The drive to the clinic was quiet, but not in a way that felt empty. Jack's hand never left Selena's thigh, thumb brushing slow, steady circles against her skin as if he could ground her nerves with his touch alone. She leaned her head back against the seat, watching the city blur past, trying to keep her breathing even.
Jack kept glancing at her. Protective didn't even begin to cover it. There was something fierce in his silence, something sharp that curled around her like armor.
When they pulled up to the clinic, he parked the car and was immediately out of his seat, walking around to open the door for her before she had a chance to move. Selena smiled faintly at his insistence, though her stomach twisted with nerves.
"Jack," she whispered, taking his hand as she stood. "I can walk on my own."
"I know," he said softly, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "But you don't have to. Not today."
