Twisted Deceit (Deceit #3)

Chapter 26

Scrubbing a hand under my nose, I flexed my legs out, testing my achy muscles. Everything still hurt, but it was more of a stiffness now than achy. I didn’t feel much better, but my heart was still beating.

Taking a moment to talk some sense into myself, I took my time to open my eyes. I had to stop being a needy baby, letting Dawn cater to my needs. I had two legs, two arms, and it wasn’t the end of the world.

When I finally got my eyes to open, they were sticky with dried tears, causing my lashes to cling together until I rubbed at them. Only then did I feel eyes on me, but I didn’t feel like it was a threat.

My arms shook as I pushed myself to sit, the blanket falling to my hips at the movement.

“Hey, again.” Jasper’s voice was quiet enough to not startle me. I turned my head slowly to where he was on the chair closer to the TV, leg folded over a knee. “Have a good nap?”

I nodded. Surprisingly, I had. It wasn’t plagued with dreams of the past.

“My grandma sent her well wishes.” Jasper shifted, putting both feet on the ground.

Wait…wasn’t he supposed to be at work by now? Why was he still here, or I guess, here again?

“I wasn’t going to stay until you woke up, but I kinda want to see your reaction to what I got you.” I scrunched my nose up, forgetting I didn’t have my glasses on for a second. “It’s nothing bad, promise.”

I swallowed, thankful that my throat wasn’t as sore as it had been earlier. So at least something was going my way for a change.

Jasper bent to reach something that was out of my sight before slowly bringing into my view. In his hand, he held something white. I couldn’t tell what type of thing it was until he brought it closer to me.

When he was close enough to reach me, he held it out towards me. It took effort to raise my arm, reaching out to take it from him.

The soft fur was softer than anything I’d felt before. Black beads for two eyes, and rounded ears.

“I noticed you had one in your room, and thought it needed a friend.”

The bear was just the perfect size to squish against my chest, which is exactly what I did. My brain that I had talked into acting my age was long gone as I sniffed the top of the stuffed animal’s head. It smelt like a store, but it didn’t stop me from doing it again.

I took a deep breath in, letting it settle in my lungs.

Why did this man know I needed something that I didn’t even know I needed?

“Is it okay if you keep you company for a little while? Dawn is finishing up some work in the office. It’s fine if you want me to go.”

I lifted my eyes to him, trying to figure out why he kept being so nice to me. Ever since the first time I saw him, Jasper seemed to go out of his way to be kind. Even when I had to smell and look horrible.

I nodded a small quick nod. At that, his eyes lightened, like I surprised him. When really, it was the other way around.

“Cool. We can watch something. Or I could just talk your ear off, even though I’m one of the most boring people you’d ever meet.”

I didn’t care what option he wanted to choose.

“A show of some sort it is then,” he mumbled, turning the TV with a remote and finding something. There haven't been many times I’ve used this TV, preferring my tablet over anything else to watch something.

Since I was sitting, Jasper took a seat on the other side of the couch, leaving a spot between us.

“When I was a kid, and sick, my mom hated dealing with me so she’d either send me to grandma, or she’d come over to take care of me. I still don’t know why my own parents thought I was dying of the plague each time, but grandma knew exactly how to make me feel better.” Jasper scooted down, splaying his legs out before him and head leaning against the back of the couch. “She’d make me chicken noodle soup, put on some random show, and sit with me. If I was super sick, she’d show up the next day with a special treat like that teddy bear for me or my brother.”

“Yeah, my parents weren’t the greatest,” he went on after a moment. “But I think they were too busy with their lives to really want kids. We kind of got in the way of their grand plans. They didn’t hurt me or Trace but I don’t think the way they did things was right. Which is why if I ever had a kid, that kid comes first before my own wants.”

He’d make a great father.

“Dawn explained a bit to me, after I freaked out about you freaking out earlier.” He shot me a look as I stretched my legs out a bit, but kept the teddy close to my chest. “I’m sorry for touching you, again. I never meant to send you into a panic. I’ve seen kids panic, talked them down even more than once. But I wasn’t expecting you to react like that.”

I shrugged. It wasn’t his fault. It was just my stupid mind. Heck, I wouldn’t have even known how I would react.

“I hope in time, you’ll see that I won’t hurt you on purpose. Ever. And I feel horrible for causing you to get so upset. Especially when you aren’t feeling well.”

Gently, I touched his leg with my toes, hoping he’d understand that I wasn’t mad at him.

Jasper turned his face, giving me a huge grin like I had just won the biggest award. It didn’t dawn on me until afterwards what I had just done.

“I feel honored that you trust me enough to touch me,” he spoke like it really meant the world to him. “Twice today, in fact.”

I turned my gaze away, torn between embarrassment and shame. Shame at my own thoughts for wanting to be brave enough. But embarrassed that he noticed.

I wanted to think that Jasper wouldn’t dare hurt me, since he’s had plenty of chances to do so. Maybe he was really just a normal, nice guy. Not that I met many of those over the years.

“Dawn mentioned that if you weren’t feeling better in a couple of days, she’ll want you to go see a doctor.”

I huffed, pulling my foot back. Doctors were everyone’s least favorite type of person to see. I was determined to be better tomorrow anyways.

Had I said how much I hate being sick?

“Right now, you look like you’re feeling a bit better. No fever right now, at least.”

I nodded. Then, I picked up my phone to not only check the time, but write a message to him.

Surprisingly, I slept for over two hours.

Opening up the note app, I typed in the message as quickly as I could with slow motions.

Feeling better. Throat not as sore

“That’s good,” he said after reading what I wrote. “Then hopefully you’ll be better tomorrow, too.”

I sure hope so. Or at least I could pretend to be.

“Can I ask you something? You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”

I slowly nodded, then scooted so I was leaning more sideways against the back of the couch. The stuffed animal was still against my chest, and I never wanted to let it go.

“Can you tell me if I ever do something that makes you uncomfortable? I don’t want a repeat of what happened earlier. I never want to push against any limits or boundaries you have.”

I nodded. It was the least I could do after today.