First of all, my greatest apologies to those who have been waiting for the longest time. It's been years, and this draft has been sitting with me unfinished. I finally found the time to sit, write, edit, write, edit, and be happy with it. I hope you will like this just as much as you did the past chapters.
Since chapter 8 was published, I've peeked into my account many times and I see you adding this story to your favorites, and I see your comments, and it means a lot. Truly, you have no idea. I hope to finish this story soon so we can all look back and think about Jaz and Emmett with a smile.
To the readers that have been following along for years, thanks for sticking around. To all the new and recent readers who did not have to endure such a long wait, but are just as excited, I welcome you. I appreciate all of you.
Always open to feedback. Please enjoy...
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Chapter 9: What happpens now?
"Look, I'll be fine," Emmett spoke firmly.
She crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe of the bathroom, watching him in front of the mirror.
After not hearing from him for a couple of days, she began to worry. Jaz was not the type of girl to check in on him every single minute, especially with how busy they've both been with work, but something nagged at her. Finally, she decided to stop by his apartment and the mystery had been solved.
That day she visited, Emmett answered the door after several minutes of her knocking. Bleary eyed, he squinted at the bright sun shining through the open door. His hair was a mess, and as he was about to say something, he was interrupted by a series of heavy coughs. Once he was able to calm down, he whispered in a cracked voice, telling her to go home. She rolled her eyes at him, closed the door behind her and got to work.
Deciding to make him as comfortable as possible, she did what her mom always did for her when she was sick. She forced him to go take a warm shower and put on some clean clothes. Then, she got out fresh sheets for his bed, and started warming up some water to make honey and lemon tea.
Today, he decided it was time for him to get back to work even after she argued against it.
"I'm already feeling better," he said as he washed the remaining shaving cream from his face. "You can't stop me from going to work."
Jaz raised her eyebrows at him. His voice came out scratchy, but at least he didn't have to whisper anymore. "You're feeling better because I've been taking care of you."
He came out of his closet, pulling a blazer over his shoulders while he spoke, "And you are amazing for doing that, but I still need to go to work." He closed the distance between them, and reached up to brush her hair from her face. "You shouldn't have stayed here these past few nights."
"Did you just expect me to leave?" she asked, challenging him.
"C'mon, you can't tell me you wanted to stay," he answered back.
"You would have stayed if it was me who was sick." She pulled away from his hand and tied her hair in a ponytail. "Don't worry about me. Just take care of yourself at work. If you start to feel like you're not as good as you thought, then call me and I'll pick you up."
He looked back at her in silence. They had been going back and forth these past few days about this predicament. He was very adamant about trying to convince her that he was capable of taking care of himself, but she insisted she wanted to take care of him. Jaz hated that he kept trying to push her away when all she wanted to do was be here for him. It didn't matter to her that she was spending time taking care of him. If he was leaving soon, then she was going to take whatever time she got.
With a final glare, she turned to let herself out and head to work. "Call me if anything. Please. If not for you, then do it for me." She grabbed her purse, and opened the front door. When she turned to give him one last hard stare, she came face to face with his chest, not realizing he was walking behind her.
His arm reached behind her to close the door.
"Emmett, I need to go to work," Jaz spoke around clenched teeth.
He dipped his head down, and placed his lips against hers. It wasn't a kiss, but more of a touch. A gentle touch that made her shoulders less tense, and forced her to release a shaky breath.
"Thank you for taking care of me," he kissed her, "You didn't have to do this, you know," he kissed her again and again, "I'm a grown man, I can take care of myself, and clean up after - "
"Emmett," she scoffed at his comment and poked against his chest, "I'm a grown woman. I'm here, and I wanted to do this."
He grabbed her hand and intertwined his fingers with hers. With a kiss to her temple, he whispered, "Thank you, Jasmine."
She leaned back to look him in the eye. "You've taken care of me in the past. Just let me be here to take care of you."
She squeezed his hand before she let go.
I want you to need me as much as I need you.
With her lips shut, she gave him one more kiss before leaving for work.
***
The sun had just set when Jaz finally made her way back to Emmett's place. When he told her he was at home, tired but feeling well, she was relieved. She went to her apartment to pack some clothes for the weekend to stay with Emmett before heading out once again. As she peeked inside his room, she heard a light snore coming from beneath the blankets.
She got undressed, and pulled one of his t-shirts from his dresser. She walked back out into the kitchen to make something to eat. Looking around, she noticed some soup left on the stove and smiled when she saw a note.
"Chinese food in the fridge. That's my soup...stay away." - Your favorite person "
Grabbing the to-go food, Jaz warmed some up and ate in front of the TV. After, she sat down on the couch that had become her bed since Emmett did not want her lying next to a sick man. She rolled her eyes at that conversation. At the very least, she convinced him to keep the bed. Pulling the blanket up, she rolled her shoulders back and let out a deep breath.
Even with the movie playing in front of her, she paid no attention to what was happening on the screen. Her mind raced with thoughts that she could not stop. It had almost been a year since she ran into Emmett at the bookstore. Since then Jaz felt as if she had opened up the chapter in her life that she had been dreaming about. He wasn't a prince in shining armor...he was better.
Emmett may have looks that made her have naughty thoughts, but it was his personality that made her open her heart to him. He was a gentleman of valuable intellect, with a successful career path to back it up which intimidated her at first. Then, his lame jokes started coming out, and he did the goofiest things just to see her smile. Whenever they argued, his patience always calmed her down even with the few times she had to relentlessly admit he was right. Very few times.
Though he had not said it out loud, there was a part of her that knew he loved her back. There were a few moments she caught herself with the words about to leave her mouth, but she held back. Afraid to put her pride aside and admit her feelings for him. Afraid to feel vulnerable.
Now, with him leaving, she was terrified of how she was going to feel. Jaz had never fallen in love before, not even close to it. She didn't know how much more stress her emotions could take. Soon enough, her fatigue caught up with her mind and body, and her eyelids fell with exhaustion.
***
Emmett woke up and stretched out across his bed, reaching for Jaz. He opened his eyes to a dark room. Clearing his throat, he remembered she wasn't next to him when he fell asleep. His sinuses were clearing up and his fever was gone. After spending some time cleaning himself, and his room, he felt rejuvenated.
When he got out of the bathroom, he saw the light from the TV glowing in the living room. He walked over to discover Jaz fast asleep on the couch. She was wearing one of his large t-shirts and it had rode up her thick thighs revealing black lace panties. A part of him began to stir.
