DAWN PAIGE GREY Young Adult Romance

Chapter 7 - Unexpected Kiss

Annie hovered outside her father’s door expecting the worst. Jace pushed the door open and gave her a gentle push inside.

“Go on Annie, Dad’s okay, really. He just felt he needed to see you, got a helluva fright when he had the attack but Doc says it was mild and will only be in a couple of days for observation.”

Annie smiled up at her big brother and wondered why they had not been in touch more often. When Annie approached the bed her father smiled at her. She could not help noticing how pale he was and an unexpected tear escaped down her cheek.

“Dad I’m so sorry I have not visited more often. From now on I will, I promise.”

“It’s going to be alright Annie; Doc says I’m going to be just fine. It was such a shock that’s all and made me realise I had not seen you in such a long time.”

“Ohh Daddy, I do love you and I promise we will definitely see each other more often, promise.” Annie said with a lump in her throat, struggling to hold back her tears.

“Hey, does that include me Sis; do I get to see you more often too?” Jace interrupted, winking at Annie from across their father’s bed.

Annie couldn’t help laughing, “Yes Jace, seeing as you are living with Dad, it’s obvious I will see more of you too.”

“Ahh, Annie, are you saying you’ll only see more of me because I live with Dad, mhmm!” Jace exclaimed teasingly, “So if I didn’t live with Dad I wouldn’t get to see you?”  He asked with the biggest grin on his face.

“Jace, you know what I mean!” Annie exclaimed tossing her damp tissue at Jace.

"Missed me,” Jace laughed, “Well you’re forgiven, as long as you bring your very pretty friend with you when you come visit.” He said winking at Dawn who was hovering by the door.

Dawn blushed and felt like she was about to combust and looked at Annie for some kind of response.

“Hands off Dawn, Jace, she’s getting married in less than two weeks and I’m her Matron of Honour and going to make sure she gets to the church on time.” Annie responded matter of factly.

“Mhmm, a bit cliché, me thinks, Annie. But yeah, I get the message, loud and clear.” Jace responded winking across at Dawn, noticing the hot flush on her cheeks, he smiled warmly.

His smile set Dawn’s heart racing and when his eyes met hers, cloudy thoughts screamed across her brain. Discombobulated thoughts that were not forming words, thoughts she was too scared to put into words. Dawn felt faint and steadied herself against the door frame.

Jace immediately noticed Dawn’s slight wobble and fearing her ankle was worse than she had let on previously he jumped up and rushed to support her.

Dawn held her breath trying to steady her emotions the moment Jace’s arm slipped around her waist.

“Hey Dawn, I think you better sit down and let’s find someone to look at that ankle right now.” Jace said, as he lifted Dawn off her feet and carried her in his arms to the nurses’ station. He suddenly felt Dawn go limp in his arms and he shouted, “Dawn, breathe dammit!”

Dawn had held her breath for so long trying desperately to steady the overpowering emotions she could not explain, an unexpected dizzy spell made her black out in Jace’s arms.

As there wasn’t a nurse or doctor in sight at that moment Jace did the only thing that came to mind. Lowering Dawn gently to the floor, he blew gently into her face tapping her cheeks softly till her eyes fluttered open.

When she opened her eyes, the close proximity of Jace’s face to hers made her exhale sharply and an involuntary squeak escaped her lips, “Jace!”

What happened next confused them both. Jace’s lips brushed hers ever so lightly. Her eyes flew open wide and she found herself staring into the darkest brown eyes she had ever seen. Dawn never knew or had experienced swooning, but right then and there she felt she definitely had.

“Dawn! Jace! What is going on?” Annie shouted when she approached them.

Dawn twisted round from her lying position on the floor to look at Annie, but Jace did not even flinch, nor did he remove his arms from around Dawn.

“She fainted.” Jace said matter of factly, “And stopped breathing, and I gave her mouth to mouth.” He smiled down at Dawn and gave her a sly wink.

“Ohh,” said Annie, not quite sure if she should believe her brother or not.

Jace scooped Dawn up in his arms and sat her in a nearby armchair; he moved the hair back from her face and gently brushed the side of her cheek. “Are you alright now Dawn?”

Dawn felt a little tremor run up her spine when his hand touched her skin. “Yes thanks Jace, I’m fine now, thank you.”

Jace turned to face his sister and said, “I think your friend’s ankle needs a Doctors opinion, just in case it’s not just a twist, but a fracture.”

“Jace would you mind going to look for someone, while I sit here with Dawn,” his sister replied.

“Hey you two, I’m fine really. I’m sure it’s nothing serious. You should both be in there with your Dad; I can easily ask a nurse or doctor whoever passes this way again.” Dawn remarked nodding towards their father’s hospital room.

“Are you sure Dawn?” Annie asked looking concerned.

“Yes Annie, go. Just go, will you. Please I’m absolutely fine.” Dawn responded.

As Annie and Jace walked into their father’s room, Annie snapped at Jace, “Jace, Dawn is getting married in less than two weeks, don’t you dare go messing with her head.”

“I wouldn’t dream of doing any such thing Sis.” Jace responded calmly.