My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 64

Chapter 64

My Cheating Mate

Jeremy pov

The bed was soft. Too soft. When had my bed gotten this soft?

I tried to remember the last time I’d actually slept in it. Days? A week? Everything was blurring together–intelligence briefings, tracking rogue movements, coordinating with allied packs

Emma’s words echoed in my mind: *You’re killing yourself. Again. *

She was right. I knew she was right. But how was I supposed to rest when there were still rogues out there planning to hurt her?

I should get up. Should check the latest reports. Should-

My body had other ideas. The moment my head hit the pillow, exhaustion crashed over me like a wave. Not the kind you could fight through. The kind that pulled you under whether you wanted to go or not.

I was asleep before I could finish the thought

Darkness. Deep, dreamless darkness. The kind of sleep that comes when your body finally overrides your mind’s protests and just shuts down.

No dreams of Vanessa. No nightmares of rogues attacking Emma. No guilt–fueled scenarios playing on repeat.

Just… nothing.

Peace, maybe. Or just complete exhaustion finally winning

Something was buzzing. Persistent, annoying. I tried to ignore it, burrowing deeper into the pillow.

The buzzing stopped. Then started again.

Go away, I thought. Let me sleep.

More buzzing. Then silence.

Then–was that my door opening?

Footsteps. Light, cautious. Someone was in my house.

I should wake up. Should check who it was. Could be a threat, could be

“Jeremy?”

Emma’s voice. Emma was here.

ī

I tried to open my eyes, but they felt glued shut. Tried to speak, but my mouth wouldn’t cooperate.

“Jeremy, wake up.” Her voice was closer now, worried. “Come on, please wake up.”

Her hand touched my shoulder, shaking gently. “Jeremy!”

I finally managed to crack my eyes open. Bright sunlight streaming through the window made me wince. How long had I been asleep?

Emma’s face swam into focus above me—beautiful, worried, very much not supposed to be in my bedroom.

群

Emuna? My voice came out rough, unused. “What–what time is it?”

+15 Bonus

Two in the afternoon.” She sat on the edge of the bed, her hand still on my shoulder. “You weren’t answering your phone. Your father was worried. I was worried.”

“Two in the afternoon?” I tried to sit up, my body protesting the movement. “What day?”

“Friday. You’ve been asleep for almost twenty hooks.”

Twenty hours. I’d slept for twenty hours straight.

“I missed-” Panic started to rise. “The briefing. The intelligence reports. I was supposed to

18

“Your father handled it,” Emma interrupted. “Jeremy, you needed this. Your body literally shut down because you’ve been running on fumes for weeks.”

I slumped back against the pillows, reality settling over me. Twenty hours. Wheft was the last time I’d slept that long?

“I texted you,” Emma continued. “Multiple times. When you didn’t answer, I got scared. Thought maybe” Her voice caught.” Thought maybe you’d gone back out hunting despite what you promised.”

“No. I came home, Lay down for just a minute and-” 1 gestured vaguely at the evidence of how that had gone. “Apparently my body had other plans.”

“Good plans,” she said firmly, “You needed sleep, Jeremy. Real, actual sleep. Not whatever you’ve been doing–passing out from exhaustion for a few hours then dragging yourself back to work.”

She was still here. In my bedroom. Sitting on my bed. Looking at me with concern instead of the disgust I’d seen so often lately.

“You came to check on me,” I said, the realization warming something in my chest.

“Of course I did. I told you–I love you. Even when I’m angry at you, even when you’re being an idiot about self–care, I still love you.” She paused. “I was terrified something had happened. That you’d collapsed somewhere, or gotten hurt, or-”

“I’m okay,” I said quickly. “Just apparently more exhausted than I realized”

“Twenty hours, Jeremy. Your body shut down for twenty hours. That’s not ‘a little tired. That’s complete system failure.”

She wasn’t wrong. Now that I was awake, I could feel how much my body had needed that sleep. How I’d been running on nothing but adrenaline and guilt for weeks.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “For worrying you. For not answering my phone.”

“Your phone’s dead, by the way. Has been since sometime last night.” She pulled it from her pocket and handed plugged it in, but you should probably check your messages. Your father called about six times.”