Sighing, I nodded, my shoulders slumping.If I didn’t take it now, it was only going to torture me later in retribution.My doctor was always warning me to listen to my body.
“Stay here, I’ll be right back.”He practically ran up the stairs to my bedroom.It had an attached bathroom where I kept my pills.
“Everything okay?”George came back into the room.
“Yeah.Toby is just getting my pain meds for me.”
“Outside of the pain, how is everything going?”He pulled out a chair from the table and sat, facing me.Everything about him was attentive and genuine.He made it so easy for me to want to bare my soul to him.It probably came with a ton of practice considering he worked at my mom’s hospital as one of the doctors.Thankfully, not my mom’s doctor.I wasn’t sure how I’d be able to handle that kind of connection.
“Quiet, which I’m thankful for.It’s been giving me time to catch up.”The chuckle I released at the end made me grimace.It sounded tired and a bit fake.
“Quiet is good.I hope it stays that way for you.With everything that has happened to you in what, the last half a year, you deserve it.Your mind and body need time to catch up.”
“You know, Dr.Arason told me the same thing this month.”
“She’s a smart woman.”
I nodded in agreement as I began fiddling with my fingers.“A little too smart, I think.”
“I’m here!I’m here!”Toby came into the room with a cup of water.“Here.”He held out his hand and dropped the pills into mine.
“Thank you,” I said and quickly took them.
Toby rubbed my back before grabbing the glass and going to put it in the kitchen.
George had a weird expression when he stared at me.
“What?”I asked.
“Nothing.Relax and when you’re feeling better, come join us.”As he left the room, he glanced back at me before disappearing from sight.
I stayed until I saw Paxon and Seth walk by the door, heading to the front, clearly going to check in on Justin.I was tempted to go with them, but didn’t want to crowd Justin.He went outside for space and everyone showing up was the exact opposite of what he needed.
Toby was still in the kitchen, but so were two others.They were off in the corner, talking in hushed voices.Toby was frowning hard as they talked.
The woman was pretty, with hair similar to Toby’s—light brown.The guy had dark brown hair.
Toby’s energy was gone as he finally blew out a breath and ran a hand through his hair.This was a part of Toby I hadn’t seen before.It was a combination of stress and sadness and something else all mish-mashed together.“I’ll do it.Of course, I will.”
The woman let out a quiet sob and pulled Toby in for a hug.That was when he spotted me.His eyes widened, and he abruptly pulled back from the woman.She followed his gaze, as did the man beside her—Toby’s hazel eyes were the same shade as the man’s.
“Hello,” I said, suddenly feeling too embarrassed.I’d definitely walked into a private moment I shouldn’t have.
“Mom, Dad.This is Cadence,” Toby said.
My eyes widened as I looked at Toby’s parents.They seemed exhausted, some darkness underneath their eyes.His dad’s unkempt scruff trailed down his jaw and along his neck.
“Oh, nice to meet you,” Toby’s mom said.She stepped further back from Toby and ran her hands down her shirt.“We need to go, but this was such a precious event you put on.Good job.”She grabbed her husband’s hand and pulled him along as she slipped by me.She offered me a small, tired smile to be polite before heading out the door.
“I’m sorry,” I said.“I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong, Candy Puff.How are you feeling?”Toby wrapped his arm around my shoulder.
“I’m fine.But what about you?I didn’t realize your parents were coming.”
“Well, we all knew each other growing up.They only stopped by on their way to pick up Austin from the hospital.”
“Is everything okay?”
