“No,” she interrupted. “I feel like I need to get my head straight. Alone.”
“Baby, don’t shut me out.”
“I’m not shutting you out,” she said. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
I frowned. She was calm. Resolved. Blank. Liv was never calm, resolved, or blank. This was not good. My girl was spiraling and I needed to pull her back. I just didn’t know how.
“Sweetness—”
“I’m really tired.” She closed her eyes. “I’m going to try and rest now.”
“I’m here, Liv. Whatever you need.”
She didn’t answer, but I knew she heard me and I also knew she was feigning sleep. I let her escape for the moment. There would be plenty of time for us to face the pain together.
I had no idea, however, how wrong I was.
* * *
Two days later, I walkedinto Olivia’s room to find it empty. I stalked out to the nurse’s desk with as scowl. “Where’s Olivia Worthington?”
The nurse cocked her head. “She left about an hour ago. She said you approved it.”
Technically, I wasn’t the doctor of record, due to the fact that she was family, but her OB/GYN, Margo, gave me a lot of latitude in this instance and Olivia knew that. Of course, she would use that to her advantage.
“I did not,” I growled. “Did she leave alone?”
“No. I believe her brother collected her.”
“Goddammit,” I snapped, and headed for the exit.
Fucking Hayes!
I’d been holding my devastation at the loss of my child close to the vest, but I couldn’t bear the thought of losing both our baby and my woman. We’d known each other for less than a year, but Olivia was the only one I’d ever loved, and I would travel to the depths of hell to bring her back to me, but when outside forces worked against us, I knew I had to work twice as hard.
And I would. Whatever it took to bring my girl home.
* * *
Olivia
Hayes helped me outof the car and into the house. He’d promised to keep my visit from our parents, but I knew he couldn’t do it forever. I’d already called my bestie, Clementine, and she’d insisted I stay with her for a few weeks until I could figure out what I wanted to do going forward.
Hayes pulled his phone from his pocket and frowned. “It’s Tristan. Again.”
“Ignore it,” I said. Again.
“You sure you want to play this game with him?”
“Not a game, Hayes,” I said sadly. “We’re over and the sooner he figures that out, the better.”
“He’s good for you, Liv.”
“ButI’mnot good for him.”
“Jesus, sissy, that’s Mom’s poison speaking through you.” He frowned. “You know, as a counselor, I figured you’d be more self-aware.”
I flipped him off and he laughed.
