My Golden Retriever Lover

Chapter 5 I'm Scared

After applying the medicine, Jack lifted the covers and gently placed Clara on the bed.

Clara wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, feeling a bit shy, and buried her face, catching a whiff of her shower gel's scent on him.

She really loved this fragrance and couldn't resist taking another deep sniff.

Jack looked at the person in his arms and smiled, satisfied.

It seemed his little efforts had paid off.

After laying her down, Jack tucked her in carefully, his voice soft. "Clara, get some rest."

Clara's small face peeked out from the covers, her bright eyes blinking. "Okay, you rest early, too."

After Jack left, the room plunged into darkness again, with the thunder still rumbling outside. Clara burrowed into her blanket, wrapping herself tightly.

The thunder was exceptionally loud tonight, and the wind howled relentlessly. Clara was even worried that the windows might not hold up and would shatter.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Clara, are you still awake?"

It was Jack.

Clara peeked out from her blanket and called toward the door, "Yes, what's up?"

"Clara, may I sleep with you?"

"What?"

Clara hadn't expected Jack to say that and was hesitating on how to respond when another thunderclap boomed loudly, sounding especially eerie.

"Clara, there's thunder. I'm scared."

Jack's voice was soft and timid, sounding genuinely frightened.

Clara's heart softened, and she forgot her scruple, rushing out of bed to open the door for him.

"Clara!" Jack hugged her tightly, his body trembling slightly, seemingly quite scared.

Clara, who had been very frightened herself, found that seeing Jack like this oddly made her less afraid.

She gently patted his back, comforting him. "Don't be scared. I'm here."

After holding onto her for a while, Jack reluctantly let go.

Another flash of lightning lit up the room, revealing Jack's pale face and red, tear-stained eyes. Clara's heart ached for him.

"Come in," she said, stepping aside to let him pass.

Jack picked up his blanket and entered Clara's room.

Fortunately, her bed was large enough for the two of them.

Clara adjusted her blanket to make room for Jack and patted the spot next to her. "Come on. Let's sleep."

Jack, holding his blanket, watched Clara's open and trusting demeanor, feeling elated inside.

He slowly climbed into bed, settling on the outer edge, leaving a wide space between them.

Clara turned to see him huddling on the edge of the bed, worried he might fall off during the night.

"You can move in closer," she said in the darkness.

Jack inched slightly closer, then turned to face Clara, a smile evident in his eyes. "Clara, you're so good to me."

"Mm," Clara murmured softly, not saying anything more.

Perhaps due to the comfort of having Jack beside her, Clara felt at ease. Exhausted from the day's activities, she quickly drifted into a deep sleep.

Once Jack heard her steady breathing, he opened his eyes and stared at Clara.

"Clara, Clara," he whispered, but she didn't respond. With her deeply asleep, Jack's demeanor changed from the docile, gentle persona of the day.

Clara seemed to be sound asleep, not sensing anything.

"Clara, you like me too, don't you?" he murmured, resting his chin gently on her head, inhaling the scent of her hair.

It wasn't until that moment that Jack felt everything that happened today was real, not just a dream he had imagined.

*****

Clara, feeling hot, instinctively stretched out her limbs.

The next second, she was completely awake, startled.

As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Jack's sleeping face, just inches away.

His hand was still resting on her waist, and he was deeply asleep.

Clara carefully moved his hand away, trying to slip out of his embrace. However, just as she was about to escape, Jack's long arm wrapped around her, pulling her back into his arms.

"Don't move. Sleep a bit longer," Jack mumbled.

Clara was utterly embarrassed.

What had she done last night?!

She was so ashamed and frustrated.

On the first day she brought Jack home, she had crossed the line. She felt guilty, especially thinking of Jack's late parents.

It was too much just to think about it.

Jack moved a bit at that time, opened his eyes, and looked at Clara, who was lying in his arms with a complicated expression on her face. He smiled.

"Clara, you're awake," Jack said, his voice heavy with sleep and sounding very endearing.

Clara felt even more guilty, burying her head lower.

She wished she could disappear right now.

"Sorry, Clara," Jack suddenly said.

Clara opened her eyes, confused at his words.

"Last night, I noticed you didn't have a blanket on. I was worried you'd get cold, and in my drowsy state, I instinctively put mine over you."

Jack lied with a straight face, but his tone was so sincere that Clara believed him completely.

"Oh, so that's what happened," Clara sighed in relief. "I was so scared. I thought..."

Jack raised an eyebrow, teasing her, "Thought what?"

Clara couldn't bring herself to reveal her true thoughts and quickly deflected. "Nothing... nothing at all."

"Time's ticking. Hurry up and get ready for school."

Clara scrambled out of bed, picked up the blanket that had fallen to the floor, tossed it back onto the bed, and dashed into the bathroom without looking back.