“What?”
Hisstern gaze met mine. “There are some women out there who are too soft, some aretoo hard, and others arejust right—areyou catching my drift?”
Icantedmy head to the side. “You lost me.”
“JesusChrist, Chaddington …” He removed his hand from my knee and scrubbed both palmsagainst his face. “Okay. Look. Ali is a fucking twat. Nobody likes her, and I’mpretty convincedthat you don’t either. I mean, maybeyou did at one point, but that ship sailed a long-ass time ago—am I right?”
Myunmoving expression was answer enough, and he nodded. “You don’t deserve thatbullshit, and I really hope that this whole thing,” he gestured toward mystomach, the bed, the beeping machines, “has made you realize that wasting timeon bullshit is just that—a fucking waste of time.”
Inodded. “I’m breaking up with her when I get—”
“No.”He shook his head. “Call hertonight. End thingsnow. Stopwasting your fucking time, man. Don’t make me get Devin in here to lecture you,‘causeyou know he will. Heloves lecturing people. It’s what he does.”
Iscoffed. Devin had been in love with Kylie for over a decade before confessinghis feelings to her and liked to remind us about it every chance he got. “Okay.I’ll call her, but after I get some fucking sleep.”
Sebastianpursed his lips, as though thinking about it, then nodded. “Fine. But then, yougottado something else.”
“What?”
Heglanced toward the door and back to me, leaning closer and eyeing me intently.“Like I said before … Some women arejustright. Don’t let that shit get away.”
19
NeverSet Foot in a Hospital Again
MOLLY
MY BACKPRESSEDto the wall across from Chad’s door. I was glad they had given him a privateroom. He deserved that. Not that anybody was likely to bother him here, but hewas angry, upset, and embarrassed. The last thing he needed was to deal with aroommate. This was good, if there could be agoodin this situation.
Myfingers tapped relentlessly against my thighs. I shook my hands out. I lickedmy lips, pulled them into my mouth, released, and licked again. I pushed awayfrom the wall. Paced for one, two, three steps, and then back again. God, withevery passing second, I felt the tick of the clock resound in my mind like agong, bringing me closer to implosion. I was aware of the eyes on me. Devin,Jon, and Ty all pretended to watch their feet, heads bowed, but they werestaring at me through their peripherals. Little glances and quick flits of aneye. They were as nervous as I was, but their worry wasn’t just for Chad—it wasfor me as well.
“Molly,”Devin spoke first. “Why don’t you go down to the cafeteria and get some coffeeor something?”
“Oh,yeah,” I snickered sardonically. “’Causethat’sexactly what I need right now. Caffeine.”
Typulled in a controlled breath and a flash of anger struck me, hating him forbeing so calm. “Just try to relax.”
“Iamrelaxed.”
Ichewed at my inner lip and resisted the urge to tell them to get the hell out.To fuck off and mind their own business. They had every right to be herethough, and I knew they were just as concerned. But … God, no …No, they couldn’t be as worried as Iwas. They had families to go home to. They had other people in their lives tolove and care for them. My entire world was inside that room, lying on thatbed, with wires sticking out of his skin. Aside from Mama, Hank, and Morgan,the only person I had in this universe was Chad, and if I was to lose himagain, I would lose myself. There was no doubt in my mind about that.
Myexterior cracked, just a little. Emotion slipped, and a gentle sob wracked throughmy throat.
Jonmoved slowly to stand beside me. He dipped his head to meet my eyes. “Hey, youwannatake a walk?” I shook my head, unable to speak. Awarethat if I opened my mouth, nothing would come out but the sound of my heartbreaking open. I hoped that’d be enough to make him leave me alone, maybe toleave the hospital altogether, but he just stood there, unmoving. “Nothing’sgoing to change if you go for a walk for just a few minutes.”
“I…” I choked on the one stupid syllable, and swallowing relentlessly, managed toclear my throat. “I can’t leave.”
“Justto the end of the hall, and that’s it,” he bargained, and reluctantly, to makehim stop, I nodded. He smiled kindly and with patience. “Okay. Come on.”
Witha gentle hand on my shoulder, he steered me from the door, pushing me furtheraway from Chad, and I tried not to feel like I was abandoning him.
“Forwhat it’s worth, I can understand,” he mentioned softly.
Ihad known that Jon’s first wife had passed away, and with the reminder, I felta shred of shame for thinking horrible things about him earlier. Abouteveryone. “I know,” I whispered, shuffling my feet along the sterile linoleumfloor.
“Thingslike this make you realize how short life really is—howfragileit is.”
Inodded somberly. “Yes.” My bottom lip wiggled, and I bit it hard enough totaste blood.
