He called me Dandelion. I don’t know why that nickname melted my heart, but I turned to mush the moment the word left his mouth. No one has called me that since I was a kid.

As Jax wheels me down the hall, a giant blue fuzzball gets my attention. “Look, Cookie Monster! I swear I saw him walking around last night.”

Jax looks down the hall toward the children’s ward and watches the life-sized character for a minute before turning back to me with the strangest expression on his face. I’m about to ask him what’s wrong when his phone rings. After glancing at the caller ID, he groans.

The second he picks up, I hear an angry female voice yelling. At first, my heart sinks as I wonder if this is one of his girlfriends calling to complain about his change of plans. Several minutes later, he releases my wheelchair and leans against a pillar.

“Clem, I told you it was an accident.” He covers the phone and whispers, “She says she’s going to kick my ass for running over one of her friends.”

I wave for him to hand over the call. She’s still yelling when I put the phone to my ear. “Clem? They’re giving me some really good drugs here, so don’t yell at your brother. If I ever wanted a pill addiction, I’m well on my way.”

She growls into the phone, “I am fucking killing Jackson the next time I see him. I ask you to do us a favor, and this is how he repays you?”

“He’s been taking good care of me, so don’t be too hard on him.” I try to keep my voice casual. Jax starts to wheel me down the hall as I brace myself for bumps.

“Good. Make him your bitch.” Clem has a way with words.

I snort. “I don’t know about that…” I laugh despite the fact that every turn sends little shockwaves of pain through my body as we head toward the parking garage.

After a brief silence, she sighs. “Dani, do you want me to come home? Gavin would totally understand if—”

“No. Definitely not. Go have fun with your amazing boyfriend and his family. I will not be the reason you come back.” After a quick turn where I find myself gripping the armrest, I ask, “How’s it going over there?”

Clem doesn’t usually confide these sorts of details to me. I’ve gotten to know her because she’ll vent to our other roommates, and I happen to be around when they hang out, so I’m surprised when she answers my question.

She lowers her voice just above a whisper. “It’s fine, but I’m not used to all this getting-to-know-you shit. It makes me uncomfortable. Gavin is so outgoing and great with meeting people, and as we both know, I’m not. It makes me feel like I’m defective.”

She always looks so put-together that you’d never know she struggles with anything.

“Clem, I realize I only met you three months ago, but when you let your guard down, it’s hard not to love you. Let his family see the real you. Don’t be afraid about their judgment. Otherwise, it’ll be hard to relax. I find tequila works wonders. Or apple martinis.”

“Or morphine,” Jax says from behind me. I’m wondering what that means, but I can’t swivel my head around to look at him because my back is too stiff.

Clem sighs into my ear. “Thanks, Dani. Here you’re the one mauled by a car, and you’re giving me the pep talk.”

“If you need to get in a better mood, we could go a few rounds of Out-Skank.”

She blows out a breath. “Don’t get me started with that game. The last thing I need is for the words ‘cock monster’ or ‘cunt muffin’ to come up in a text message while I’m having dinner with Gavin’s family.”

I break out laughing, which makes me catch my breath until the pain subsides. When I get off the phone, Jax is quiet as he wheels me through the long, white corridors of the hospital.

“You okay back there?” I call out.

“Yeah. Just thinking about how you’re friends with my sister.” Something about the tone of his voice is off. He sounds distant.

“Why do you sound funny?” I might as well really say what’s on my mind.

I think the drugs the doctor gave me have lowered my inhibitions a little because I just want to be myself. I feel stupid for being so uptight around Jax these last few months.

That’s what I realized yesterday as I was crashing into the pavement a few inches from the tires of Jax’s BMW. My mom is right. Life is too short to have regrets. When I talk to her this weekend, I need to tell her that I understand.

Jax ignores my question so he can get the car, which Nick dropped off yesterday. He pulls up in front of me and opens the passenger door. I try to get out of the wheelchair but fail miserably.

“Don’t try to do that alone. Here.” He reaches over around my shoulders. “Are my hands okay here? I don’t want to press anything that’ll hurt.”

“This works,” I say, our faces inches apart.

He nods, his eyes passing over my face. I’m sure I look like hell, but I’m done being weird about him.

“If my morning breath kills you, at least we’re already at a hospital.”

He snickers before he scoops me up and helps me maneuver into his car. Once he’s in the driver’s seat, he turns to me with a grin. “First order of business. Food. Massive, massive amounts of food.”

“Isn’t everything closed? It’s Thanksgiving.”

“I’ve already done a little research and called in an order. I hope you’re hungry.” He pauses. “You’re not a vegetarian or vegan or anything weird, are you?”

Chuckling, I answer, “Hell, no. Bring the meat.”

He laughs. “Great. Because I can’t stand girls who eat a leaf and call it a meal.”

“That makes two of us. Besides, do I look like a girl who eats that way?”

Jax starts to say something but stops himself. I nudge his elbow with mine. “Come on. Don’t be weird. Say what’s on your mind.”

The corner of his mouth tilts up while he looks for traffic. “I was gonna say you look perfect, but I didn’t want it to go to your head.”

Warm fuzzies build in my chest, and I remind myself that he’s just being nice.

And you know what? I’ve decided that’s okay too. There’s nothing wrong with being nice. I’ve hated that description for so long, but I’m done apologizing for who I am.

#OwnIt