Adam: Cupcakes
Nessa: Cookies
Wes: Cupcakes
Trey: Cookies
Calla: Both
Forest: I can do both. Make a list of what types of cookies you guys want. Also, I’m running late. It’s been an interesting morning.
Wes: Dude, that’s code for you got laid. Way to go!
Trey: You’re such a horse’s ass, Wes. He was being discreet.
Calla: Wes discreet? Not when it comes to sex. I’m shocked he doesn’t tell you guys everytime we have great sex.
Forest: Haha…yeah, I don’t need to know about your sex life. Be there shortly.
The bickering between my friends continues, and I grab a coffee, my keys, and my wallet as I head out, stopping long enough to lock the door and wish for the millionth time that I was in bed with Jax.
Soon. Maybe tonight I can talk her into sleeping in my bed with me.
Taking the stairs by twos, I make it to the lobby in record time. The bellman is busy with one of the other tenants as I make my way onto the elevator to the parking garage. When I get to my truck, I send one more text, this time to Jax. I know she won’t get it right away, since she didn’t have her phone with her.
Forest: God I wish I could’ve stayed in bed with you. Tonight, after we put Ella down, can we revisit the rules and talk about you moving in? Don’t respond until we talk tonight.
Chapter 12
Ella
Since walking in on Dad kissing Jax this morning, I haven’t been able to contain my excitement. It’s the first time I’ve wanted to say, “Screw the rules,” and turn on my phone here at school to see what everyone has to say about it. But I don’t. I don’t want Dad mad at me, and I’d hate to disappoint him. Not that I think Dad would get angry and hit me. He rarely even raises his voice, but I want to be as perfect as I can, since I was unexpectedly dropped in his lap. Plus, Dad gives me more freedoms than Mom and Piper ever gave me, and I don’t want to mess those up. Most of my friends here at school, and the ones on the team in Houston, have so many rules to follow, and when they break them, they get in a lot of trouble. I never liked when I got in trouble with Mom and Piper, so I’m not willing to risk it now.
“Ella,” Ms. Scott calls, and my attention is drawn back to class.
“Yes ma’am?” I respond, hoping I didn’t miss a question.
“Do you have your permission slip?” she asks, and I look through my folders but don’t see the paper.
My forehead scrunches, and I bite my lower lip. I really want to go on the field trip, and now I’m not going to be able to go.
“I don’t see it, Ms. Scott. Is there anyway I could call my dad and ask him to bring it?” I cross my fingers that she says yes.
“Call him at lunch and see if someone can drop it off, but if he can’t get it here today, you’re not going to be able to go.”
“I understand ma’am,” I say, holding in my frustration with myself.
Where did I leave the paper?
Ms. Scott starts class, and soon my mind fills with math problems. As time ticks by, I can’t stay focused on our new lesson. In fact, I feel a little fussy, and my tummy starts to do somersaults. I raise my hand, and when Ms. Scott calls on me, I ask to go to the nurse’s office. Ms. Scott walks over to me and places her wrist on my forehead.
“You do feel a little warm.” She grimaces before signing the hall pass in her hand and passing it to me. She sinks down so we’re eye to eye. “Take your phone too, in case you need to call your dad. I’m betting you’ll get ahold of him before the nurse can.”
I nod, slowly sliding out of my chair and going to my cubby. I pull my phone out of my bag and head to the nurse’s office. Halfway down the hall, I stop at the restroom and yak.
Ugh, I haaaate being sick.
I yak a few times before I make it to the nurse.
So much for my good day.
There’s a line of kids in the nurse’s office as I walk in. Placing my note on the desk, I find Taylor in the office too.
“Here, Ella. You can have my chair. You look a little green,” Taylor says, getting up out of the chair.
“Thanks, Taylor.” I move toward him, but at the last second, head toward the bathroom instead. Another student exits just in time.
“Ella, are you okay?” I hear Taylor ask from the other side of the door.
“I don’t think so,” I manage. Right before yaking again.
