Chapter 26

I wake up to Nora placing a tray of homemade soup on a table beside the bed and realize I fell asleep again, another sign that I have a virus. The movie is still playing, so I mustn’t have been out for too long. I move to sit up as Jake’s hands come from beside me, lifting the cushions and helping me to sit.

He’s on the bed next to me on top of the covers in sweats and a T-shirt with a mountain of files scattered beside him. It almost feels normal, like before any of this mess came between us. I guess while I slept, he’s been keeping me company and working. Jake is doing what he does while he lets me relax and enjoy the peace.

“Thank you, Nora.” I smile, looking down at the bowl of soup and plate of crusty bread served with a glass of fresh orange juice. The woman is a saint. She knows how to melt her way into my heart.

“How’re you feeling?” Jake smooths back my hair as I pull the tray toward me. His fingers grazing my cheek as though checking my temperature, I can