Chapter 22
Jayce
What can more can be more satisfying than a hot shower when every part of you is aching from lack of sleep and day-to-day hustle. I groaned as the warm water touched my naked body, warning all the distress away from me. Something a little hot can make such a difference in our lives, something that we unsee on a daily basis. Things that might be normal for one but for a luxury that barely can’t afford.
I smiled, remembering the feeling of Liam’s small, fragile body. Today was surprisingly weird and quite a hustle but in a good way.
As a child, I always took care of Grace when her mom was at work. Being an elder after my mother, I have taken on responsibilities like no one could think of. I used to like caring for children as I always took care of Grace from when I was ten. Maybe that’s one of the reasons I started babysitting children in my pocket and helping my mother in running the house.
But at some point, I was so over it, with all the crying, diapers, milk, and cranky children, that somehow I started making myself separate from them and avoiding children at any cost.
But who would have that Grace will bring back my old memories and the feeling that I used to feel in the past around children?
Today was the very first time after a while that I was not annoyed but was loving spending my time with a child.
I smiled, wiping my body from a towel. I guess that’s what I get from spending my time with Rachel. She has brought so much happiness to my life.
Things that used to bring me joy, but with time, they started to bring me despair. With Rachel in my life, the feeling of joy returned again, the joy that I used to feel back when I was young. Somehow, Rachel brought it back to life.
Maybe that is why I can’t cope with the despair of losing her and searched for her everywhere like a freak.
“Jayce, how long are you going to be in the bathroom?” Rachel called, knocking on the bathroom door, and distracting me from my thoughts.
I smiled at hearing her calling my name again. I love when I hear her calling my name. This is the joy that only Rachel provides me with, something that I have missed for so long.
“Coming,” I replied, wrapping a towel around my hip, and walking out of the bathroom.
Inside, Rachel’s eyes don’t seem to stop looking at me. Her glance is naughty that it seems like she is undressing me with her eyes, with whatever little fabric is left on my body.
“What are you doing?” I asked, even though I clearly know the answer to my question.
“Nothing, just admiring the view,” Rachel smirks, devil silly, biting her lips.Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.
I sighed. I don’t know how long I can control myself if I don’t do whatever she is doing.
“What are you wearing?” I asked, scanning the man’s T-shirt that Rachel’s wearing.
“T-shirt….” she replied, eyeing her figure.
“I can see that, but whose?” With jealousy burning in my eyes, I questioned. I don’t like how the uncertain man t-shirt is wrapped around Rachel’s figure.
“Who do you think?”
“I don’t know why I’m asking you, but I don’t like it. If you want a man’s t-shirt I can give mine,”
Rachel smiled at the words before walking to me and wrapping her arms around my neck. “You’re cute when jealous.” Rachel pinched my left cheek, treating me like a child.
“Rachel…,” I caught her hand, moving to my lips and kissing it. “You know how hard it was for me to bring you back into my life. I’m just afraid that you’ll leave me.”
“Jayce, I’ll not leave. I don’t know how much more time I have left for you.” Rachel sounded annoyed, but then kissed my lips. “And don’t worry, this t-shirt is yours,”
“What?” I questioned, scanning the shirt up close. “But…,”
Rachel interrupted before I could finish my words. “I took it with me when I was leaving you,”
“But why…?”
“Why? Because I know I will miss you, and this t-shirt makes me feel close to you,” Rachel added.
I don’t know what to say after hearing all those words. ‘You shouldn’t have left me in the first place if you miss me so much.’ I wanted to say those words, but I stopped myself. I know my words will hurt her more. “You don’t miss me now. I’m here right in front of you,” I said instead.
Rachel nodded with a big smile on her face as I wrapped my body tightly around her.
“Are you not cold?” Rachel said, rubbing her on my naked chest and back.
“Not when my girlfriend is wrapped with me,”
We stayed like these for a few minutes and I noticed Rachel with her eyes closed, her head on my shoulder, yawing. She is tired, and her body is showing clear signs of it.
I carried her petite figure on the bed, covering her with a blanket, her hands still wrapped around me, not leaving me. “Sweet dreams,” I mumbled, planting a gentle kiss on my forehead, separating myself from her, and changing into my PJs. Covering myself, cause I don’t know what will happen if I lay naked with Rachel on the same bed. Things might get pretty hot and I don’t want the latest, not today when she is so tired.
“Don’t leave me,” Rachel mumbled in her sleep, cuddling her body with mine, with her head on my shoulder.
“Never,” I mumbled, planting a kiss on my hair.
Rachel smiled even when asleep at my words, cocooning herself on my body and with the blanket.
I smiled, watching her sleeping face, something that I missed for a long time. Rachel is conscious and cuddles in my arms, her mumbling while asleep.
Something never changes, and I never want her to change a bit. Because that is what made me fall in love with her in the first place.
Rachel being Rachel. “I love you,” I kissed her forehead before closing my loosing myself in the warmth of her body.