irrevocable

{Eight- part 2}

Willow // Taylor Swift

Jackson

I woke up today wishing Holly was in my arms. Making out with her on the couch last night hit home how little time we get alone. It's gotten harder and harder to leave her when I have to. I miss her when we're apart and I worry about her constantly.

All the fucking time. I've taken to texting her first thing in the morning. I hate that she takes the bus, so I begged her to let me know when she's leaving for work or errands and when she gets back. Her neighborhood is shitty so even when she is home, I worry. I've never been this focused on the wellbeing of another person in my entire life.

Today, a text isn't enough to keep me sane, so I call her.

"Morning," she says when she answers. I hear the sleep still in her voice.

"I'm sorry I woke you."

"You didn't."

"Clearly, I did, baby. I can tell by your yawns."

She sighs. "I was up a lot last night. Mom's cough was bad.

It had been bad when I was over, too. That was the whole reason we had stayed in, to help take care of her mom.

"When do you get off work?" I ask, planning to pick her up so she doesn't have to ride the bus home.

"Not working today. I called in sick because there's no way after the night I had I can focus for eight hours. My boss understands my situation with mom."

I nod, formulating a plan. I work remotely anyway. I can work remotely at her house. I start packing up my laptop and some notes as I talk with her.

"I'll grab us some coffee and donuts then I'm heading over."

"What do you mean?"

I smile at the hopeful sound in her voice.

"I mean, I can get my work done over there. You can rest and I can help your mom if she needs it."

There's silence on the other end of the call that stops my hand halfway to my messenger bag.

"Are you...not wanting me to come?" This wasn't a possibility when I started planning.

"Of course I do." Her voice whispers. "I can't believe you want to do this."

"I'll never not want to spend time with you when I can." I resume my packing and head for the door of the shop, hop in my truck and start it up, all while still talking to Holly.

"I'll be there in twenty minutes." I tell her as we wrap up. "See you soon."

"Okay."

***

Holly

I wake from the best nap ever, stretching my arms above my head. The minute I finished the fresh donut that Jackson brought me, he ordered me back to bed. I must have dozed off a few times while chewing. He was so cute about it, too. He marched me into my room, threw back the covers and tucked me in before kissing my forehead.

"Sleep," he'd said. "I'll make sure your mom has anything she needs." I'd nodded off almost the second he closed my door, secure in the fact that he was taking care of us.

Now I feel alive again and I can't wait to throw my arms around him.

I pad down the hallway in my socks and sweats but when I get to the front room, no Jackson. My heart sinks. Did he leave already? I check the clock and see the time is still early afternoon, but maybe he had something to take care of. I check the table and counters for a note, but nothing. Then I hear some cursing from outside that's distinctly Jackson.