Rescued: A Festive Novella (5 page)
Read Rescued: A Festive Novella Online
Authors: J'aimee Brooker
“Jack, my head—it hurts” came Anya’s voice, cutting through the darkness of the early morning.
He shuffled carefully, lifting her head onto a pillow and extracting himself from the tangle of limbs.
“Ssh… Anya, sshh… I’ll grab you a painkiller. Try to stay still” he whispered as he walked back into the bedroom with a glass of water and the pill.
“It’s throbbing, Jack. I feel like my head is bouncing off the pillow”
“You took a nasty hit to the head, Anya. You’ve got eight stitches so it’s going to be painful for a few more days. You’re safe now, I’ve got you, just relax now and let the painkiller do its job” he soothed.
There were those magic words again, “You’re safe, I’ve got you”; he’d said it so many times since he’d pulled her from the water. So many times, she felt herself starting to believe him.
“I love you, Jack” she murmured as the painkiller quickly took effect.
“I love you too, Anya. More than you know” she heard him reply, as her mind faded to black.
“Did she wake up last night” she heard Sophie ask.
“Yes, but just briefly—a headache, not nightmares” Jack replied, knowing that Sophie would understand how significant it was that Anya had enjoyed a nightmare-free sleep, the first in perhaps two years. “Look, about last night—I’m sorry if this sounds harsh, but I think we really need to discuss what happened. I don’t want to lose Anya, and I’m scared that what we did… might threaten… I just can’t lose her—“
“Yes, a chat sounds good” Anya interrupted from the doorway.
“You shouldn’t be up and walking” Jack rushed at her, grabbing her by the waist and leading her to the couch.
“I’m ok, Jack. A bit dizzy and really tired, but I’m ok. Do you have any juice? My throat is so dry and sore” she asked.
Sophie moved quickly to the fridge and dutifully brought her over a drink, “Anya, I’m sorry about last night—“
“Why, Sophie? What happened only happened because we’re all so close, we were all scared, we are all feeling fragile. Does it matter how we all drew support from each other?” Anya asked them both, surprised at her own open-mindedness.
When neither Jack nor Sophie replied, she continued, “Jack, I know it hasn’t been long but I feel like I’ve known you forever. Sophie, I have known you forever. We had a bond before the accident yesterday, and last night we created a new bond that we’ll always have. Soph, you’ve kept me on track for the past two years and I’ll never be able to thank you enough for that. Jack, since I met you that first time on the beach, I realized that I wanted something more from life than just existing. Coming face to face with drowning yesterday just secured that it’s time to start living again. The past will always be there, and I know I’ll always have you guys to support me with that—but Jack, you’re offering me a future and that’s what I want, with you. I don’t know if it’s the right thing to say but last night… last night made sense.”
The silence was palpable. No one spoke for a few minutes until Sophie finally broke the silence, “Last night did make sense, in fact maybe too much sense, Jack you showed me what it’s like to be cared for, you gave me the experience of making love as opposed to sex. I don’t think I can thank you enough for that. I’ve been promising myself that I’d settle down into a relationship and after last night, I know that that’s what I want. What I need” she offered before turning to Anya, “And, Anya, I’ll never be able to thank you enough for letting me experience that with you and Jack.”
“Anya, is that all ok with you?” Jack asked her gently.
“I told you last night how I felt about you Jack, that hasn’t changed—I don’t think it ever will” she answered.
“You remember saying that? I was hoping it wasn’t just the concussion and painkillers doing the talking!”
“No, I remember—I love you, Jack”
“I love you too” he murmured, gently placing a kiss on her aching head.
“C’mon, Anya—you said five minutes about an hour ago” she heard Jack call from the
lounge room. “At this rate, we’ll miss the countdown altogether”.
“Oh, c’mon yourself” she teased as she walked out to meet him. She’d been shopping earlier in the day and scored a gorgeous gold sequined dress and matching strappy sandals for their double-date with Sophie and Finn to celebrate New Years Eve, so what if it took her an hour or two to get ready.
“Geez, Anya—you look incredible” Jack breathed as he crossed the room and took her in his arms.
“Even with these lovely stitches in my forehead?” she laughed.
“Especially with the stitches, after all, how else would I have convinced you to move in with me if not for my fine medical skills?” he teased playfully.
“Oh, Jack, you underestimate me—I’d have moved in no matter what” she sighed, kissing him briefly before capturing his hand and leading him out the door.
