29 Growing Stronger

[P.O.V. Kendrick Ryans]

Nolan got Dr. Minks to look at Mr. Jackson's nose. While Dr. Minks is doing his job, I have lit up a second cigarette. It was calming some of my irritation, annoyance, and anger. How can she help him after what he did to her? It's because she is too damn sweet and kind. It one of the many reasons why I choose her. I can't lose her even thinking that she might be leaving me for this idiot makes the ache in my heart come back.

Jennifer walks away from Dr. Minks, Nolan, and Mr. Jackson. Giving Dr. Minks room to look at Mr. Jackson. Putting my cigarette out, she stands next to me. I could feel the tension between us. It's not our first fight, nor will it be the last. That is how any relationship works to deal with the worst of each other.

"Do you want to tell me why you're acting so crazy mad?" She asks, all serious.

"You gonna tell me why you're defending and helping a man that forced himself on you? " Asking her a question back.

"I asked first."

"I don't care."

"You're an ass."

"Well, they don't call me an asshole for nothing ." She makes a 'hmm' sound and crosses her arms across her chest. Dr. Minks and Nolan helped Mr. Jackson up and headed towards the balcony door. Besides Nolan, he comes towards me.

"Dr. Minks thinks you might have actually broken his nose. If so, that will be the total of three noses you have broken with two that you have fractured. Dr. Minks is getting Mr. Jackson an ambulance and is going to wait with him until it arrives. " Nolan telling me what's going on.

"This isn't the first nose you have broken?" Jennifer asks with a little surprise. I didn't answer her; I was too damn mad to answer. I was so mad I was afraid if I did answer, I might say something I might regret.

"No, it isn't, and since you too have things to talk about, we will give you some privacy." Nolan grabs Cassidy's hand getting ready to walk away.

"That won't be necessary. Jennifer and I are heading back to the hotel." Telling them in a cold and blunt tone. Nolan nods in understanding and goes inside with Cassidy.

"We are not going back to the hotel," Jennifer says. Sighing deeply, I look at Jennifer.

"Oh, yes, we are even if I have to carry you out."

"You wouldn't dare embarrass me that way."

"Do you want to test that theory?" She looks unsure for a minute and starts walking towards the balcony door. Following her, we leave; before we could leave, Mr. and Mrs. Rills stop us and talk to us for a minute.

{P.O.V. Jennifer Ross-Ryans}

The ride back to the hotel was tranquil and tense. It got even tenser once we enter the room. Kendrick went straight to the bedroom didn't even say one word. Why do I feel like I'm in trouble? Following him into the bedroom, I wanted an answer to early tonight's question.

"Are you going to tell me why your acting crazy mad?" Asking him with a little attitude. He was starting to take off his suit.

"Are you going to tell me why you helped and defended him?" He asks back. Undoing his tie and taking it off, then unbuttons his shirt.

"Because Carson a good guy, and even though he acted like a child, he didn't deserve a broken nose. And I helped him because I felt like I owed him. I rejected his proposal all those years ago. Then he tells me how he feels, and I ended up rejecting him again, then you broke his nose."

"Well, then he should learn to respect your decision, and I wouldn't have broken his nose. Besides that, I will always protect you, Jennifer. And you don't owe him anything."

"I know, but that is just how I feel." He puts his shirt on the bed and sits down on the bed, taking off his socks and shoes. "Now it's your turn to answer my question."

He stands up and grabs a pair of boxers and sweat pants out of the dresser. He walks into the bathroom doorway and slightly turns his body, and says. "No, I actually don't have to answer."

"What that not fair I answered your question!" He goes into the bathroom and holds onto the door.

"Never said you had to." With that, he closes the bathroom door and locks it. Is he kidding me? he can't close a door while we're having a conversation. Banging on the door then yelling!

"Your sleeping on the couch!"

"I'll deal with it!" He yells back and turns the shower on. Damn, this man makes me so angry.

It's been a few hours since we fought. When Kendrick got out of the shower, he went straight to the couch. Before he did, he offered to help unzipped my dress, but of course, I told him no, all because I was mad at the time. Now it's two clocks in the morning. I still can't reach the zipper of the back of the dress. I took all my jewelry, makeup, heels, and stockings off but the damn dress. Because of this, I haven't been able to go to sleep. It was not the only reason I was used to sleeping next to Kendrick, and even though we were fighting, I missed him. I was sitting at the end of the bed, with my hands on my lap and me looking down at them.

"I thought you would be asleep by now," Kendricks says calmly as he walks in from the living room.

"I can't reach the zipper on my dress." Telling him in a sad and defeated tone. He kneels in front of me, and luscious brown eyes get caught in stormy sea blue eyes.

"Do you want me to unzip your dress?"

"Please..." I felt tired and drained, not even to mention I felt a little hormonal from the pregnancy. Because of that hormonal feeling, I felt like crying from being so tired, and because I felt horrible that Kendrick and I were fighting. He kneels up high; his chest was now leveled with my chest. His arms wrap around me, and his hand pulls my zipper down. After he was done, he kneels low once again.

"I'm sorry.." He says. I look up at him with a little shock. "I know I could have handled the situation better."

"Situation? you mean with Carson?"

"No, I don't regret punching the idiot; he deserved it. I'm talking about you and me. I have a hard time expressing my feelings, and I told you I would try harder, so here it goes." He takes a deep breath and takes my hands into his. "The reason I was acting so crazy mad as you put it. Is because... Is because.." I could see he was having a hard time expressing his feelings. He had a lot of emotions running behind those eyes.

"You don't have to express them if you don't want to."

"I need to... It's only hard because I didn't know it would happen again. I have fought hard not to feel this way again, but it seems that I have lost the battle against myself." What is he talking about? "When I saw him hold what was mine, I snapped. I wanted nothing more than to kill him for touching you. When Zach told me that Carson was planning on stealing you away from me, I was terrified that I could lose you... Jennifer, the reason I acted mad crazy is because I am in love with you."

Not only did he apologize, but he's in love with me? I did something that other girls couldn't do well beside Lucia. I got him to fall in love with me. I was totally shocked and speechless.

"You don't have to say it back. If you do, I want you to mean it, not because I said it to you first, alright?" He says

"Alright." I wanted to say it back, but my lips stayed sealed, and my mouth wouldn't form the words I wanted to say. He nods his head and gets up, and heads towards the bedroom door. "Wait!" He stops and looks back at me. "Please don't go. I can't sleep without you."

"I'm only coming back if you mean that because if you don't, I'm sleeping on the couch." He says boldly.

"I mean it." He gives me a slight smile and comes back.

Standing up, he hugs me. I have really missed this. I love being in his arms; he makes me feel safe and wanted. He helps me out of dress so I can get ready for bed. Once I was ready for bed, we snuggled on the bed, and within seconds, I was asleep.