Autumn rolled her eyes. “Do you even know what you want?”
“I have to go, so it really doesn’t matter, does it? I won’t break my promise to Natalie. Besides, Dylan’s not looking for a serious relationship,”
“He told you that?”
“Yeah, when we first got together.” I put my hand on my chest. My heart hadn’t healed from losing Natalie, and it was breaking all over again.
“I told you how he looks at you, like you mean something to him. Maybe he’s changed his mind.”
My heart gave a flutter of hope, but I crushed it. I almost told her that Natalie promised I’d feel her with me, but Autumn wouldn’t get it. Maybe Connor and Adam would because only twins could understand the connection that lived in our souls. They would get how much I needed to know she was with me.
“Come over and have dinner with me and Brian tonight. I’ll make lasagna.”
I forced a smile. “There’s an offer I can’t refuse.” Although I wanted to. All I really wanted to do was to go home, eat a tub of ice cream, and cry.
By late Fridaymorning I was ready to paint my apartment or wallpaper everything in sight or start collecting cats. Anything to get my mind off Dylan. I was going stir-crazy sitting in my apartment, missing a man who didn’t want me. I’d tried to read, but after staring at the same page on my Kindle until the screen went blank, I gave up on that. Turning on the TV hadn’t worked. The apartment was spotless since I’d gotten up at the crack of dawn and cleaned it from top to bottom. I’d gone through my clothes, deciding what I’d take. Not much, since I’d be moving around a lot.
I finished making a list of the things I needed to do before leaving, then looked around. Now what?
My phone buzzed, my mom’s name coming up. “Hey. What’s up?”
“Hi, honey. Dad and I visited Sean this morning. I knew you’d want to know that he’s been moved out of ICU and into a room.”
“That means he’s out of danger, right?”
“Yep. He’s listed as stable now.”
“Fantastic.” We talked for a few more minutes, and after hanging up, I decided I’d go visit Sean. It was something to fill the time before I had to go to work.
On the drive to Asheville I turned the volume up on my radio and sang along with the songs. Anything to keep from thinking about Dylan. At the hospital, after finding out Sean’s room number, I took the elevator up to the third floor.
I turned the corner and ran into a brick wall. “Oomph.”
Large male hands grasped my shoulders. “Sorry… Jenny?”
Dylan’s voice washed over me like warm sunshine. I squeezed my eyes shut to keep from curling into his chest and wrapping my arms around him.
“Are you okay?”
No, I wasn’t. “Sure.” I blinked open my eyes, glancing behind me. When I tried to step around him—because I really needed to get away before I did something stupid like cry, or worse, kiss him—he caught my wrist.
“Were you on the way to see Sean?”
Not trusting my voice, I nodded. Dylan’s fingers felt like a brand on my skin, hot and possessive.
“I just came from his room. He’s sleeping right now.”
“Oh, okay. Well, I guess I’ll come back some other time.”
He rubbed his thumb over the inside of my wrist. I wasn’t sure he realized he was doing it, but it was sending my senses into overdrive. My arm tingled all the way up to my shoulder, and if my lady parts got any hotter, I was going to combust.
“Jenny?”
“Hmm?” Whatever the question, the answer was yes.
“I noticed a coffee shop next door. Let me buy you a cup.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” What happened to answering yes to whatever he asked? Self-preservation, that’s what.
