“Mellissa?” I frown, wondering how she could possibly know about her.

“Yeah, Mellissa…the one who loves you,” she singsongs, making my eyes narrow.

“Babe, Mellissa and I dated back in high school,” I rumble.

“Well, she loves you, and even told your mom to tell you that.”

“I don’t love her, and I’m not with her, or anyone else,” I say, knowing I’m going to have to repeat this shit when she’s sober, because I’m sure she’s not even comprehending anything I’m saying right now. “Jeans off, babe, and get under the covers,” I order, turning around toward the bathroom, so I can grab the garbage can, but I stop when she sits up and bolts past me to the bathroom, landing on her knees in front of the toilet.

Pulling her hair away from her face, I rub her back, waiting for her to finish being sick before grabbing a washcloth and turning the water to cold. Placing it on her forehead, I wait a moment until I know she’s good then wipe her mouth. I help her sit up then grab a toothbrush from the holder. Muttering, “Open,” I move it around her mouth while her head tilts back and her eyes close. Once I’m done, I get her to the sink to rinse her mouth before picking her up and carrying her to bed, putting my knees on the mattress with her in my arms and laying us down, tossing the covers back over us.

“Jax?” I hear her whisper as I hit the remote for the light to go out.

“Yeah, baby?”

“Thank you for taking care of me.”

“I’ll always take care of you, Ellie,” I say softly, listening as her light snore fills the quiet. Wrapping my arms tighter around her, I fall asleep with her weight against me, knowing this is how it’s supposed to be, and there is no way I’m ever going to give it up.

Waking up, I feel my hand on something soft and smooth before it registers that Ellie is with me, her ass pressed to my morning wood, my hand holding onto her stomach, and my other arm dead from being underneath her. I lay there, enjoying it for a moment, and know exactly when she wakes up, because her body goes solid against me and her hand goes to her head. Turning she looks over her shoulder, her sleepy eyes meeting mine, and a dark blush creeps over her cheeks.

“Morning.” I smile, trying to ease whatever embarrassment she’s feeling.

“Um…” she mumbles then looks around. “I…what am I doing in here?”

“You got drunk last night,” I remind her, and she nods then rolls to her stomach and blinks. “Wes brought you home and you got sick.”

“You took care of me,” she says softly, closing her eyes like she’s remembering. “I’m sorry you had to do that.”

“Baby, taking care of you isn’t a hardship for me. Plus, now I can say you owe me one, and you can take the Rover, and the silent treatment can be done.”

“I don’t want the car, Jax.” She frowns.

“What if I say it’s my car and you’re just borrowing it?”

“Jax.” She shakes her head against the pillow.

“I want you and Hope to be safe, Ellie, and I know you can get a car for yourself, but until you do that, please use the Rover,” I plead.

“I looked up the price of the phone you got me, Jax,” she says, narrowing her eyes.

SHIT.

“I bought it off someone for fifty dollars, Ellie,” I lie, and she closes her eyes.

“I hate feeling like I owe people. I have always done everything on my own, and it’s really difficult for me to accept help,” she confesses then opens her eyes, dropping her voice. “You and your family have been so amazing, and I don’t want to feel like I’m taking advantage of your generosity.”

“Baby,” I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her closer to me, as close as I can get her, before her body freezes up, “have you asked me for anything?”

“No,” she whispers, looking at my throat.

“Have you asked my family for anything?”

“No,” she repeats, and I give her a squeeze, bringing her gaze back up to meet mine.

“Then you’re not taking advantage. If it makes you feel better, we can say the car is on loan from me to you, and when you’re done with it, I can sell it off. But until then, please use it.”

“Have I told you that you’re annoying?” she asks then huffs when I smile.

“A few times.”

“You’re annoying. Bossy. And annoying.”

“You already said I’m annoying.” I grin.

“It needs repeating,” she mumbles under her breath.

“No more silent treatment,” I tell her on a squeeze, dipping my face closer to hers. “I don’t like it.”

“Well, I don’t like you buying me expensive phones or cars, so we’re even.”

“One more thing we need to talk about,” I warn.

“What?” She frowns.

“Last night, you brought up the name Mellissa,” I say, watching as her face loses color and she tries to pull away. “Stop,” I growl, pulling her back to me when she attempts to tug my arms from around her.

“You have a girlfriend. We shouldn’t,” she cries in distress.

“Ellie, listen to me,” I state firmly, and her body stills and her eyes go to my throat again. “I do not have a girlfriend, not yet anyways.” I gently nudge her, feeling her stiffen further. “And when I do have one, I guarantee you will be the first to know.”