I chuckle with annoyance then the choking sounds of Firefly pull me back into the reality of everything. I can't take it anymore. Every time she gets sick, she gets weaker.
"Hey," Joanna answers Saturday night.
"Jo." I clear my throat to breakup the emotion threatening to block my words. "She's gotta be put down. Monday." I clear my throat again.
"Oh… okay. Sure. Just bring her by Monday night okay?"
"Sure. Thanks." I hang up and head right for the liquor.
Sunday morning I call Ryley.
"Hey."
"Hey, Ryley. Listen, uh. I was wondering if you guys were around today? I want to bring Firefly over and maybe we can tell Able she has to be put to sleep Monday?"
"Oh, Jack," she breaths. "Yeah. So Jenny's coming into town?"
I let out a laugh. "No. I'll be over in a few hours."
"Oh… okay then," she says in confusion and I hang up.
As soon as Able understands what we're telling him he breaks into tears and it's almost too much for me. My nephew's upset, Ryley's upset, even Liam looks like he's heartbroken. Ryley hasn't brought Jenny up again so I'm assuming maybe she spoke to her and got the details of our breakup.
I take Monday off because I'm going to spend it with my dog. I should be spending it with my girlfriend and our dog, but, not anymore. No more dogs, I'm sure I'll date again but it won't compare…. Never mind. After Firefly has what appears to be a seizure, I get her comfortable, and to take out my aggression I go outside to break up the wood I've been collecting. Each swing of the axe is becoming more aggressive and I'm pouring sweat. I rip my tank top off like it's trying to suffocate me and get back to taking my emotions out on wood.
"How long you gonna hit that same piece of wood?" I hear her voice and freeze mid swing.
Am I going insane? Do I miss her that much?
"You not gonna say hi, Lumber-Jack? I knew you were hot... but damn, watching you do that. God, it's been too long."
I turn around to find I'm not going crazy. She's here, wearing a short green dress with long tan legs taunting me. All those pictures I've been staring at on my phone and computer don't compare.
I wipe the sweat from my forehead and just stare at her, narrowing my eyes because I feel like a complete ass for how we broke up... if we broke up....
"Uh... earth to Jack. What's wrong, are you not happy to see me?" she pouts slowly walking towards me.
Dam, the way that dress is swaying in the breeze has me all kinds of riled up for her. But I shouldn't be. We broke up.
I don't know what to say right now, so I don't. I just stare at her waiting. Not sure for what, but I'm not sure I can say anything without going off on her for how we broke up.
"You're not going to talk to me?" she whispers, so close I can smell her perfume.
Or is that just her natural smell? Dammit, I've missed that smell.
Clenching my jaw I stare at her beautiful eyes, wanting nothing more than to grab her and pull her to me.
She narrows her eyes and shakes her head. "You know," she huffs backing up and putting her hands on her hips. "I traveled hundreds of miles to surprise you because I miss you and want to be with you, and you can barely look at me!" She shakes her head. "I'm not sure what Ryley was saying yesterday but you don't look like you miss anyone. And you sure as shit don't look miserable. You know." She cocks her head narrowing her eyes at me. "Maybe this was all just a bad idea." Her face falls and I see the sadness break past before she wipes it clear with a new look of anger. "One little fight and you try to dump me! Seriously, Jack? If you can't even handle a fight, how the fuck—"
I shut her up by crashing my mouth to hers now that I know we're not broken up. Apparently a double middle finger text doesn't mean 'we're broken up'. Apparently it means 'I'm Jenny and I'm moody and pissed at you at the moment'. When her mouth opens for me I delve my tongue in and taste her, taste the only thing that can bring me solace right now. Grabbing her shoulders I hold her steady while I pull away and she wobbles on her feet a little.
"There he is." She grins, starting to trace her finger down my chest. Flicking her eyes up to me, she leans in and licks a bead of sweat that formed on my pec. "Mmm, I missed that." She backs up and puts her hands on her hips.
Those damn hips.
