Whatever It Takes (16 page)

She rolls her eyes with a smile, but it quickly vanishes. “When I woke up, I, um, I couldn't remember the past few days. Jake, what if I keep forgetting? What if next time I forget more than just a few days?”

“
Shh. I'm sure everything's okay. We'll make sure when we go to the doctor tomorrow for your checkup. Relax and go to sleep. I'm right here.”

Sweetness snuggles closer to me and her arms squeeze tighter around me. My hands flow up and down her back, easing her into a calm enough state to fall asleep. She's asleep in minutes. I'm right behind her.

A firm grasp on my shoulder shakes me awake. Turning away from Sweetness, I stretch. Sweetness is eying me as I turn to face her.

“
Everything okay,” I yawn.

“
Yeah, we need to get ready.”

Doing the opposite, she cuddles up to me and gives me a kiss. I get the sense that Sweetness is uneasy.

“
I'll admit that I'm a bit nervous.”

“
If it happens, it happens. We made it once, we can surely do it again. Go on and get dressed.”

With a quick kiss on the forehead, I pull the covers away and drag her to the shower with me. Time is running short on us, leaving no play time.

“
We'll grab something to eat on the way. Ready?”

“
Yeah,” Sweetness confirms grabbing my hand. She tugs me out the door and to the car. We drive across the city to the hospital where Emily will meet with the neurologist for an update. Emily holds my hand the entire way there. Not that I mind.

I kiss her hand a couple of times while we sit in the half empty waiting room. The white walls, black chairs, bright, white lights surround us. The hospital smell that everyone knows and can easily recognize engulfs us.

“
Emily Johnson?”

My head snaps towards the nurse. Simultaneously standing, we follow her down the hallway with doors on each side until we come to an open door.

The nurse leads us inside and Emily takes a seat on the bed. I take my place beside her and the nurse checks Emily's vitals. 

“
How have you been since the last time you were here?”

“
Good. I remember now.”

The nurse beams. “That's wonderful news! I'm sure Dr. Jung will be thrilled to hear that. Just sit tight and he'll be with you in a few minutes.”

The nurse leaves and the 'few minutes' turns into thirty. Dr. Jung is a tall, broad, muscular man who is bald. I never would have thought he was a doctor if I saw him on the streets.

“
Ms. Johnson, I hear that you've retained your memory. That's wonderful. Any headaches? Unusual pain? Anything like that?”

“
I've had a few headaches. Last night, I woke up and couldn't remember that past few days. It came right back after a few minutes though. Is that normal?”

“
The brain is unpredictable. Everyone is different. If it keeps reoccurring, come back. Otherwise, I'd say that you are healthy.”

As we thank the doctor and take our leave, an idea pops into my mind. I hook an arm around Emily and lead her to the car. After twenty minutes of driving in the 'wrong' direction, Emily comes to attention.

“
Where are we going?”

“
There's a new place that I want to try.”

She rests her head on the headrest and closes her eyes. I snag her hand and place a gentle kiss on her knuckles. Suddenly, Sweetness turns towards me.

“
Let's go get some ice cream.”

“
Have you been reading my mind?”

“
Maybe. You're not the only one with incredible traits.”

Cracking a smile, I pull into the parking lot of a new ice cream parlor. Inside, the place has a homey feeling to it. Add in the aroma of ice cream and the variety of nuts and Emily is drooling.  Emily wraps her arms around me as we step into line and leans into me.

As involuntarily as breathing, I rest my chin on the crown of her head and snake my arms around her.

“
Hey,” I begin in a soft voice. “Why didn't you tell me about the headaches?”

“
I didn't think much of them until he asked.”

“
Mkay,” I answer as we move forward in line. “Whatcha thinking of getting?” I ask once we come close enough to see the variety of homemade ice cream in two rows.

“
I'm in the mood for butter pecan. You?”

“
Plain ol' chocolate.”

“
The girls are throwing a party for New Year's. I am planning on going. Will you be joining me?” Emily looks up at me and bats her long, black eyelashes.

“
Of course. The team is going to throw one too. Looks like we'll be hitting both.”

Emily breaks away from me and orders for us. I slip my hands into her back pockets as we wait and move to the end where I tug Emily against my chest and whisper in her ear to grab my wallet so she can pay. Reaching an arm behind her and around me, she finds my back pocket.

