Sea Breeze 01 - Breathe

him.”
    Marcus nodded and stood up. “Yeah, I figured as much.” He glanced at the door. “He’s going to come bursting in here any minute and make me go back to disliking him, so I had better leave before that happens.”
    I laughed. “Okay. Thank you for everything.”
    Marcus smiled. “It was my pleasure.” He left the room.
    I knew he would always be there when I needed him, but in a way I had just set him free.
    Jax stepped back in the room, smiling at me. “Can you try to eat something?”
    I thought about food, and suddenly I was very hungry. I nodded. “Yes, I think so.”
    He broke out into a very happy grin, opened the door, and signaled for a nurse. “She wants food.”
    The nurse stuck her head in and smiled. “You ready to try some Jell-O?”
    Jell-O was not what I had been thinking, but apparently I had to start somewhere. “Yes, please.”
    She nodded and stepped back out of the room. Jax picked up his guitar from the corner and sat down and began to play. He smiled, and the smooth voice that had made him famous joined the guitar.

Chapter Twenty
    JAX
    I would be completely changed for the rest of my life. I’d never been terrified like that. My world had never felt like it was crashing down around me. I had lived a really blessed life. Things had always come easy to me. I’d expected it.
    The phone call telling me Sadie was in a coma had been a turning point for me. All I’d been able to focus on was getting to her. I needed to be near her. I was convinced I could get her to come back to me. That she just needed me near her to wake up. I was also positive that I’d spend the rest of my life in a hospital room by her side if she didn’t.
    Seeing her smiling at me now as I sang to her made me realize how lucky I was. How much I’d taken for granted and how easily life could change. It could end. Running from Sadie to protect her only hurt us both. Life was short and we had another chance at it. I wasn’t going to screw it up this time. Sadie would never feel alone again as long as I was breathing. She’d be taken care of and she would be the reason for every song I sang.
    I couldn’t change the past. My mistakes had almost cost me everything. But I knew now what was important. The path my life had taken would not control my choices any longer. I would.
    SADIE
    I spent another week in the hospital, but I didn’t mind it. Having Jax with me all day long made the days go by quicker. Once they allowed more visitors, Mr. Greg came and we played chess. He let me win, and he didn’t realize I knew what he was doing. I spoke with Jessica on the phone several times, and she seemed happy and more like herself. She also desperately wanted to see Sam. She was really having a hard time dealing with what she’d done to him. Jax assured me she would be getting help for her guilt as well. Ms. Mary brought me chicken fingers and mashed potatoes and apple pie, which was a wonderful relief from the hospital food. Jax continued to sing to me. The nurses peeked in the door and sighed at the sight of him. I understood. The guy I loved also happened to be the world’s biggest heartthrob. I had accepted it.
    Jax refused to let me go back to my apartment, and Ms. Mary refused to let Jax take me home with him. So I ended up going home with Ms. Mary. I was anxious to see Sam. He had managed to wedge his little self deep inside my heart. I had to keep reminding myself the role I played in his life every time I began to think about his future and worry over things that were not my place to worry about. Holding him again and letting his chubby little fingers curl tightly around my finger made everything seem right.
    Jax sat down beside me on Ms. Mary’s couch and looked down at Sam. “He’s a cute kid. He has your eyes.”
    I smiled up at Jax and nodded. “Apparently, Jessica has really strong genes.”
    Jax touched Sam’s nose gently. “Well, fella, you’re going to be one of the prettiest guys I’ve ever seen, then.”
    I laughed, and so did Ms. Mary.
    “All right, you’ve seen him. Now you need to say your goodbyes to Jax and get some rest.” She stared at Jax. “You’ve been with her for two weeks straight. She needs a break.”
    I started to argue, but Jax shook his head. “No, she’s right. You need some rest. Monday you’ll be able to go back to school, and I want you rested up before then.”
    I didn’t think I could be any more rested. I’d been in a bed for two weeks. “Okay,