When I finally stop puking, I leave the bathroom and find Nurse Davis and Taylor standing right outside the door. Taylor is frowning, and I’m not sure what I did to upset him this time.
“Ella, let’s call your parents,” Nurse Davis suggests, moving to her desk as I pull out my phone. “Let’s try mine first, shall we? What’s your mom’s number?”
There’s a gasp from beside me, and I turn to see Taylor’s horror-filled face. I guess not everyone knows about my mom’s passing. Nurse Davis glances between me and Taylor, and her expression changes, as if we’ve done something wrong.
“Ella, the number?” she urges again.
“I’ll have to look up my dad’s number. I don’t know it off the top of my head,” I tell her, being a little more bratty than I normally would talk to an adult.
I power on my phone, and all at once, the messages go off. While I really want to read them, I want to get ahold of my dad more. I pull up his cell phone number and hold my phone out for Nurse Davis to read it. As she’s dialing Dad, I send out a text to everyone, knowing it will get someone’s attention.
Ella: I’m sick and puking. Will someone please come get me? The nurse is trying to call you now, Dad.
“Mr. Hartley, this is Nurse Davis.” There’s a long pause. “Oh, I’m sorry Mr. Jenson. I thought you were Ella’s father.” Another pause. “I see...um...I’m calling because Ella is in my office, and she’s been vomiting.”
Wes: Hang tight, cutie. Your dad is dealing with the nurse now. He’s not really happy with her.
Ella: I can only imagine. She wanted Mom's number.
Calla: Good grief! Can’t they look things up in their computers?
Nessa: What a fucking idiot…. Sorry Ella, I’ll add to the jar.
Adam: Haha! Now we need a cuss jar just for when we text with you .
Trey: I’ll get the soup on. Chicken noodle work for you?
Ella: Chicken noodle will be great, Uncle Trey. I just hope it stays down.
“Yes, sir. I’ll make sure the office knows. You’ll need to add her to the list if Ms. Joclyn Sark isn’t on it already. As long as Ella can vouch for her this time, I can release her into her custody,” Nurse Davis says before saying goodbye.
Dad: Jax texted and said she could pick you up. See if the nurse will let you go get your things. I don’t have much confidence in her. I’ll get home early. I just need to get the desserts prepped for tonight then Calla, Wes, and Trey can handle the rest. Love you, baby girl.
Ella: Thanks, Dad. Love you too.
Sliding my phone in my pocket, I look up to find Nurse Davis watching me.
“My dad would like me to have all my school stuff with me before Jax gets here to pick me up,” I explain, as my tummy starts doing somersaults again.
“I’ll have Taylor walk you back to class to get your things. Make it quick, though. He needs to get back to class too.” She hands me a piece of wood with NURSE in big block letters. “Take this pass.”
Taylor and I head for the door and start the long walk back to our hallway. He doesn’t say anything for a while. Our steps are in line with one another as we walk side by side. My heart is racing from being this close to him without any of our friends around. Which isn’t helping my upset stomach.
“Sorry you’re not feeling well,” Taylor finally says, and I’m shocked he’s actually speaking to me. He never speaks to me without Alexander and Dylan around.
“Me too,” I respond, not sure what else to say.
He’s quiet the rest of the way to my classroom as I wonder
what the hell just happened.
If I think cuss words, do I need to pay the jars? Would they really hold it against me if they knew Taylor spoke to me? Dad and everyone would understand. It happens.
“Hey, Ella?” Taylor speaks up again as he heads for his class. “Can I maybe call you this weekend and see how you’re doing?” I do a double-take.
“You want to call me?” I question, and he nods. “I don’t have any paper.”
Taylor pulls out a folded piece from his pocket, along with a pencil. I glance between him and what he’s handing me.
“I write down the times I go see Nurse Davis for my meds,” he explains as I take the paper and pencil from him. Quickly, I scribble my number down and give them back to him. “Thanks. I’m going to head to class. Will you be able to make it back to the office without me? If not, I’ll walk you back.”
