Chapter 25
Sam had been sick for two days and still feeling miserable. She hadn't gotten dressed since coming home from school sick. She stayed either in sweats or her pink pajamas that had horse silhouettes on them. Her hair was pulled back either into a ponytail, braid or pigtails. Gram was giving her one more day to start feeling better or she threatened to drag Sam kicking and screaming to the doctor. Brynna wouldn't let her anywhere near Cody either, afraid that Sam would give him whatever it was that she had.
Sam hadn't heard from Jake though she thought he had to be home by now. She was sure his mother had warned him about coming over to see her because she was sick. At least he could call her, she thought.
She was lying on the couch, debating whether to take a nap when she heard Gram talking quietly to someone. Sam then heard the deep rumble of another voice and shot up into a sit. Jake!
Her hand went immediately to her hair. Oh gosh, he was going to take one look at her, break up with her and run screaming from the house! Then she looked down at the pink pajamas with the horses on them and groaned. Even her socks had horses on them. He was going to think she was so juvenile.
She eyed the stairs, wondering if she could make it before he came any further into the house. Sam scrambled to her feet, about to find out when she heard the footsteps coming close. Darn it, she wanted to scream.
She tried smoothing down her rat's nest of hair and suddenly he was there. She forgot her hair, she forgot she was wearing pink horse pajamas, she forgot everything except him.
He was simply gorgeously handsome as he stood in the doorway. Her mouth ran dry at the sight of him.
Jake smiled softly at the woman he loved. He didn't notice her hair looked a mess, he didn't notice that she was wearing pink pajamas with horses on them, the only thing he noticed was that he had missed her and she was beautiful.
"Hey," he greeted her. Sam could only smile at him. "How are you feeling?"
"Feeling?" Sam croaked and groaned.
His mouth twitched and she sighed. Gosh, she wanted to hang from those twitching full lips for the rest of her life.
"I was warned I shouldn't kiss you," Jake told her.
"Well that sucks for me doesn't it?" Sam frowned.
"Come here," Jake opened his arms to her and Sam didn't hesitate to go into them. She tucked herself into his chest and nuzzled into his neck with a sigh. She felt his lips brush the top of her head.
"You kissed me," Sam murmured.
"Yeah, but you shouldn't have cooties there," Jake teased.
Sam snorted. "Have you taken a good look at my hair?"
She felt the chuckle against her and she couldn't help the giggle. She knew she looked a mess and so far he hadn't run screaming in terror.
"I love you," she whispered against him.
"I love you too," Jake told her. "I'm sorry you're not feeling well. Come on, let's sit down so you can rest."
They made their way to the couch. Jake sat and Sam sat next to him, scooting up as close to him as she could without sitting on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and smiled when she sighed in contentment.
"How bad do you feel?" Jake asked.
"Not so bad now," Sam responded.
"How bad before I came in?" Jake rephrased his question.
"My throat is the worst," Sam admitted. "Plus I'm coughing."
"I'm sorry baby," Jake murmured and Sam felt warm all over. He had never used an endearment besides Brat with her before.
"I'm surprised Gram let you in, to be honest," Sam said.
"I kinda pushed my way in," Jake admitted with a laugh. "I wasn't going to take no for an answer when I wanted to see my girl."
"Your girl's a mess," Sam grumbled.
"My girl's beautiful to me," Jake corrected. "Even in her pink jammies with horses on them." He chuckled when Sam groaned.
"I had hoped you wouldn't notice," Sam muttered.
"Brat, how could I not?" Jake laughed and Sam gave him a half-hearted swat. She looked up at him and almost sighed at how handsome he was when he laughed. She loved his laughter.
"I didn't expect company," Sam tried to explain.
"Don't," Jake tightened his arms on her. "Don't you know I don't care about anything else except seeing you? You're beautiful to me, Samantha Anne."
"Even in my pink horsey jammies," Sam laughed.
"Especially in your pink horsey jammies," Jake laughed.
"I'm glad you came by to see me," Sam sighed. "I would have hated not to see you while you were home."
"Brat, wild horses couldn't keep me away," Jake told her as they sat together on the couch.