He carefully shimmies backward, his weight making the board sway.
Once he’s on the solid ground of the pool deck, he holds out both hands to me.“Your turn.”
“Promise you won’t let me fall in,” I plead.
“I promise,” he replies, leaning in even more.
I scoot forward.As I go to stand, the board gives a dramatic wobble.A yelp escapes me, and I lunge forward, my hands finding his.He laughs, his grip strong and sure, easily pulling me from the board onto the safety of the concrete.Instead of letting me go, he pulls me into a big hug.
“I told you I wouldn’t let you fall,” he murmurs into my neck.
We walk back to the house hand in hand with unhurried ease.He leads me up the main staircase, our steps in sync.When we reach the guest bedroom, he swings the door inward without releasing my hand.I take a couple of steps inside but stop as our joined hands pull taut.I turn back to find him lingering in the doorway.His grip on my hand is tight, unwilling to let go.There is a quiet hesitation in his eyes.
He tugs my hand, pulling me back to stand before him, his gaze searching mine.“Are you going to invite me to stay over?”he asks, a sensuous smile spreading across his face.
Beaming, I tighten my fingers around his.I pull him into the room, making him chuckle as I reach behind him to push the door closed.
FIFTY SEVEN
“READY, LOVE?”MATTHEW asks, walking into the foyer, his car keys in hand.
He stops, his eyes doing a slow, appreciative sweep of my simple black V-neck sweater and jeans as I slip my feet into my black leather flats.
Wrapping his arms around my waist, he pulls me to him, a playful frown marring his brow.“I don’t know how I feel about you looking this good to go see your ex.”
A giggle bubbles out of me.“It’s nothing special,” I say, looping my arms around his neck.
“With you, everything is special,” he murmurs, making me beam.“You have everything you need?”
I pat the side of my purse.“Yes.The check and the key,” I confirm.
“Good.”He gives me a quick, firm kiss.“Let’s go end this.”
A comfortable peace settles over the car, but as Matthew navigates the busy morning streets towards the hospital, a knot of nerves begins to tighten in my stomach.My fingers fidget with the strap of my purse as the reality of facing James starts to set in.
Matthew’s hand reaches over and covers mine.“Are you sure you’ll be okay?”he asks, his gaze flicking between me and the road.“If this doesn’t feel right, there’s no shame in turning around.We can just mail them to him.”
I turn my hand over, lacing my fingers through his, smiling gratefully at his profile.“I’m afraid this is something I need to do face to face.”
He brings my hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to my knuckles.“Whatever you need,” he says, his voice full of unconditional support.
Matthew pulls into a visitor spot at St.Mary’s Hospital.When I was here on Monday, I arrived in the back of a screaming ambulance, in a blind panic.Today, I arrive in a comfortable car, holding the hand of the man who helped me put my pieces back together.
We walk through the automatic glass doors into the hushed, antiseptic atmosphere of the main lobby.Matthew’s hand rests lightly on the small of my back as we walk up to the information desk.
“I’m here to see James Devlin,” I say to the friendly receptionist.
She types into her computer.“Devlin… yes.Room 610.The elevators are down the hall on your right.”
Matthew takes my hand, pulling me closer to his side as the elevator doors slide shut and we start the ride up to the sixth floor.
“Ready?”he asks right before it stops.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I mutter as the doors slide open onto a quiet floor.
A brightly lit nurse’s station sits directly in front of us, and a nurse in blue scrubs looks up from her computer as we approach.
“Can I help you?”she asks with a polite smile.