“I think I’ll manage. Thanks, though,” I say, and Taylor waves bye to me as I enter my classroom. I grab my belongings and ask Ms. Scott if she can give me the work for the rest of the day. Within minutes, I’m heading back to the nurse’s office to wait for Jax to pick me up.
I don’t have to wait long before someone from the office comes back to get me.
“Ella Hartley, there’s a Jax Sark here to pick you up,” the lady tells me.
Grabbing my things, I slide off the bed and follow the lady out. As we round the corner for the main office, I spot Jax waiting by the exit. She doesn’t seem happy. With her arms crossed over her chest, she bites her lip. In fact, the closer I get, I can tell that it’s her unhappy––or rather worried––face. I’ve only seen it a few times. When the office lady pushes through the door, Jax runs over to me, wrapping her arms around me.
“Come on, girlie. Let’s get you home. Everyone is worried sick about you,” she says as she grabs my hand, and we make our way out of the building.
Chapter 13
Jax
Getting that call from Forest earlier and having to pick Ella up from school because she’s sick, I now understand all of Dad’s fussing over me after Mom passed. I’m so freaking worried about Ella, it's not even funny. She doesn’t look so hot. Her coloring is a tad off from this morning. I need to text Forest that I have her.
Jax: I have our girl. I’ll get her home and tucked in.
Farest: You’re amazing! Thanks for picking her up. I owe you big. Remind me to add you to the pick-up list if you want me to. Then we won’t have to go through hoops like this in the future.
Jax: That would be great. I’d like to be able to pick her up on my days off––if your parents would be okay with it.
Forest: I’m sure my parents wouldn’t mind. We’ll talk about it tonight when I get home.
Jax: I’ll let you know when we are home. We’re just getting in the car now.
Forest: Sounds good. Talk soon.
Ella easily gets into my SUV, even though she doesn’t have her booster seat. I guess I need to get one of those too.
“Let’s stop and get you some crackers and ginger ale. In the meantime, I have something for you,” I tell her before closing the back door.
“Will that help settle my tummy?” she asks when I get into the vehicle.
“It could. There’s no guarantee, though. When we get home, we’ll bundle up on the couch and watch movies until you fall asleep or your dad gets home,” I offer, putting the key in the ignition and starting the car.
“What do you have for me?” Ella asks, and I pass back a thin, brown paper bag. She takes it out of my hand. “You got me more comics?”
“I did.”
“Wonder Woman...that’s so cool!” Her excitement fills me with a sense of joy.
Unlike when Forest and I picked up Ella at the beginning of the week, there isn’t a line of cars waiting to get out of the parking lot. Somehow, luck is on our side as we head to the store, because every light is green along the way. Pulling into the grocery store parking lot, I find a spot close to the front.
“Jax, my tummy is doing somersaults again,” Ella informs me when I help her out of the car.
“Do you think you can make it inside so I can get you to the restroom?” I ask, grabbing Ella’s hand and closing the car door behind me.
“I think so,” she responds, and we quickly make our way into the store and find the restroom.
Ella dry heaves for a good five minutes before we pick up crackers, soda, and a few other things I’m not sure Forest has that Ella might need. Back in the car, I pop a ginger ale open and pass it over to her.
“Just sip it. Do you want the crackers now or when we get home?” I start to pull the box out of the bag.
“I’ll wait,” she says. I start the car and pull out of the parking spot, heading for the road. “Jax, do you think of my apartment as home?” Ella stares at me in the rearview mirror.
Glancing between Ella and the road, I don’t answer right away. Do I think of their place as home? I called it home while I texted with Forest, didn't I? Huh. I wasn't expecting the answer to be that easy. I’ll be damned...I do want to live with Forest and Ella.
“To answer your question, I do. You and your dad are family to me now.”
Pulling to a stop at the first red light I hit, I pick up my phone and send a new text.
Jax: I don’t need to wait until you get home to answer your question about moving in. I want to. You and Ella are home to me.
The light turns green, and I head home. I need to make a few phone calls. Especially to my dad.
