“Wyoming?” I repeat.
Chapter Forty-Four
Sutton
Iwalk outside of the hospital and plop onto a bench outside. The cool air is needed. The air is still and heavy, the kind of quiet that only comes after chaos. My hands are clasped in my lap, my fingers twisting nervously around each other. I’m trying to keep it together, but the weight of everything feels like it’s pressing down on my chest, making it hard to breathe.
How dare he pay off the balloon payment without talking to me? For God’s sake, we never even discussed whether we were a couple or not.
That’s like a red flag, psycho behavior, right?
How does he know Doc Lucy is retiring? Shit, am I going to find out that he forced her into retirement?
I blow out a breath and shake my head.
Why is all of this irritating me so much?
Why am I questioning if it’s a red flag or not?
This man told me he loved me, and he’s been showing his love, not just saying it. Actions speak louder than words.
The door to the hospital opens, and I hear the soft shuffle of shoes against the concrete. Mrs. C’s familiar figure appears in my peripheral vision, and she lowers herself onto the bench beside me with a sigh. She doesn’t say anything at first, just sits there, her presence warm and steady.
“How’s Caleb?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Stable,” she replies. “The doctors are optimistic. He’s a tough one, that boy.”
I nod, relief mingling with the knot of emotions in my chest. We sit in silence for a few moments, the cool night air wrapping around us.
“What’s wrong, Sutton?” she asks gently, her voice like a balm against my frayed nerves.
I shake my head, swallowing hard. “Nothing. I’m just… tired.”
Mrs. C’s eyes narrow slightly, her gaze piercing in that way only a mother’s can be. “Try again,” she says softly.
The dam inside me breaks. Tears spill over, hot and unrelenting, and I bury my face in my hands. “I’m so confused,” I manage to choke out between sobs. “Everything… it’s just so much.”
She reaches out, her hand resting lightly on my shoulder. “Take your time, honey.”
I take a shaky breath, trying to steady myself. “Wade told me he loves me,” I begin, my voice trembling. “And I… I love him, too. But then I got offered my dream job in Wyoming, and he’s talking about me staying here. He didn’t even ask what I wanted. He just assumed I’d… do whatever he said.”
She listens quietly, her expression thoughtful. “And how does that make you feel?”
“Torn,” I admit. “Because I’ve realized how much I love him, but I can’t live like this. I can’t live a life where my partner doesn’t consider me. I’m not some damsel who needs saving. I’mnot weak. It’s my dad all over again. It was always this is what you’re going to do with your life, and not once did he ever ask what I wanted to do or why. How the hell can I fall in love with someone who treats me the same way my dad does?”
She leans back, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “Oh, Sutton,” she says, her tone warm and knowing. “Wade isn’t trying to dismiss you. He’s trying to help you. He thought he was taking the burdens off your shoulders by offering solutions, by just taking care of things. It’s something he’s always done for the people he cares about.”
I frown, wiping at my eyes. “But I don’t need him to do that. I can handle my own problems.”
“I know you can,” she says. “And so does he. But you have to understand, he’s used to women wanting him to save them from everything, and I don’t think he realized that you don’t want or need it. It’s second nature to him to try and fix things for the people he loves. It’s not about thinking you’re weak. It’s just… who he is.”
I shake my head, frustration bubbling up again. “But that’s not what I need from him. I need him to see me as his equal, not someone who needs rescuing.”
“Have you told him that?” Mrs. C asks, raising an eyebrow.
I hesitate. “Repeatedly.”
She chuckles softly. “Give yourself some grace, Sutton. And give him some, too. He’s not perfect, but he’s a good man. Talk to him. Tell him how you feel. I think you’ll find he’s more than willing to meet you halfway.”
