Page 45 of If By Chance

“No stitches, but the doctor in the emergency room said you should stay with someone.”

I’m a professional, grown-ass woman.

How?

How did I even survive to this age?

I don’t have to worry for too long. I’m sure I’m about to perish from shame.

Falling back on the pillows, I murmur, “I am so sorry.”

I was very wrong about this situation.

He didn’t take advantage of me.Itook advantage of him.

“Don’t worry about it.”

I want to vomit.

Maybe it’s the concussion.

“Jake?” I finally ask, feeling my stomach sink. “How did I end up in your bed?”

Please don’t say I came in here and propositioned myself.

“There was a thunderstorm,” he says slowly, unsure if that’s the answer, but I know immediately that it is.

I’ve feared thunder for over twenty years.

“When you found your way in here, you were shaking with a bloodied head. How could I say no?”

Great.

He’s making fun of me.

“And?”

“And that’s it. You slept. Nothing happened. I like my women coherent and not on the verge of vomiting.”

Ugh.

“Everything makes sense now. Thanks for looking out for me, but I better go before I embarrass myself more.” I say it to the ceiling because I’m still too mortified to meet his eyes.

He stands, looming over me while offering his hands to help me up.

The moment I begin to move, the door flies open. I drop my hands, throwing myself back down and pulling the covers over my head, praying to anyone that will listen that I didn’t just flash whoever walked in here. I feel some of Jake’s weight shift toward my side. He’s trying to hide my existence, I presume.

“Dad, Sharon’s cooking breakfast.”

His son.

And Sharon?

Who the hell is Sharon?

But I bite my tongue. I’ll be out of here in less than ten minutes. If I stay still and not breathe, I will make it out of here unnoticed by any humans, big or small.

But I really need to pee first.