“Yeah.”I nodded apologetically. “Chad ordered some food and doesn’twannaeat alone.”
Hersmile broadened and she began to stand. “Maybe we’ll head up with—” Mark laid ahand over her wrist, cutting her words short. His expression was unreadable, amixture of stern recognition and softness, but when his eyes met hers, sheseemed to understand right away. “Well. Maybe we’ll just finish down here andbe up in a little while.”
“Okay…” I nodded, gripping my plastic tray in a trembling grip. “I’ll seey’alllater.”
Itwas silly. As I left the cafeteria and headed to the elevator, my nervescoalesced with an anxiety brewing in my gut. What did they know? What did theyassume was going to happen?
God,meddling parents. I never thought I’d be dealing with that at almost thirty,but here I am.
Iexited the elevator and went to Chad’s room. Opening the door, I found hewasn’t alone, but with a nurse I hadn’t seen before. She was checking the bagsof fluids and medication when she turned and smiled at me.
“Oh,hello there. You didn’t bring enough to share?” she teased, eyeing the food onmy tray.
“She’sa brat, isn’t she?” Chad muttered, wincing as she changed his IV dressing.
Shecaught the look on his face and patted his arm apologetically. “Sorry, cutie.”Darting her eyes toward me, she asked, “That your girlfriend?”
Hischeeks pinked immediately, and the side of his mouth lifted. “Nah. That’sMolly. We were babies together.” His eyes met mine, and I wondered what elsewas going on in that mind of his.
“Really?That’s not something you hear every day.” She glanced over her shoulder andtwisted her lips with consideration before returning her attention to the gauzeand tape. “Molly’s pretty, don’t you think?”
“Probablythe prettiest girl I’ve ever seen,” Chad replied. I laughed and a rush of heatlit my cheeks as I uttered an “oh, my God …”
“Andshe’s a good distraction,” the nurse declared triumphantly, patting his hand.“You’re good to go, cutie. I’ve got some anti-anxiety meds in there too, so youshould start feelingpretty relaxedsoon. Maybe youcan get some sleep after you eat.”
Helifted his arm to study the IV. “If I wasgood to go, I wouldn’t havethis shithangin’outtamybody at all.”
Shenodded sympathetically. “Well, hopefully we’ll get you out of here soon, honey.I’ll be back to check up on you in a couple of hours.” She turned from the bedand smiled, her eyes twinkling and her wrinkles deepening. “I’ll forgive youfor not sharing with me …this time.”
“I’llbe prepared later.” I laughed, pulling my chair over to the bedside. When hadit become my chair?
Thedoor closed, and we were alone.
Isettled the tray on my lap and lifted a slice of my personal-sized pizza to mymouth. “So, how’s Ali?”
Chadlaughed, the first happy sound I’d heard from him since the waterfall, and heflopped his head against the pillow. “Single.”
Thepizza damn near slipped from my grasp. “Wait, you’reserious?” Henodded, and a fluster of anger and sympathy and—holy hell—joy erupted in my gutand soared straight through to my heart. “Chad, I’m … Oh, my Lord, I’m sosorry. What happened?”
Heshrugged like his long-term relationship hadn’t just ended. “I think I justfinally realized that she, uh …” He wiped a hand over his mouth. “Well, if I’mbein’ honest, she was a shitty girlfriend. She’sunsupportive, selfish. She was never, evergonnamarry me, and she’s a jealous bitch.” Then, he cocked his head as his eyesfocused on a loose thread in the blanket. “Come to think of it, I wasn’t allthat good of a boyfriend, either. We weren’t good for each other. Not for along time, at least.”
Myfood was nearly forgotten as I shook my head, bewildered. “Are you okay?”
“Oh,yeah.” He nodded steadily. “I think I’m more okay right now than I’ve been in along time.”
“It’sjust a lot for you to deal with in one day …”
Rollinghis head against the pillow, he faced me. “Don’t tell me you don’t think thisis a good thing.”
Irolled my eyes and took another bite of pizza. I wouldn’t deny that I wasthrilled she was out of his life. He deserved so much better than her. But thatdidn’t take away from the fact that he’d been through a lot in less thantwenty-four hours. His entire life had changed, and there he was, acting likeit was all no big deal. As usual.
“Ihate when you do this,” I muttered as I chewed.
“Dowhat?”
“Whenyou act like everything’s fine, when it’snot.” I lifted my eyes to his.“When you say everything is okay, and it’s sofarfrom okay ...”
“Andyouknow how I’m feeling right now?”he challenged, furrowing his brow and hardening his glare.
