In her whole life, besides her father, no one had been there for her more than Jeremy and Ike. And that made them the two most important people in her world.
Stretching her aching limbs, Jess blinked open her eyes. Ike was sitting on the edge of the bed, shoulders hunched. “Hey,” she said.
He looked over his shoulder and gave her a smile. “There you are. How ya feeling?”
“Sore. And tired. And really freaking disgusting.” She adjusted Ike’s big T-shirt on her shoulders as she turned over onto her stomach—during one of the periods where the broken fever left her shivering, Ike had dressed her. “And I hope you bought a couple bags of Doritos because I swear to God I could eat every single one.”
“Maybe you ought to start with some toast,” he said, eyebrow arched.
Fair point, given that she’d only had the broth and a few noodles from chicken noodle soup the day before and part of a banana that morning. She asked Ike to get Pop-Tarts and Hot Pockets at the store, and he came home with fruit. Go figure. “Toast is boring. Doritos are life.”
Ike shifted toward her on the bed. “Yeah, but Doritos will be way worse coming back up.” He pressed his hand to her forehead. “Feels like the fever’s gone.”
“I think so,” she said, rubbing her eyes. “Which is good because that really sucked.”
“Apparently, you got taken out by a six-year-old. I talked to Bunny earlier and Ben’s been sick, too.”
“Aw, hope he’s okay,” she said. It had to be terrible watching a little kid be so sick.
Emotions Jess couldn’t read moved across Ike’s rugged face. “If you want to grab a shower, I’ll throw some dinner together for us.”
“Sounds like a plan,” she said. “I need to get out of this bed anyway. I’m not even sure what freaking day it is at this point.”
Ike rose and offered her a hand. “Tuesday.”
“Wow,” she said, allowing him to help steady her as she got out of bed. Ike’s shirt was so big on her it nearly hit her knees, and part of her was sad to change out of it. But, honestly, it should’ve probably been burned at this point.
“You okay to go it on your own?” he asked, half looking like he expected her to fall on her ass.
Jess grabbed a few things from her bag and made for the steps. “I’m good,” she said. “Though if you still feel inclined to carry me around everywhere, I won’t complain. A girl could get used to that, you know.”
She threw a smirk over her shoulder and he shook his head.
When she was clean and dressed in actual clothes for what felt like the first time in forever, she met Ike in the kitchen where she found two plates on the counter. One with very lightly buttered toast and a banana, the other with a big-ass ham and cheese sandwich and a mound of Doritos. Her Doritos.
She planted her hands on the counter. “That is so not fair, Ike Young.”
He scooped the plates up and transferred them to the table. “Better?” he asked, throwing a single chip onto her plate.
“You are not funny,” she said, glaring at him as she sank into the seat.
He held his hand up, thumb and forefinger a centimeter apart. “I’m a little funny,” he said, stealing her words from the day they’d arrived.
“Have you heard from anyone at Hard Ink?” she asked as she took a bite of her toast. Amazing how something so simple could taste like heaven after days of not eating much.
“I’ve talked to Dare a few times. Seems like things are in a holding pattern right now as they track down some leads. Guys are getting antsy.” Ike tossed a chip in his mouth and made a big show of enjoying it.
“You suck,” Jess said. “Better save me some, too.”
Ike chuckled and gave her a wink. “I bought three bags.”
“Good.” They ate in silence for a few minutes as Jess wolfed down her food. When she was done, she brushed off her fingers over the plate. “I’m worried about everyone.”
“Nick and his team know what they’re doing, and the Ravens can handle themselves. Don’t worry.” Ike gave her a look full of confidence.
It helped. Jess nodded. “I know. But these aren’t any run-of-the-mill criminals they’re up against.”
“True enough,” he said. “But the neighborhood around Hard Ink has been cordoned off and no one is getting in or out without our guys knowing it.”
“Well, that’s good,” she said. “It’s just…” Jess hesitated to finish the thought, but given the danger they were all in, it felt like it should be said. “You and Jeremy, and even Nick…you guys have become my family the past few years. And I couldn’t take it if anything happened to any of you.”
Chapter 7