TIED [l.p] ✔

Chapter 40

Back to you - Selena Gomez

I FEED Jack some milk and his eyes begin to get heavier again.

I hated to leave Liam like that in the middle of the kitchen. I wanted to ask him why he isn't sleeping and what is keeping him up but I could get myself to. His eyes were pleading and it took everything in me not drag him in the bed, rest his head on my chest while I cuddle him to sleep.

I am too weak when it comes to Liam. I can never hold my ground with him just like he can't with me. I can see the stress I'm causing him but I needed to know the truth. Now that he isn't willing to share, I'm not going to repeat myself.

My trust is hard to come by. Especially when all I have from the past is the reasons why I shouldn't. Mom, Dad, Louis and biggest deceiver who ripped it into shreds and never bothered of the outcome, Xavier Russo.

But trusting Liam was simple, it was like free falling in the sky without the fear of getting hurt or swimming the depths of the ocean without the panic of drowning. It came naturally and too soon.

Jack is fast asleep in my arms. I gently lay him on his bed, place the bottle on the nightstand and lay down. Every time I close my eyes I see a heartbroken Liam forcing me to snap my eyes open. After twisting and turning and trying to sleep for a few minutes, I sit up against the headboard.

I switch the lamp and grab Mark's copy of Pride and Prejudice and my specs. Soon I'm flipping through its pages of the old copy.

I try hard to keep my eyes open to make sure Jack is in a peaceful and deep slumber and won't wake up anytime soon but my eyes feel really hard. I sense myself drifting off in the same posture.

I feel a hand caress my cheek and I subconsciously lean into the touch. I hear someone's voice, Liam's voice telling me something but I can't quite put my finger on it. I lay on the bed comfortably and peacefully in his presence. I feel his breath on my face. His lips gently press to mine and then to my head. I try to reach him but he's gone.

I wake up again to a crying Jack. I'm lying on the bed, tucked safely beneath the layers of blanket. My specs are lying on the nightstand. Didn't I fall asleep while reading the book? I knew Liam was in the room last night. I felt him.

I push the blanket aside and cradle Jack in my arms and rock him. Emma is still soundly asleep on her side. Jack is all red from crying so I pull out a tissue, wipe his face and bring him to my chest. I walk back and forth in the room, still rocking him.

My phone rings, indicating an incoming message. I grab it from the nightstand. It's from an unknown number.

- Show at seven thirty tomorrow. Thought your sister would like to come. I would love to have you both there.
Harry xx

A knock on the door breaks me from my daze. I put back the phone and decide to respond later. Mrs Adams enters with Jack's milk feeding bottle. I thank her and walk into the balcony. With Jack still in my arms, I sit on a chair. The morning air is refreshing and clean. The smell in the air is pure and intoxicating. Jack looks up at the sky and smiles. He grabs the bottle from my hand and takes it to his mouth.

Jack settles his head on my chest, one of his hand holding the small bottle to his mouth and the other one holding the top front of my shirt.

"THANK you for taking care of him, Jane. I owe you." Andy says as we are about to leave. He looks better than he did yesterday. He can walk and all but Liam has given him clear instructions to not come to the office until he is absolutely fine which Andy says he is.

"Yeah, you do and I'm going to have another date with Jack very soon as your payment." I laugh.

"What about his dad? No date for me?" He asks. I smile and shake my head.