Jenalyn: Daring to Defy (#1)[Complete]

Chapter 60: Dane

Saturday, 6:03 A.M.

Jena is sprawled out across the entire bed in a t-shirt and boxers when I slip through my bedroom door. I trip over her clothes as I try to tiptoe across the dark room- she has a bad habit of leaving shit on the floor when I'm away.

Of course the bags I hold rustling in my hand wakes her- unless I drug this one up, she wakes at anything.

"Dane!" she says excitedly despite her raspy voice and barely opened eyes. She pulls herself from my matress and tries to stand- but her still sleeping,  and rather frail body give out below her and she falls back onto the bed. "Are you actually home?"

I toss the numerous bags I'd accumulated running around the freaking Exton Mall all night onto my desk along with my empty duffel. I make mental note to have Rob run out to Philly later- I've got too much on my plate right now with the girls I'm hiding in Downingtown to worry about my re-up today. 

"Does it look like I'm home, Lil Bit?" I ask, my voice heavier than I intended. I cover it with a small laugh and make my way to the bed to sit beside her.

I've missed her. I definitely have... but aside from business- it's just been easier to keep my distance since the whole pregnancy shit went down.

I'm not gonna say she's been perfect since I've been gone- because the girl has her fucking slip ups, but one thing that's pretty constant is that she misses me. She somehow finds it in herself to want me around after everything.

And that shit drives me crazy...

Until this contest deal goes down... I fight off the thought in the back of my head, reassuring myself that my plan to have her meet her little pop star chick will fill the excitement she's obviously been looking for.

"You haven't been eating, huh?" I ask, partially to help fight off the thought in my head and partially because her weightloss is pretty significant for only having been gone- what, three days?

Jena looks down at her body, drowning in the lose t-shirt and boxers as if it holds the answer. "I have." she says shrugging her shoulders, and quick to change the subject. "I was sick though... remember."

She doesn't say it with any malintent, but the reminder of what I did to her is enough for me to drop the subject, which I'm sure was her goal. 

"Well, I got you some clothes from Exton for your whole pop star dinner shit or whatever-" I purposely trail off, noticing the small embarrasment spread across her face. I motion to the bags instead. "I know you like the fashions or styles or whatever they got down that way- so..."

I'm sure Jenalyn is going to catch onto what I'm doing. Letting myself slip a foot back into my old ways as a kind of backup insurance if the whole 'actually loving me' thing isn't a concept with her. I don't care though- because I know she's not going to say anything about it. 

I'm giving her what she wants...

"Awe, you were thinking about me?" She coos for a second, eyeing the bags but still turning back to face me. "I never would've guessed it!"

I narrow my eyes at her, but make sure to keep a small smile on my face. "Shut up, Lil Bit- you know you're all I think about." I say.

Jena smiles, and perks up- her demeanor no longer sleepy and weak. I know exactly where this is going. I know her all to well.

"Didja bring anything else for me?" she asks after a second, being sure to raise the pitch in her voice to be especially adorable. She looks back to the desk, getting up onto her knees to peep over the numerous shopping bags piled on the edge to the duffel bag.

Sheesh, how could I have shown up without drugs? That'd probaby be enough to make her leave, right there!

That reminds me! Rob- Philly later. I pull out my phone, holding up a finger to Jena as I text Rob to let him know about the re-up.

Almost in perfect timing, I get a text from Pauly over in Downingtown letting me know one of the girls is unconcious again. I let out a frustrated sigh before remembering Jena waiting for a response. 

"Not right now, Babygirl." I say, standing to my feet to grab my other phone from the side pocket on my duffel. "I'm gonna have Rob grab some later from Baloo on South Street. The good shit. He'll set some aside for you."

Jena juts out her bottom lip, but quickly moves past it as my words finish trailing her head. "Wait- you're leaving again?" she asks, her eyes widening.

I nod my head, ignoring the anger igniting inside me directed toward Pauly's inability to watch some fucking girls without me babysitting him. 

Jena is going to leave you because you keep leaving her... I fight the thought off easily, despite its persistence in my head since finding out about that damned contest.

"I'm sorry, babygirl- I got a lot going on." I say, navigating both of my phones at once. 

"It's fine..." she sighs, letting her arms slam down on the pillow sitting in front of her. She's silent for a moment before she perks up again, this time in a way I know is meant to be lowkey manipulative.

"Can I...." she begins, purposely trailing off as if she doesn't have a plan already laid out in her mind. She does the voice thing again. "Maybe have some money and go to South Street, too? I'll walk around with Ev! I'll need accessories for the outfits!"

I take out my wallet and throw her whatevers leftover from last night's makings without hesitation knowing that if I declined- that'd just be another strike against me.