[chapter twelve]
Disclaimer: If you've heard of them, I don't own them. Everything else is mine, so no stealing, pretty please. ;-)
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~Jimmie's POV~
"Can I have that cookie now?"
I laugh as I hear Shea's voice in the darkness, her voice muffled slightly against my chest.
The last thing I thought would happen tonight …
Happened.
She arranged for the nurse to take care of Mrs. Waterson so we could go to dinner. Just spend some time together. Give Shea a chance to be a real girl for a while, not a student, not a caretaker, not an employee.
Just a girl.
We had dinner, we had lots of laughs, we had good conversation.
And then we came to my place and practically ripped each other's clothes off.
God, she's fantastic.
I mean, not just in bed.
Though, she's fantastic there too.
Jeez, shut up Johnson!
She's so wonderful. She's just such a wonderful person.
I want to spend every minute with her that I'm not in the racecar.
I've never felt like that before.
Ever.
"I suppose. Since you've been such a good girl." I say with a grin.
"Hrm. I was trying for bad girl, but I'll take what I can get."
I laugh again and she joins me. I wrap my arms tighter around her and she snuggles against my chest.
"Can I stay here?"
"What do you mean?" I ask, confused. Of course she can stay. Of course.
"Forever. Right here." She says softly. "Besides, even if I wanted to move right now, I'm not sure I could. I think sleeping on my mother's floor is highly overrated."
Come hell or high water, I'm helping this girl. Take care of her mother. Of her school. Of her life.
I want her to be happy, because she's her best when she's happy. When she's not thinking about money or medication or mochachinos.
"Stay forever." I say quietly and I can feel her smile against my chest.
"Are you always this nice? Or is this just a front to try and score free coffee?"
"Definitely the coffee." I shoot back.
"Yeah. I can see how on your salary you must be barely scraping by."
"Shut up."
"Okay."
"Shea?"
"Jimmie?" She echoes and I smile to myself.
"Stay."
"Okay."