“Anya! You look incredible” Sophie called from across the bar, rushing toward her and hugging her tightly. “Don’t say anything, but Finn and I are official—he asked me this afternoon to move in with him, and I said yes!” she squealed under her breath. “Can you believe it, Anya?!”
“I can, actually” Anya replied, “You’ve got so much to offer Soph, you just had to realize it yourself before anyone else could. I’m just glad you’re happy. Glad we’re both happy” she smiled.
“Can we break this party up or is this private girls business?” came Finn’s booming voice. Sophie had told him about their Christmas Day tryst, and though he’d been insanely jealous of “Jack’s good fortunes” as he’d referred to it, he had also thanked him for helping Sophie get on track and into his arms. As uncomfortable as Anya had initially thought the situation would be, her and Sophie had continued their friendship seamlessly.
“Anya, you’re looking great—how are you feeling? Dizzy spells stopped? How much longer til those stitches come out?” Finn asked, bringing her back to the moment, embracing her in a warm friendly hug before holding her at arms length and inspecting her in what was a not-so-subtle assessment of her health.
“Enough questions, Finn! She’s fine, trust me, I’m giving her the platinum care package” Jack laughed, winking at Anya cheekily. “If there are any questions to be asked here, I think it’s more like—how are you and Sophie going? I hear around the tower that you guys are pretty much exclusive these days?”
“Mate, you know the deal—I wouldn’t be without my Soph. In fact, I think now’s as good time as any to tell you both that we’re moving in together”.
“Whoa! Now that, I wasn’t expecting” Jack exclaimed loudly, “how did it happen that my friends, the consummate bachelor and bachelorette, have found love so quickly? Did Cupid shoot you both in the arse while I wasn’t watching?” he laughed.
“Jack, you know how it is—when you find the one, you find the one” Finn replied, smiling smugly at Sophie.
Minutes later and with the New Years countdown firmly underway, Anya looked across at Sophie and Finn, their happiness engulfing all in their path, finally her friend was happy and absolutely head over heels in love whether she realized it yet or not.
As for her and Jack, it was incredible that in just two short weeks he had awakened and breathed oxygen back into her soul.
“3…2…1… Happy New Year, Anya. I love you” Jack shouted, before dipping her back across his arm and kissing her theatrically for the whole of Bondi to see.
####
More from the author:
Draw On My Heart (Roman Capello)
After being thrust into the role of protector at an early age, Roman Capello has spent his entire adult life building a future for his mother and two younger brothers.
With a chain of successful tattoo studios, Roman is finally getting the recognition he deserves—industry acclaim as a freehand tattooist, significant media exposure and enough business to justify adding a fifth studio to his portfolio.
When a mysterious woman, as fragile as she is seductive, enters his life; Roman is forced to acknowledge his past, appreciate his present, and picture her in his future.
But what is her painful secret and why does she have Roman in her sights?
Command My Heart (Dominic Capello)
Dominic Capello has never had a problem capturing the attention of women—his rugged Italian looks and bad-boy attitude have always worked to his advantage. "Work hard, play harder" had always been his motto, and that attitude was more than evident in his bedroom.
So, when Dominic's brother, Roman signs over the deed to a new tattoo studio to him, Dominic's life is turned upside down. With business booming almost immediately, Dominic soon finds himself overwhelmed and under-staffed.
When creative, opinionated, and strong-willed Inta starts working for Dominic, it's not long before her hot-headed, feisty approach sends Dominic into overdrive. Finally a woman willing to rise to the challenge of keeping Dom's interest.
Dominic barely has a chance to get excited before Inta confesses her attraction to a fellow colleague. Realising he's more interested than he first realised, staff and business become the least of his problems. Dominic wants Inta, and he will succeed in commanding her heart.
Train My Heart (Luca Capello)
Being the youngest of three brothers has always been one of life's greatest pleasures for Luca Capello, sheltered from many of the hardships his family has faced and spoiled as the baby of the family.
His successful personal training business gives him the structure and routine he wants and Luca's uncompromising attitude to fitness coupled with his inherited handsome looks has always ensured a steady stream of business.
But, growing up without his father hadn't been easy yet from what he can remember living with him in Italy had been worse. Luca's uncertainty about his past has always bubbled beneath the surface and when his relationship with his meek-and-mild girlfriend Imogen takes on a new level of intensity, Luca resolves to explore his past in Italy and make amends with the past.
From the busy backstreets of Venice to the foothills of the imposing Italian Alps; Luca's journey through northern Italy proves to be a life-changing decision. Will he lose everything by confronting his father; most importantly the love and future he has in mind with Imogen?