Player 99

Going Back

*Justin's POV* 

When I woke up that morning, the first thing I felt was Paige's body pressed against mine. I opened my eyes. Her face was inches away from mine. Her curly brown hair was a mess, her small round nose twitched and her lips were slightly parted. Her body looked so thin, so frail, under the blanket. I sighed and got up, the covers moving back, exposing the bruises. They lined her arms, legs, feet, neck, even her freaking hand. Anger boiled at the sight of them. They were a reminder that I wasn't there, that  wasn't there to help her, to protect her. I gently pulled the blankets back over her and headed to the bathroom. When I came out, she was still asleep. My stomach growled so I sulked to the kitchen. I started making pancakes and bacon, drinking a cup of OJ while I waited. I heard muffled footsteps and glanced back. Paige was shuffling her way into the kitchen, a blanket wrapped around her, her hair curling up behind her and her brown eyes looking at me sleepily. 

"Morning," she mumbled as she shuffled around me to grab a cup. I smiled. 

"Morning," I said, cheerily, as she poured a cup of OJ. She rolled her eyes, grumbling about my cheery mood. I wasn't going to be sorry that I was glad to have her back. She lifted herself onto the counter next to me and watched me while I made pancakes. 

"Did you sleep well?" she asked, taking a sip. I nodded. 

"You?" I asked. She hesitated. I know she didn't. She had been mumbling in her sleep about Robert, something about him coming back for her. I just held her tight last night and told her it would be fine. I looked up. She was looking into her cup. 

"I know you didn't. It's ok," I said, encouragingly. She looked up, her face red. 

"Sorry, if I kept you up," she said, reaching out and taking my hand. I squeezed it. 

"Don't be. I told you I was going to be there for you and I'm here. Don't ever apologize to me for getting over something like that. It never should have happened anyway," I said, knowing that all of this could have been averted had I been there. She sighed, before tugging me to her. I took the pancake off the pan and let her draw me in. 

She pressed her lips to mine before she pulled away, both of her hands holding my face. 

"Justin James Watt, do not ever let the 'what if's' get you. I am a stubborn woman. You're a stubborn man. Things wouldn't have been pretty had you tried to stayed. It is not your fault, J.J. OK? It was mine. I went back. I drove there. Nothing you could have said could have made me stayed. I know you feel bad about this. I know that. I'm sorry you do. You promised you be here now and that's what matters to me. You said you'd be here and as long as you keep that promise, everything is good, forgiven even if you need it to be," she said, her brown eyes pleading with mine. I sighed, looking down. She pulled me to her, resting my head on her breasts. We should do this more often. ;) 

I pulled away and kissed her deeply. Her body responded, wrapping her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck. I pulled away and nipped her neck and she winced. I pulled away. 

"I'm so sorry," I said, raising my hands from her body. She winced again. 

"It's not your fault. I got a bit carried away," she huffed, holding her side. I nodded and pecked her forehead. 

"I'm going to go get your medicine today," I said, before I started to finish the batch of pancakes and bacon. She nodded and picked up her cup and took a sip. 

Fifteen minutes later, I was carrying the stack of pancakes and bacon to the dining room. Paige was getting the silverware and our cups. When I walked back into the kitchen she was on the counter, refilling our cups of OJ. I smiled and walked over to her. She grabbed the silverware and started to get off when I scooped her up. She laughed as she reached out and grabbed the two cups.