Sea Breeze 01 - Breathe

fine,” I muttered, and sank back against the couch.
    Jax chuckled and leaned down to kiss my forehead. “I have canceled two concerts on my tour, and I need to get them rescheduled. I won’t stay gone long. I just need to go home and deal with the thousand phone calls I have put off.”
    I didn’t want him to leave, but I knew he had given up everything to stay by my side the past two weeks. “All right.” I forced a smile.
    He sighed. “Come on, Sadie, don’t look like that. You’re making this so hard. You have school on Monday, and I’m going to have to be on a plane to New York by tomorrow evening.”
    I knew this. We had already talked about his schedule for the next few months. I was not going to make this any harder. I had sworn to myself to make things as easy as possible for him.
    “I know, you’re right. I won’t sulk anymore, I promise.”
    He laughed, leaned down, and kissed my lips this time. I instantly responded, and he moaned and broke the kiss.
    “Come on, don’t do that to me in Ms. Mary’s house. I’ll get all the blame if she catches us.”
    I grinned. “Sorry.”
    He raised his eyebrows and smirked. “Sure you are.” He stood up and walked to the door, where he stopped and said, “I’m going to be back as soon as I can. In the meantime, sleep, so when I get back we can talk without Ms. Mary breathing down my neck.”
    I nodded, and he blew me a kiss, turned, and continued out the door.
    Our last day together went fast. Before I knew it, Jax was gone again and I was getting ready to go back to high school. I woke before the sun came up and took a shower. Facing high school after being with Jax so much was depressing. By the time I’d dressed and made it to the kitchen, Ms. Mary had a plate of pancakes and bacon on the table.
    “You got up early enough. What’s taking you so long? Come eat this before it gets cold.”
    I had never had a hot breakfast made for me before I went to school. I couldn’t help but smile at her through my sadness. “Thank you, Ms. Mary. I’m sorry it took me so long.” I didn’t elaborate.
    She turned from washing the dishes in the sink and put a soapy hand on her hip. “Now, I know you miss that boy. I can completely understand it. However, you’ve done promised him you’d enjoy your last year in high school, and you ain’t gonna be able to do that if you’re moping around.” Her Aunt Bee frown was back, and I nodded.
    “You’re right, of course. I have so much to be happy about. Starting with you.”
    Her cheeks flushed and she waved her soapy hand at me. “Oh, you, goin’ and saying stuff like that. You’re special, girl, ain’t no doubt about it.”
    She turned around and continued washing the dishes.
    I ate as much of my breakfast as I could and took it over to the sink.
    “Now you go on and have a good day.”
    I nodded and grabbed my book bag. Sam let out a cry, and I walked over to him, bent down, and kissed his sweet little bald head.
    “You be good for Ms. Mary, squirt. I’ll see you after school.”
    His fat arms slapped at the air, and he kicked his feet. It was his favorite pastime. I waved to him on my way out the door.
    Kane stood leaning against the Hummer. When he saw me, he glanced down at his watch as if I was late. I had stopped moving, confused as to his presence there. It was then that my phone rang. I reached into my pocket and pulled it out.
    “Hello?”
    “Good morning, beautiful. Now, I want you to do me a favor and go get into the vehicle for Kane. Don’t argue with me. I happen to have doctor’s orders that you’re
not
to ride your bicycle for at least another two months.”
    I stood staring at the now grinning Kane. “Doctor’s orders, huh? You wouldn’t happen to have paid the doctor for the orders, would you?” I challenged.
    He chuckled. “Never. Now go get in that Hummer before Kane does what he was instructed to do.”
    I froze and stared at the giant in front of me. “What were his instructions?”
    “To get you in that vehicle no matter what,” he countered.
    I grinned, shrugged in defeat, and walked to the Hummer. Kane opened the door, and I had to take his hand to step up into it. “Okay, rock star, I’m in your Hummer.”
    “Thank you.”
    I had been expecting him to gloat, so his simple thank you made my heart flutter. “You’re welcome.”
    “I miss you,” he said softly.
    “I miss you, too.”
    “I have a concert Thursday night, and then one on Saturday, but after