And then the words come out before I can second guess them.
“I don’t want a divorce.”
Patrick goes still.
His eyes search mine, slow and careful, like he needs to make sure he heard me right. “Really?”
I nod, more tears gathering. “I know I said I was done. I know I meant it when I said it. But we’re not done. We never were. And I don’t want to be.”
“Oh thank God.” He lowers his forehead to our clasped hands like the strength has gone out of him.
I sniff. “Why did you offer if you didn’t want it?”
He lifts his head and rolls his eyes, tired and honest. “Dr Brett and Blake. They both said I was being selfish. And I thought I was. Keeping you tied to me, keeping you trapped. I thought giving you an out was the right thing.”
He shrugs helplessly, and I study his face, the cracks and the softness and the hope he is trying to hide.
“Let’s date,” I say.
He jerks back slightly, horrified. “Other people?”
“No,” I laugh, wiping my cheek with the back of my hand. “Each other.”
He stares, stunned. I keep going before he can talk himself out of it.
“We never really dated, you know.”
“Hey,” he protests, sitting up a little. “Me bringing you cold burgers and us eating them on freezing benches were amazing dates.”
A small laugh slips out of me. “They were.”
He watches me for a long second, then asks quietly, “You really want to try?”
I nod, heart thudding. “I really do. I don’t want to regret losing you.”
He smiles sadly. “I know I do.”
Patrick
I can’t stop grinning. We are in a hospital and I am smiling like a Cheshire cat. Lore covers her face and laughs.
“Stop smiling.”
I show her every tooth I have. “I can’t.”
“You’re a dork,” she mutters, easing off the bed. I watch her sway and immediately step forward as she grabs the rail.
“Maybe you should stay the night.”
She shakes her head. “We usually keep dehydration cases for four hours. I’ve been here for eight.”
I make a face. “I don’t want you staying alone.”
“I won’t.” I smile at that, but she keeps going. “Gen will be there. She’s already pissed I didn’t call her earlier.”
I blink. “Where did she think you were? And where was she all night?”
Lore gives me a look like I should know better. “She met a guy.”