"Don't you think it's about time you stop being a dick, Jack? I traveled all this way to see you, and to tell you—"
"Me be a dick! You—"
She hits my chest. "Shut up. I love you, you asshole! I fucking love you, and I can't sleep because I can't stop thinking about you, and worrying about that goddamned creature inside your house, and I hate that I'm so far away from you, and... Fuck that!" She's glaring at me, smiling I think? Or just glaring?
I've never seen her this mad, but I can't tell if she's mad or just expecting something from me.
"Dammit, woman," I growl and grab her, hoisting her up to wrap her legs around me while I kiss her and head toward the house not removing my mouth from hers. "You came here to tell me that?" I grin at her while kicking the door open and guiding us inside.
"I came here for Firefly, Jack. And for you. And I realized on my long ass flight that I need you, and I love you, and yes, I came here because I love you. It wouldn't have been as awesome over text, would it?"
"I'll take it anyway I can get it." I push her against the wall and devour her mouth again, not sure if I'll be able to stop, but I have to because I need to tell her I feel the same. "Wait." I pull back when she tries to kiss me again. "Wait a second."
"What?" She huffs.
"I love you too."
"I really don't care, Jack." And her mouth is on mine again.
I start pulling at her clothes, working to get them off as fast as I can but then we're reminded why she came all this way when Firefly's wheezing rasps through the air. I jerk my head toward the living room and quickly set Jenny on her feet and we rush in.
"Oh my God... Oh, baby," she says going to Firefly's side, kneeling down by her and petting her gently. Looking up at me, her eyes glistening, she frowns. "She's so skinny, Jack." Her voice is so quiet and I notice her hand shaking as she pets our baby.
I clear my throat and scrub my beard a little. "I just figured she was slimming because we're active, ya know? It's really only become this bad in the last week." I kneel next to her and place a hand on her back and one on Firefly's side. "Shit, Jenny. This sucks," I huff.
"Is she hurting?" she whispers gently scooping her into her lap.
"Yeah," I quietly tell her and look away as I see tears fall from her eyes. "That's why she needs to be put to sleep today. I can't take it when she looks at me like I'm the one doing this to her." I quickly clear my throat because I'm going to break down. All over a dog too.
But it's not just a dog, it's our dog, a dog we both love. This is one of the hardest things I've had to deal with.
"How much longer do we have with her?" she asks, her voice cracks and I hear her sniffle.
My arm goes around her side and she lays her head on my shoulder while she gently rubs Firefly's back.
"The appointment is at six." I quickly clear my eyes and stand. "You hungry?"
She needs some time with the dog. She shouldn't have blown me off the last couple weeks, but at least she's here now.
She nods and smiles gently at me, not making a move to get up.
"Yeah," she says quietly then returns her attention to our dog.
Our dying dog.
She starts humming gently to her, petting her softly, then gets up with Firefly in her arms and moves to the couch to sit with her. Grabbing a blanket, she carefully brings it over the two of them and she starts talking to her, telling her everything she can about life in Tennessee.
Firefly's chin is on her shoulder and Jenny's cradling her like a child. I smile at the woman that one day will bear my children. Next time I think she's breaking up with me, I'll just be sure to send her a middle finger back. I bet she'd call immediately.
"What time is it?"
"We have to leave in an hour," I respond, softly running my hand down Firefly's coat.
Jenny doesn't eat, she feeds Firefly her tenderloin and I watch her cry.
Jenny is latched onto Firefly the entire drive and she carries her into the house.
"Hi, Jenny." My sister softly smiles at her.
"Hi," Jenny returns the soft smile but won't let go of Firefly.
She's trying her hardest to be strong but I can see her lip start to quiver. I kiss her head and pull her a little closer then look to Jo. We need to get this over with.
"Um, you want to lay her down?" Joanna says gesturing to the exam table where Joanna's placed a soft dog bed.
"Oh. Um. No. I... can't I just hold her?" Jenny's eyes flick almost frantically to mine then to my sister's. "I'll sit with her on my lap. I just... I have to. Please," she whispers.
