“We can't all have a Travis Smith in our lives.”I roll my eyes.
“But that’s the thing!You’ve had two of them, Winnie.Get your head out of your misery and don’t let him go.One day you’re going to wake up and regret everything.When Jamie and Wheeler find their happily ever afters with someone other than you, I don’t want you to come crying to me.”
“Why don’t you just go?I can walk to Wheeler’s from here.”I glare at her.
“Please!You can't even pick up your duffle bag and you want me to believe you can walk half a mile?I live next door to Wheeler, you can walk from there.Get in the car, Winnie.”
She tosses my bag over her shoulder and marches out of the room without another word.
A weight settles on the side of the bed, making the mattress dip.I keep my eyes closed, not sure who it is, but I’m going to pretend I'm sleeping until I know for sure.
“Do you want to tell me why you’re sleeping in my guest room?”Wheeler whispers as he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.
“Nope.I’d prefer to keep that to myself.”
“Ok.Then, would you like to tell me why you have a massive bandage on your stomach and you’ve been in the hospital for three days?”
“Mmm, I think I want to plead the fifth with that one too.”
“Win, talk to me.”The concern in his voice has my eyes filling with tears and I know if my eyes were open, Wheeler would be asking even more questions.
“I'm fine, Chase.I just want to sleep.”
“I’ll go through your bags until I find your discharge papers.”
“Good luck, I tossed them at the hospital so you couldn’t read them.”I smirk.It’s a lie, but he’ll believe it.
“I know you like being the tough independent woman, but I'm here for you, babe.I'm happy to talk about whatever you want.”
“Thanks,” I whisper.“I don’t want to talk though.”
“What can I do to make things better?”
“Can you just hold me for a little… As a friend?”I peek up at him and catch the smile spreading across his face.
“I’d be happy to hold my best friend while she’s going through a difficult time.”
“Please don’t tell me you told me so or some crap like that,” I murmur as I scoot closer, laying my head on his chest.
Wheeler’s careful as he wraps his arms around me.No one knows I had surgery, except Liliana and I made her swear she wouldn’t tell anyone.
I don’t want people to pity me or give me a pass because I got hurt.I want them to be honest and raw with me.
That’s all I’ve ever wanted and I finally got it with Jamie.Then I ruined it.
“Ok, I’ve let you mope around my house for three days.I want to know what happened.”Wheeler blocks me from leaving the kitchen.
I'm not even hungry, but I'm forcing myself to eat because I know my body needs it to heal.
“You know what happened.I was in a car accident.”I roll my eyes and try to step around him, but he doesn’t let me.
“Nah, babe.What’s with the bandage?”He lifts the hem of my shirt and his eyes go wide when he doesn’t find a dressing on it.
I saw Dr.Devine yesterday and he said I was ok without it.I just need to wear soft clothes and make sure I keep it clean.
“Winnie…” he whispers, squatting down to get a better look at the incision going up the middle of my stomach.It begins an inch above my belly button and goes to right below my bra.
He brushes his fingers along my skin, making sure to stay away from my wound.I forgot how gentle Wheeler’s always been with me.Tears gather quickly and I squeeze my eyes shut.I'm so tired of being an emotional mess.
