and I’m going to. I told you I was taking care of you. Let me do that.”
“Buying my momma a condo is going a little overboard,” I said.
“I have an ulterior motive,” he said, bending his head so he could press a kiss to my neck. “If your momma is happy and secure, I can convince you to move in with me. I’ve got my own apartment in Boston and no roommates. I don’t want to leave you for entire weeks at a time, and if I have you with me, I can focus on actually passing my classes.”
This all sounded too perfect. “What happens when you get tired of me or you realize I’m not cut out for your future?”
“I’ll never get tired of you. In fact, the more I’m around you the crazier I get about you. And what future of mine are you not cut out for?”
“I wasn’t raised to be a politician’s wife like Johanna,” I said.
Jason chuckled and took a nip at my earlobe. “Thank God, because I’m not letting a politician near my woman. Can’t trust the bastards.”
I tilted my head so he had to look at me instead of kissing my ear. “I’m talking about you,” I said.
He nodded. “Oh, right. More of my mother’s talk, I assume. Well, let me assure you that I don’t intend to ever be a politician. Not interested in it and never will be.”