Cole & Jamie

Chapter 28

Jackson forcibly yanked the blanket from my body. I remained unmoved on the bed, perfectly content to rot with or without the blanket. I was feeling a little hot anyway.

"You need to get your ass up," he said forcefully. He stood over me with his hands on his hips like a disapproving mother.

"Why?" I groaned. "It's nice here."

"We need to get out of the apartment and get some fresh air!" Balling up the blanket, he tossed it into a chair on the other side of the room. He smacked my legs urging me to stand. "Come on, I can't watch you like this anymore."

I turned over onto my side, facing away from him. I reminded him, "It's only been a few days."

"And that's already too long." Jackson stepped out of the room, giving me a moment of relief. Good, now I can go back to feeling bad for myself in peace.

My peace was short-lived because Jackson came back into the room with a shopping bag. "I bought you a change of clothes. Now I'll be back in ten minutes and if you're not ready I'm dragging you out of this apartment wearing the clothes on your back."

"Can't you just let me lie here," I cried, desperately. "I showered and yesterday I even ate some crackers."

"A sleeve of saltine crackers is not a meal." He scooped me up and set me in an upright position. "You've been in this bed long enough. The first day was fine, I even laid here with you. The second day, I thought 'She just needs some rest.' The third day was when I started to worry. We're on day four now, Honey, and if you don't leave this house I'm calling your mom."

With that threat looming, I begrudgingly climbed out of bed. "That won't be necessary."

"Good." He gave my shoulder an encouraging squeeze. "Ten minutes."

After Jackson closed the door behind him, I stood there for a moment contemplating whether it would be worth the fight to lay back down. Jackson had about seventy pounds on me so there was no doubt he could carry me out of this apartment with ease. And I was not ready to deal with explaining any of this to my mother, so I changed.

Jackson had bought me a top, leggings, and a pair of sneakers. I didn't look at the tag but I knew it had to be some fancy Lululemon shit since he's boujee now.

I changed out of my pajamas and slipped on my new clothes. I'd have to figure out what to do with my dress later on. It would need to be dry cleaned, and who knows if I'll ever have anywhere to wear it again.

As promised, Jackson busted into the room right at the ten-minute mark. Lucky for the both of us I was tying my shoes and not changing my underwear.

"Oh, you're up." He crossed his arms across his broad chest.

I sat up. "Well you threatened me, so I had no other choice."

He shrugged, not guilty in the slightest. "I did what I had to do."

"Whatever." I reluctantly dragged my feet as we left the apartment. Even after rotting like a sack of forgotten potatoes for three days I still didn't want to go outside. The excessive sunshine was giving me a headache. 

We stopped at the bodega on the corner for two bacon, egg, and cheese bagels and drinks. In my pathetic state, I'd lost my appetite, but Jackson wasn't going to let me go another day on just saltines.

"Isn't it such a beautiful day?" Jackson inhaled deeply as we walked.

"Uh-huh," I answered around a massive bite of my bagel. Okay, maybe I was hungrier than I thought. And maybe a little fresh air isn't so bad after all.