bChapter /bb509 /b

    The spray of water glistened under the sunlight, giving the sun–bakedwn a cool, refreshing mist.

    Jessica tugged Brian forward. “Why dodge it? Let’s y in the water.” She reached out as if to catch some droplets.

    Brian instinctively turned to shield her, but Jessica ducked behind him.

    Just then, the sprinklers activated again, drenching Brian head–on.

    Jessica burst outughing from behind him.

    Brian sighed, water dripping from his hair, “Jessi.”

    “Don’t me me! You walked right into that one,” she teased yfully.

    “I’m not ming you.” Brian shook his head fondly. For her smile, he could dly wade through rivers, let alone endure a little water. “Don’t do this again. You could catch a cold.” He wiped a stray droplet from her cheek, his gaze unbearably soft.

    Jessica’s guilt flickered briefly under that look. Suddenly, her gaze dropped onto his soaked pants. “That water had perfect aim.” She pped a hand over her mouth, shoulders shaking with suppressed giggles.

    Brian’s shirt was barely damp, but his trousers clung to his legs like he had peed his pants. Jessica thought, ‘I bet Brian hasn’t been this messy in years.’

    Brian followed her gaze, sighing, “Stopughing. Let’s go before the next round.” He didn’t mind the soaking, butte autumn chills were no joke, especially for Jessica.

    Seeing his drenched state and his unwavering concern, Jessica felt a little guilty. She nodded and followed him away from thewn.

    On the way home, Brian kept a two–step distance from Jessica, no longer reaching for her hand. Jessica found herself oddly unsettled by the change.

    As they neared their neighborhood, a child on a bicycle zoomed past. Jessica yfully sidestepped toward Brian, only for him to instinctively step aside. She raised an eyebrow. “What? Don’t want me near you?”

    “No, I’m still damp. I don’t want you catching a chill,” Brian exined gently.

    “Mm.” Jessica hadn’t expected that. Guilt flickered. After all, she had caused this mess. The rest of the walk passed quietly, her teasing abandoned.

    12:52 Mon, 1 Sept

    At home, Jessica immediately urged Brian to shower, then began washing vegetables for dinner.

    50%

    When Brian came out, he hurried over to stop her. “The water is cold. Let me handle this. You-” A sudden

    sneeze interrupted him.

    “Are you getting sick?” Jessica asked with concern.

    “I’m fine. I won’t get sick easily,” Brian insisted.

    Still, Jessica wasn’t convinced. That night, she pointed to the bed. “No couch. Sleep here tonight.”

    Brian couldn’t believe his luck. Without hesitation, he grabbed his quilt and moved onto the bed, silently

    vowing it would never return to the couch.

    The next day, the fever had Brian pinned to the mattress. “I need to… make Jessi breakfast.” He forced himself up, head throbbing.

    Jessica shoved him back down. “Please, you’re burning up at 104 degrees Fahrenheit and still thinking about cooking breakfast?”

    She rolled her eyes as she ordered takeout on her phone, then rummaged through the medicine cab for

    cold pills and poured a ss of water.

    “Take these now before you fry your brain. I’m not taking responsibility if that happens,” she insisted, shoving the pills and ss into Brian’s hands.

    Brian swallowed them but immediately tried to get up.

    Jessica startled, pushing him back down again. “Stay in bed and sleep it off. You’ll feel better when you wake up.”

    Brian insisted, his voice hoarse, “No. I can’t stay here. Jessi, you should keep your distance. I don’t want to get you sick.” He forced himself upright, swaying slightly.

    “I’m going back to my room for a few days,” he said, already nning ahead. “And maybe I’ll call Jackson to arrange a temp caregiver, or maybe my mom cane-”

    Jessica didn’t like any of those ideas. She cut him off, pushing him back onto the mattress. “Stop oveplicating things. Just rest. Colds aren’t that contagious. If you’re that worried, then focus on getting better faster.”

    She wasn’t about to let him move out, not when she was the reason he had gotten sick..

    “But what if-” Brian hesitated.

    12.32 IVIOTT, Sept

    、 3 56% b% /b

    15

    “We’ll both be okay. Listen to me. If you move out now, don’t bother moving back.” She threatened.

    Brian fell silent instantly.

    Jessica smirked in satisfaction.

    After breakfast, Jessica called the Atkinson family’s doctor to examine Brian. Only after confirming it was just amon cold, manageable with medication, did she fully rx.

    Brian slept through the morning, and by noon, his fever had subsided. Despite Jessica’s protests, he insisted on making lunch for her, wearing a mask.-

    Seeing he was in decent spirits, Jessica let him be.

    By evening, Brian felt mostly recovered. While Jessica was washing up, he seized the opportunity to change the sweat–dampened sheets and strategically left only one fresh quilt on the bed.

    Jessica emerged from the bathroom, pausing briefly at the sight of the single quilt. But she said nothing.

    Brian, who had been watching her reaction, finally exhaled in relief. “Go ahead and sleep. I’ll shower and toss these sheets in the wash,” he said, ducking into the bathroom before Jessica could question him.

    Amused, Jessica climbed into bed and scrolled through her phone until the sound of running water stopped. Then, she set her phone aside and pretended to be asleep.

    esc

    When Brian returned and saw her lying still with her eyes shut, he visibly rxed. Carefully lifting the quilt, he settled on the far edge of the bed, keeping his distance. Hey stiffly and prepared to fall asleep.

    Momentster, the mattress shifted, then a warm arm wrapped around him.

    He froze, barely daring to breathe. When Jessica didn’t stir further, he tentatively pulled her closer. Feeling the familiar warmth of her against his chest, he let out a soft, contented sigh.

    AD