Joanna looks at me sadly and I quickly look away. I don't want to put our dog down but what hurts more is Jenny's grief.
Goddammit, I hate this.
When Jenny sit's I wrap my arm around her and watch as Jo prepares a needle. Jo doesn't say anything, she injects Firefly and the dog doesn't even react, she just inhales a labored breath and the only other sound is Jenny's whimper.
"It'll take a few minutes," Joanna softly says while rubbing Jenny's arm.
Firefly opens her eyes and looks up at me and there's a quiet squeaking noise that's only getting louder. Then the smell hits.
"Oh god!" Jenny boasts and Firefly licks her face, maybe as an apology for bombing us one last time.
I've been dealing with her dog farts, I'm used to them, but Jenny's in snorting laughter while tears roll down her face. Joanna's trying not to laugh while she pushes a stethoscope to Firefly then she nods. Our dog, our first pet, the whole reason me and Jenny are together, is gone.
When we leave Joanna's, Jenny is a mess and I help her into the truck.
"Was your niece here?" She asks through her sobs.
"No. She's at Ryley's." I smile and kiss her forehead. When I get in, I grab her arm and tug her toward me. "Thanks for coming," I stupidly say and she scowls at me.
"Of course I'd be here for this, Jack. I just needed time to digest what was happening. She was ours!" Her eyes widen and she shifts in the seat to glare at me. "I'm not the devil, Jack. I care for the things... the people... I love."
"You wouldn't return my texts or calls, Jenny. I—"
"Oh, I'm so sorry that I can't deal with death. You don't know the half of it, but I don't do death. I can't handle it, so I just don't. Why do you think I chose a profession that brings life into this world?! Because me and death don't exactly see eye to eye."
I chuckle and pull her to kiss her forehead.
"Yeah, well, me either, and I'm glad you're here because I needed you for this." I lean back to look her in the face and she's still scowling. "Is this where we flip each other off?" I grin and she doesn't want to laugh but she does while she shoves me.
"You made me mad."
"I know that, that was apparent." I start the truck and she leans her head on my shoulder.
The plan is to get her home, make her some food because she fed hers to Firefly and I know she's probably hungry, but the second we walk through the door, her mouth finds mine, but this isn't her usual forceful lusting kiss, this is gentle and soft and asking for me to help her through this.
That I can do.
I pick her up and walk her to the bathroom turning on the tub faucet. When she goes to undress herself, I stop her.
"This is my job." I gently unzip her dress and let my hands meet any part of her flesh I can get to. "I missed you, sweetheart," I grumble trying to subdue the raw emotions I'm feeling right now.
She's still got tears in her eyes and when I look down at her, she pulls my mouth to hers again.
I finish undressing her and set her in the tub then watch as she watches me undress. When I'm naked, she reaches her hand out and I'm ready for her to grab my cock, that's a jenny move, but she doesn't, she's reaching for my hand and I can't deny what she's asking for right now. Tonight I will not bring out the authoritative Jack that makes her beg for her release. Tonight I'm going to make love to the woman I love, the woman that loves me and confirm that everything between us is exactly how it should be.
I spread her legs and lean in for another kiss, and while I do, she slips me inside her and moans quietly with the intensity of our connection. It's been a long time since I've been here and I didn't think it'd feel this good once I got between her thighs again.
"Jack," she whispers with her moan.
"I love you," I say and cover her lips with mine again.
The feel of her nails pushing into my back makes me grunt. Makes me wish her permanent mark would be left in my flesh.
"I love you so much," she whimpers and I feel her tightening around me, causing me to push a little harder because she's becoming too restrictive.
"Come for me, Jenny." I softly kiss down her neck. "I've needed this for too long," I tell her pushing a little harder and feel the start of her vibrating thighs.
When she opens her eyes after her come down, I pick her up, abandoning the tub. I need her in my bed. Water drips from us, but I don't care right now as I'm still buried inside her, walking toward my room.
"You're beautiful, sweetheart," I tell her while I lay her in the bed and she moans, finding my mouth.
This night can go on forever and I don't want it to end because I know it'll be a long time before we have this again.
