"Can we please just talk about this tomorrow?" I spoke wearily.
I was tired. The show had taken hours to organise. Jasper had wanted to cancel it in one of his sour moods but he had been so excited for it before the stroke, I couldn't let him do that. I postponed the event to buy us more time, took over his contacts and made sure today was a success. He finally went along with it when he noticed me taking leave from work to get things ready for his show with the help of the gallery owner and one of Jasper's freelance assistants.
I was so proud of him. So happy to show off his talent. A lot of people had shown interest and bought the photos. All I wanted to do for now was to get some much needed sleep. Why couldn't he see that? Why didn't he care anymore that I ran myself ragged trying to make sure he was okay?
"We can sleep once you tell her to leave," Jasper maintained stubbornly. "I don't want her here, Cole. She doesn't deserve you."
"For fuck's sake, man, just stop okay. Stop bitching about her," I snapped at him and sat down hard on the bed, frustration running through my very veins.
"He's right, you know," Skye's voice said from the doorway. "I don't deserve you. You're too forgiving."
I bit my bottom lip, feeling like I was going to go crazy any second now and refused to look at anyone. Instead, I chose a spot on the floor and stared at it like my life depended on it. God, why did this have to be so hard?
Jasper was not entirely wrong. Skye could leave again and I would be helpless and heartbroken. Again. I couldn't count on her to be there for me no matter what. And I couldn't let Jasper get attached to her again if he was just going to face losing her someday. Look what had happened to him...
But I still loved Skye Madison. And I wanted her back.
"Get out of here, little girl," I heard Jasper growl from behind me. "You're not needed here anymore. We're doing just fine without you."
No, we're not. You miss her as much as I do! I wanted to scream but I just tightened my fists on the sheets. My head was starting to hurt.
She came to stand in front of me and I felt compelled to look up at her. Her beautiful blue eyes softened with compassion as she studied my expression and she smiled her soft smile before moving to bury her fingers in my hair and pulling my head forward gently so that my forehead rested against her tummy.
I inhaled deeply and closed my eyes. God, I needed this. I needed to be held so bad. I just needed to stop moving and thinking for a minute and just be. She stroked my hair and my face with her fingers and then bent to drop a kiss on my cheek.
"Get some rest, okay. Ignore Grumpy over here. I can handle his bitterness. I guess I kind of deserve it," she said, directing a serious look at Jasper. Then she glanced at me uncertainly. "I'll come back tomorrow, if that's okay."
Jasper scoffed. "Jesus, what part of 'you're not needed here' do you not understand?" he bit out rudely.
I clasped Skye's hand in mine and gave her a pained look. "Don't go," I whispered. "Please. Wear my clothes. Sleep here with me."
She appeared torn as she stood there and glanced between Jasper and I. Hell, I knew I was pushing it but I didn't want to think rationally. I didn't care anymore. I just knew I wanted her close.
"If she's sleeping here, I'm not going to," Jasper stated gruffly.
"Like hell you aren't," I growled this time and stood up abruptly to walk over to him and push his wheelchair to his side of the bed. "Ready? Here we go."
I pulled him up a little from his perch and slid him onto the bed before pushing the wheelchair away. He sat there and glared at me and I tried not to get angry with him for being so stubborn regarding this.
"Go to sleep, Jasper," I finally said and kissed him on the mouth. Then I went to Skye and placed my hands on her shoulders. "Please don't mind him. He's just...struggling. I want you to stay, baby."
She looked up at me with a disbelieving expression. "You are too good for me," she whispered. We both rolled our eyes and smiled silly smiles when Jasper snorted at her remark.
"I love you so much," she said and hugged me tight. "Please, please forgive me."
I rubbed her back and rocked a little on the spot with her, feeling happy in a long time. "I'm sorry too." My ignorance had resulted in so much damage and I was determined to make it up to these two. Starting now. "Let's just get some sleep. We'll worry about the asshole tomorrow," I said in a conversational tone.
She nodded into my chest. "Mmm. I have plans for him. Don't worry. He doesn't scare me. He never has."
"I can fucking hear you," Jasper grated and I let out a sigh.
"Come on. Get changed. Come to bed," I said and minutes later, she was lying next to me, cuddling, making me feel so warm and loved. A lightness spread across my chest and over my whole body and for the first time in weeks, I went to sleep with a smile on my face.
~~~
Skye
I woke up with the sunlight streaming in through the windows above the bed and Cole's soft breaths brushing the tendrils of hair on my forehead.
One
