LISA

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The old man had spent time with Jennie. No wonder he was so curious about her and concerned about how she was doing. But he didn't tell me. I wasn't sure why he wanted to keep that a secret, but I'd call him out on it at the next visit. Might even take him a lemon pound cake to do it.

"I'm sure you made his day with your visits. He just didn't tell me about them, so I was surprised. Guess he wanted to keep you to himself."

Jennie smiled at that comment, and damn, that smile was something else. Her eyes lit up when her smile was real. It was hard to look away from her when she was like that.

"I'll be going up to visit him next weekend. You're always welcome to come along." I said the words before thinking about them. Her smile made my brain short out, apparently.

"I'd like that. I could go by my parents' and get him that apple pie."

JK wasn't laughing anymore, and I knew why. I really should have thought before I spoke. "You could come, too, JK," I added.

He shot me a look that made it obvious he was thinking about my intentions. He wasn't so sure about me at the moment. But my uncle was dying, so I could tell he was trying to keep an open mind.

"I might do that," he finally replied.

When we got to his truck, I was relieved. I had made the conversation awkward all because her smile got to me. Also the fact she'd been visiting Uncle D and because she truly worried about the old man. Had nothing to do with getting near me. Her blond nurse, Somi, had started acting like she cared about Uncle D and showing up in his room only when I was there, to flirt with me. I saw through that shit easy enough. It had gotten to the point I tried not to visit JK and his family when Somi was on duty. Her flirting was obvious and annoying.

I didn't like her using my sick uncle to get to me.

Jennie was different.

And she was not my speed. She was good and kind. I had to let this fascination with her go. But first I was taking her to see Uncle D. Because … well, because she fucking smiled and made me a little crazy.

"I'll get in the back," Jennie said when I opened the passenger side of JK's truck.

"I'm the tag-along—I'll get in back," I argued.

She shook her head and began climbing in back. Her ass in those jeans was a little more than distracting.

"Nope. I'm smallest and there's not a lot of room back here," she said, then thankfully sat that butt in the seat and out of my face.

"She's stubborn. No reason to argue," JK told me as he got inside.

"Let's go get some pancakes at the Pancake Haven. We talked about the place enough this summer. Need to show Jennie what all the fuss is about," JK said.

I agreed. I missed the strawberry and cream pancakes.

"Breakfast for dinner. I like it," Jennie said from the backseat.

"I know. You're always the reason Mom pulls out the biscuits and gravy for dinner," JK told her with affection in his voice.

I'd witnessed him stay in a constant state of fear and worry this summer when she'd been in a coma. He had watched her breathe … as though if he stopped watching, she might not take another breath. He said they'd been really close, and he told me stories of their childhood. Things that made him laugh, and it was good to see him smile at those times.

It was almost as if he were the parent at times. I knew just listening to him that Jennie Kim was special. The kind of special that changed a person. That made a mark in life. I didn't like thinking she wouldn't wake up. It was one of the reasons I went to read to her. I would talk to her, too. Tell her why she needed to open her eyes. I talked about college and how much fun she'd have. I did all I could to make her want to live.

"Mom is already texting me," Jennie said from the backseat with a soft laugh.

"Surprise. She hasn't texted me," JK replied.

"She's glad we're going to dinner. She was worried I'd stay in the room and read all night once she found out Tae had an away practice game."

JK lifted his gaze and looked at her through the rearview mirror. "That is exactly what you were going to do."

"True … but I was going to unpack, too."

"Trust me, the pancakes at this place are worth it. You'll thank me after the first bite."

JK pulled into the parking lot and groaned. "Shit. Mia is here."

Mia was his girlfriend for about four months last year. Until she decided to start cutting out photos of wedding dresses and shit like that. JK had bolted. Mia had been the insane ex-girlfriend for a while. Showing up unannounced, crying, bringing him cookies … it had been a joke at the frat house by the end of the year.

"The girl from last year?" Jennie asked, sounding excited.

JK sighed. "Yeah."

Jennie giggled and clapped her hands as if that were the best news ever. "Oh, this is great. I can't wait to meet her. Next family dinner I can fill everyone in."

"You're a brat and you're not meeting her," JK said, opening the door to get out.

I got out, then offered a hand for Jennie. She slipped her small hand into mine, completely trusting me, and I liked that a hell of a lot.

When she stepped out, she looked up at the restaurant and frowned. It wasn't a fancy place, but I didn't think she was one to care about that.

"Not what you expected?" I asked her.

She glanced at me, then back at the sign. "I don't know why I had an image of this place in my head, but I thought I knew what it looked like. I didn't." She shook her head. "Guess I dreamed it."

"You'll be dreaming about these pancakes," JK told her, walking around the truck to meet us. "Come on, let's go eat. And do not talk to Mia or make eye contact with her. That goes for both of you."

Jennie started laughing and I fucking soaked that shit up. Damn.

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