Reluctantly, my hands must leave their place to hold our ice creams. We grab a table for two by the front window and have a seat. It's a small round table so my knees are jammed against Sweetness'.

Sweetness moans and I chuckle. Digging in to my ice cream, I notice Emily eying me. I look up at her and hold a spoonful of ice cream in her direction.

“
What?”

Sweetness leans forward and slowly encases the spoon in her mouth. When she pulls away, my spoon is empty and I'm extremely turned on. Desire fiercely burns in her eyes. It doesn't take me long to finish my ice cream. I toss our trash into the container and we head to my car.

Sweetness wastes no time once we get back to our place. My heart skips beats when she smiles and my blood boils a mixture of love and desire at a simple touch. When she looks at me with eyes so full of caring love, I know that I've  found what I've been missing. What should have been in my heart all along.

Emily.

19

Emily

What a year it has been! It's all coming to an end tonight. I had a really bad headache earlier. Jake is worried because if I drink, it could make things worse.

He's been following me around the house all day. It's roughly ten so I head to the bathroom for a shower. Remembering that I bought new soap that is still sitting in the kitchen, I turn around and bump into Jake.

“
Jake! I'm fine. A little privacy in my bubble would be nice,” I say while motioning a circle around me.

“
I'm sorry. Whatcha need?”

“
Soap. It's in the bag on the kitchen counter.”

“
I'll get it.”

“
Thank you,” I turn on my heel and start the shower. I'm naked when Jake returns. His eyes roam my body and it's as if his hands are gliding across my skin.

“
C'mon,” I say over my shoulder as I step into the shower.

***

I dress in black skinny jeans and a purple silk shirt that is low cut and flowy. Jake is in blue jeans and a black dress shirt. At Abella's place, I mingle my way to the girls as I realize that I haven't hung out with them in a really long time.

It's catch up time for sure. Abella squeezes me tightly first before I'm ushered to Hannah and then Jess. I exchange an awkward hug with Kyle. Jake sees Eve and leaves me to catch up with my friends. 

Kyle leaves to get me a drink.

“
How have you been?” Hannah asks.

“
Great. Things are a lot better.”

“
That's good,” Jess inserts.

“
It's time to party!” Abella says before chugging down her drink.

Kyle returns and I take my drink from him. As I take a sip, my eyes roam the room looking for Jake.

“
I'm glad you have your memory back,” Kyle comments.

“
Thanks. Me too. How have you been?”

“
Let's skip the chit-chat and dance,” Abella says, pushing us to the center of the room. Our bodies move to the beat and I take a swig every so often. Jake slips in behind me and pulls me to him. My head starts to hurt again, but I don't mention it. Jake will just want to go home and I'm having too much fun to leave.

Thirty minutes of heavy dancing and I'm sweating from the massive heat of all the bodies squirming together. My head is pounding so with a firm grasp on Jake's hand, I lead us outside for fresh air.

“
You alright, Sweetness?” Jake asks from his close position behind me, making me feel claustrophobic.

“
I need some space, Jake.”

He steps backwards and the cold air wraps its arms around me protectively. My chest rises as I take a deep breath with my eyes closed.

“
Sweetness?”

Jake's voice echos in my ear after my third breath. Opening my eyes, I turn around and hug him tightly. Jake doesn't miss a beat as his arms begin to warm me up. I bury my face into his chest and a few tears slip out.

“
My head hurts. Can you take me home before you head to the other party?”

“
I'm not leaving you alone on New Year's. C'mon.”

Jake leads me down the steps and to my car. He drives me to the house and I feel terrible. Not only because of my headache, but because I'm the reason we are not partying right now. The thoughts don't last long. Pain radiates throughout my skull. Jake squeezes my hand in comfort.

At home, I toss off all my clothes and climb into bed with just my bra and underwear on. I hear Jake ruffling about the house. If I knew exactly where my iPod was, I would get it and listen to some soothing John Mayer. I'm hot under the covers. Tossing them aside, I lay on my stomach on the floor. My cheek is mushed against the hard wood and it's refreshing to feel the cold floor against my hot body. It feels as if the pain in my head is swimming around like a very large fish cramped in a small space.

“
Emily!”

I roll over to see a panicked Jake. “I'm just hot. I'm fine.”

Squatting beside me, he lifts me into a standing position and to the bed. My eyes follow Jake as he walks around the bed and sits beside me.

“
Are you sure you're feeling okay?”