"Come with me, Jack," she moans on the brink of her fourth orgasm.
I pick up the pace a little, ready to let go when she does. The sound of her cellphone starts wailing from the bathroom but I don't care if it was the smoke alarm, nothing's going to stop us from coming together.
"Baby," she gasps, her eyes fluttering.
"Yeah, sweetheart?"
"No. Baby," she moans grabbing my shoulders.
"You want it harder?"
"No, Jack, the baby's on the way!" she blurts shoving the heels of her hands into my shoulders so I stop.
"What baby?" I jerk out of her and away from the bed.
Baby? What the hell is she talking about?
I'm looking at her stomach and my eyes fearfully travel downward, afraid I'm going to find her giving birth to a child or something insane.
"Jack!" She belts out then starts laughing uncontrollably as she rolls out of the bed. "That's my emergency line ringtone. Ryley's having the baby!" She squeals running for the bathroom to get her phone.
So when I said nothing was going to stop us from coming together... yeah, that stopped everything except the blue-balls as I hauled ass to the hospital.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
SHE'S ABSOLUTELY PERFECT
JENNY
Jack grumbles something about his balls but I just laugh. Ryley's having the baby! I'm going to get to see her when she's born!
"Eeep! Jack this is so exciting!" I squeal as he finds a parking spot.
He rolls his eyes at me and smiles, adjusting himself for the hundredth time since we've left his house.
"Oh my gosh, I wonder if they'll let me help! Oh my God, I could deliver my niece!" I'm so giddy I practically jump out of his massive truck, not missing a step as I continue my speed walk into the hospital.
I'm fairly certain Jack's still behind me, and though he was smiling last time I looked at him, he's also walking funny. Do blue balls make you walk funny? Who cares!? I'm having a baby! Okay, well... Ry's having a baby, but I'm getting a new baby to call me 'Aunt Jenny'!
It's about two in the morning, and for Wisconsin it's not too cold. Mid-fifties, a slight breeze and a hell of a lot of people in the ER.
Holy shit!
Quickly making our way through the mass of injured idiots, the majority of them seemingly
drunk teens, we follow the signs to the elevators that will take us to the maternity ward. This hospital is actually a lot nicer than the one I currently deliver out of, which makes me smile that she's getting better care up here than she did when she had Able.
God, everything's so different this time around. I still remember the day he was born. That was the day I really decided to go into this field. I always knew I wanted to be a doctor but it wasn't until holding him for the first time that I knew this is the route I wanted to take.
By the time the elevator stops, Jack's adjusted himself three times and I'm chuckling at how uncomfortable he looks. I make sure to brush against him on the way out of the elevator, letting my hands trickle downwards and rake over him before leaving the elevator. He groans and follows a short distance behind me. Walking into the waiting room, I see Able sleeping in Liam's arms. So peaceful, especially compared to Liam's frantic look.
"Hey, dude, baby time," Jack says smiling from the doorway.
I can't help but giggle as Liam's eyes go wide and his eyes flick back and forth from me to Able to Jack.
"It's all gonna be ok... you know that, right?" I ask grinning.
"Yeah… yeah, but... the screams. I think she broke my hand earlier on the way here. You're going in there with her, right? She's already threatened to filet my dick. I like my dick," he whispers flexing his hand and staring at me frantically.
I can't help but laugh at him. I forgot he wasn't at Able's birth. Obviously he didn't brush up on his knowledge of how mean women can get during childbirth.
"I will be if she wants me, of course. Right now, though, you're going to hand the sleeping child over and go back in there with your wife." I stress wife because he looks so scared right now I wouldn't put it past his dumb ass to bolt out of here.
He nods silently and stands, passing Able off to Jack.
"Now, Uncle Jack is taking Able back to his house. Liam, you're going to take me to see Riley. Then you're going to get me and you some coffee, but I swear to Christ, if you bring it in that delivery room I will personally dick punch you. She can't eat or drink anything right now I'm guessing… no need to torture the poor girl anymore."
Bang: Challenge Accepted Page 20