“Jax, are we close to home yet? I think I’m going to be sick again.” From the mirror, I see Ella cover her mouth, and I start to change lanes. “I think I can make it home. It went back down.” Her voice is too soft. Nothing like her normal happy, cheery self.
“Okay. I’ll get us there quickly.” I change lanes again, picking up a bit of speed.
Pulling into the garage, I park and get Ella, along with the groceries, out of the car. We head into the building and make our way up to the apartment. Once inside, Ella runs down the hall to the bathroom, and I follow behind her, leaving the groceries by the door with my purse. I hold Ella’s hair back as she vomits the ginger ale.
“As soon as you stop dry-heaving, I’ll get you on the couch and bring you some meds. Then we’ll watch some movies. How does that sound?”
“I think I’m done for now. My tummy isn’t doing somersaults right now,” she informs me, her bottom lip sticking out in a pout.
Pulling her into my lap, I hold her close, rocking her for a minute or so and humming 7 Years by Lukas Graham, one of her favorite songs. I try to stand with Ella after I end the song, but I wobble and have to set her down.
“I’ll walk,” Ella says as I prepare to pick her up.
“Okay, let’s get you to the couch. Do you want your blanket and pillow?” I ask, heading for Ella’s room.
“I’ll get it. I’m going to change out of my jeans.”
“Do you need any help?” Ella shakes her head, and I head toward the kitchen. “I’ll go get your soda and crackers set up on the coffee table.”
Ella heads into her room as I pivot for the entryway where I left the groceries. Picking up the bag and the rest of our things from the floor, I walk into the living room, placing the ginger ale on the table and pulling out the crackers and opening the box. I set the crackers next to the soda and take everything else to the kitchen. From the corner of my eye, Ella catches my attention as she drags her blanket behind her on the way to the living room. Quickly putting the groceries away, I grab the Children’s Pepto and shake a dose into my hand.
“Hey, Ella, before you get comfy, can you come here so I can give you some meds?” I call to her as I get a bottle of water out of the fridge.
Ella saunters over, taking the chewable tablet from my outstretched hand. “Yuck.”
“Here you go.” I hand her the water as she chews, and she takes a small drink. “I didn’t think the ginger ale would taste that great after chewing the Pepto.”
&nb
sp; “True. That was nasty. Why does medicine taste so disgusting, yet they say it's good for you?” she asks before sipping more of the water.
“I don’t know, but if you figure it out let me know. Let's get you tucked in on the sofa.”
“Okay.” Ella leaves the kitchen as I get something to drink.
I’m making my way to the living room when I hear the buzzing of my cell phone, but I ignore it as I get Ella situated. Just as I get Ella’s blanket over her, my phone goes off again. Whoever it is can wait, even though the person calling and texting me doesn’t think so.
“What would you like to watch?” I ask, picking up the remote.
She thinks about it a minute. “Beauty and the Beast. The new one,” she responds. “It’s my favorite.”
“Mine too,” I agree, turning on Netflix and starting the movie. I pick up the can of soda and a few crackers. “Sip a little more of this and have a couple of these. Let’s see if it helps settle your tummy too.”
Taking the food and soda from me, she focuses on the movie as I get up to grab my phone. I have three missed calls and half a dozen text messages I have to work through. Not wanting to go to far from Ella in case she needs something, I step out onto the porch but leave the door cracked as I listen to the messages.
The first message is from my dad. “Jax, give me a call when you get this. I have news about the break-in. Talk to you soon. Love you.” Dad’s message ends, and I delete it and start the next one. It’s from C.J.
“Hey, Jax. I know things have been crazy for you the last week, and we haven’t been able to catch up. Since you didn’t ask to stay with me, I’m guessing you talked to Forest, and he took his head out of his ass. At least...I hope he did for your sake. We’re doing fine here, and my leg is getting better. That being said, we need to grab lunch or dinner soon. I need your opinion on some things, and I haven’t wanted to be a whiny bitch with everything you’ve got going on. Call me.” Damn that’s one of the longest messages C.J. has ever left me. Again, I delete the message and move to the next.
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