It Started With A Concussion ✔️

Chapter 26

When I finally thought I regained my composure Jackson pressed his head against my stomach and his shoulders along with the rest of his body tensed up. His eyes clenched as I moved my hand over his back.

"Jackson." I whisper his name trying to wake him up. "Jackson." My hand moves from his hair and cups his face. It was a short moment before he relaxes, blinking his eyes showing me that he's awake.

When he does, a tear falls out of his eye and my heart can't take it anymore. One falls onto my finger and I wipe it away. My eyes sting as I begin to lose my composure all over again.

Looking up as tears start to pool in my own eyes, he scrambles to sit up hearing me take in another ragged breath.

"Stop it." He whispers at me, wiping his thumb under my eye, and I try. I try to stop tearing up but it doesn't work.

"Jackson-"

"I don't want you crying Em." His tone is light and caring, but I try to argue my side and end up failing.

"But-"

"No. If it's me you're crying about, stop it. I don't need your tears." He shuts me down again and I know his intentions are good, but I can't help but feel that came across more aggressively than he had hoped.

I take in a deep breath and try to calm my racing heart. "What is going-" I can't finish my sentence before his eyes lock onto mine in such a way that I already knew his answer.

He didn't want to talk about it.

I closed my mouth and turned my head so I could look out the window. Well now we're sitting in this awkward and tense silence.

He sat up and scooted to the other side of the seats before resting his head against the window.

I was pretty nervous but mostly thankful that I spotted Kayla and Elliot walking back with our food. They opened the door and handed us our stuff before getting in and pulling out of the parking lot.

I hesitantly grabbed my food as the both of us went for it at the same time. He pulled his hand back and allowed me to take what I wanted.

I sat in silence for the rest of the ride. Trying too hard to forget what happened during the few minutes they were gone.

~~~~~

It was very humid as I stepped out of the car. We had just arrived at the hotel in the middle of-I don't know where-Florida.

Checking in was the easy part, dealing with the room situation wasn't. There were two rooms booked for us, each with one bed. I had high hopes that we'd keep the same bed partners as we did on the way down here.

But after Kayla's subtle yet straightforward conversation about needing to be with my brother, for reasons we all know of, I find myself unlocking the door with Jackson walking in behind me.

I eye the bed and think about how the hell we're going to manage this. We haven't spoken since the stop for food hours ago.

He makes it easy for me as he turns on the shower. I can at least ignore him for a few as he cleans up and I go after him when he's done.

Stepping out of the bathroom he's already laying on his side and I silently agree to lay down on the other. I guess having our backs to each other was the solution to it.

I scroll through my phone for a few minutes before I place it on the charger. Turning my lamp off I close my eyes.

He turned his light off soon after but I couldn't ignore the glowing coming from his side of the bed.