Alex walked in.
Of all people.
“Hey,” Alex said, glancing between me and Topher like he’d interrupted something.
Which he had.
“Your mom’s going to be okay, Mr. Brodie. She was just dehydrated. I’m assisting her doctor, and they asked me to tell you that you can go in.”
Topher immediately sat up straighter, his jaw tightening as he fixed his eyes on Alex. There was a sharpness in his expression that I hadn’t ever seen before.
“Thanks, Alex,” I said quickly, trying to ease the sudden tension in the room.
Alex glanced at me, then back at Topher. "I can stay with Kathleen if you want to go see your mom. I'm on break for another twenty minutes, and the waiting room coffee is terrible. I could grab her something better from the staff lounge."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees.
Topher's hand was still in mine, but suddenly his grip tightened—firm, possessive, almost territorial. His thumb had stopped its reassuring circles. Alex had never held my hand like this, like he was afraid to let go, afraid that if he did, I’d slip away, and he couldn’t, wouldn’t ever let that happen.
Inside, I felt a strange rush of happiness. There was a flutter in my chest, a warmth spreading through me. It was like a quiet reassurance, a feeling of safety, like for once, someone wanted to keep me close. I wanted that too.
"That won't be necessary." Topher's tone was sharp. "She's coming with me."
Alex blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Oh, I just thought—family only, usually?—"
"She stays with me," Topher said firmly.
Alex raised his hands in a small gesture of surrender. "Alright, I'll leave you two to it."
He gave me a quick nod before heading out.
As soon as the door clicked shut, I turned to Topher, eyebrows raised. “What was that about?”
Topher’s shoulders were still tense, his fists balled at his sides. “I don’t trust him,” he muttered, his eyes blazing. “I don’t like the way he looked at you.”
My heart skipped a beat. The intensity in his voice and the hint of possessiveness took me completely by surprise. And the part of me that had secretly been craving Topher’s attention couldn’t help but like it.
I opened my mouth to respond, but Topher sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice quieter now. “It’s been a long day, and I don’t know what came over me.”
“It’s okay.” I kept my tone light even though my heart was racing. “Stress does weird things to people.”
Before either of us could say more, the door creaked open again, bringing us back to the present.
“Time to check on your mom,” I said softly, nodding toward the hallway.
Topher nodded, his expression softening as we stood and moved toward her room. My pulse quickened, not from the rush of walking but from the memory of that brief moment when I thought he might kiss me.
As we stopped in front of the door, I realized something that made my breath catch. We were still holding hands. We had been holding hands the entire time, and neither of us had let go. His grip was steady, almost like he was afraid to release me, and the truth was, I didn’t want him to. I looked at our hands, intertwined, and felt a quiet certainty settle over me. If he didn’t seem to want to let go, well then, neither did I.
14
It’sfunny how quickly you can get used to playing house with a billionaire and his mom. I mean, if you’d asked me a few weeks ago, I would’ve laughed in your face at the idea of sitting around in a cozy living room, watchingJeopardy!with Topher Brodie and his mother.
But there we were.
Josephine was back from the hospital, feeling stronger every day, wrapped in one of her hand-sewn blankets, and leaning back in her chair like a queen on her throne.
Topher sat next to me on the couch, his arm casually slung over my shoulders like it belonged there.
