“What really has me questioning your sanity is this whole rehab plan thing.”
Honestly? Same. But I said what I said, so there’s no point in admitting it now. Besides, the look on Lucy’s face made it clear she won’t be taking me up on my offer.
Thank God.
I plop onto the couch next to my brother. “I thought helping people was the decent thing to do.”
“It is,” he says. “But when exactly are you planning to fit this into your overflowing calendar? Did you suddenly unlock a bonus day between Tuesday and Wednesday? Maybe Jadelyn was wrong when she said you were married to your job.”
My jaw tightens. “Not cool.”
Bennett scoots forward on the couch with an apologetic wince. “Yeah. That was a low blow. I was going for funny and overshot. Strike it from the record?”
I nod once. “Struck.”
“All I’m saying is, don’t let your savior complex commit to Lucy if you don’t actually have the bandwidth. She’s been let down enough. If you’re going to show up for her,reallyshow up. Otherwise… it’s better to step back.”
I look toward the door, where the scent of coconut shampoo still lingers faintly in the air.
He’s right. It’s better to step back.
For both of us.
CHAPTER NINE
Lucy
“Do I even want to know?” Stella asks as she pulls away from the curb, tossing me a look that’s half amusement, half accusation as she drums her bloodred nails on the steering wheel.
I shift in the passenger seat, the baggie of ice clutched to my ankle already sweating through the paper towel Nash wrapped around it. “I pretty much told you everything in the text. Bennett and I collided. He insisted his brother check me out. He did. I’m fine.” I shrug, turning my gaze from the window to my friend. “All in all, I’d call it a win.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about, and you know it.”
“I don’t, though.”
Stella mimics me in a breathy, dramatic voice. “Thank you, Dr. Kincaid, for tending to my poor,helpless ankle.” She drops an octave and rasps, “Please,call me Nash.Smolder, smolder, smolder. Blush, blush, blush.”
“There was no smoldering. No blushing.”
“Ahh, but there is a ton of denial.” She quirks her lips and flips on a turn signal. “I see.”
I sigh and lean my head against the window, watching Stillwater Bay pass in soft watercolor blurs. “Nash offered to have a friend of his, a physical therapist, set up a rehab plan for me. Said he’d walk me through it in his gym. Pool access. The works.”
Stella’s quiet.
“If there was any blushing on my end,” I add, “it’s because I’m embarrassed. First, I humiliated myself by hitting on him when I was all drugged up at the ER. That’s just constantly hanging in the air between us.”
“True, but who could blame you?” Stella glances my way. “I don’t usually go for older guys, especially not ones related to Bennett Kincaid, but that man is beautiful.”
I nod my agreement then sigh. “But honestly, it’s his offer that’s the most embarrassing. How bad does my life look that a literal stranger offers that kind of help?” I drop my head in my hands. “You don’t have to answer that. I know it’s not looking great.”
Stella shrugs. “What did you say?”
“I said no, obviously. I mean, for one, I can’t figure out his angle.”
“His angle?” She pulls to a stop at a red light in front of Holiday’s. A herd of teenagers crosses in front of us, laughing and chattering, free and easy and wonderful inthis beautiful small town with beaches and clear skies and people who genuinely care.
“Yes. His angle. What’s in it for him? Come on, Stella. Since when is anyone nice to strangers for no reason?”
