“You went solo kayaking. Do you remember?”
I nodded. I was an idiot.
“It’s a miracle you’re alive. Once the doctors got your temperature stable, they had to relocate your shoulder and splint up your foot. You’re going to be in a boot for a while.”
I glanced down at my feet. One was wrapped with something.
“You’re pretty bruised. The rocks had their way with you. But, no internal injuries, which is the real miracle.”
His thumbs were rubbing the back of my hand, and his eyes shimmered with emotion.
I reached up to touch the thing irritating my face.
“Your jaw is all scratched up.”
Man, what I did was so stupid. “I should be dead.”
He nodded. “Yeah, you should. Glad you’re not though.”
I’m glad, too.
“Did you follow me? I didn’t tell anyone where I was going.”
He ran his fingers through his exaggerated hat hair. “I didn’t follow you. But I knew something wasn’t right when I saw you in the parking lot.” He shook his head. “Tried to ignore it and move on with my day, but I couldn’t. I tracked down Gina’s number, and she made a lucky guess. Gina and Blake helped me pull you out.”
They found me and pulled me out of the river? I put their lives in danger, too.
Heat pricked my eyes as the memory of the tunnel flooded over me. If it wasn’t for Pat, I’d be dead.
My voice was a whisper, squeezed out around the lump in my throat. “Thank you.”
He winked at me. “Was returning the favor.”
I guess the tables had turned a bit. Wasn’t I the one falling asleep in a chair by his bedside not too many months ago? My heart thumped. Hopefully, it wasn’t too late. Did I ruin everything between us?
My eyes searched his face. What was he thinking? His cheeks had thinned out and his eyes were glazy, like he’d been crying, was sick, or hadn’t slept in a week. Maybe he was all of those things. Did I cause him to suffer?
Oh, Pat, I’m so sorry.
I reached out to touch his overgrown facial hair. His nose wrinkled. “Pretty gross, huh?”
It was the furthest thing from gross. “I actually like the beard, but you do look bad. Unhealthy. Like you need a hamburger or two—or maybe five.”
He smiled, looking down at his hands. I became hyper-aware of my own appearance. I smoothed my hair then adjusted the repulsive gown-thing they make you wear at the hospital.
He must’ve sensed my self-consciousness. “You look as beautiful as always. I’d take you like this any day.”
Take me?Maybe it wasn’t too late.
He dropped his gaze as a flush climbed his neck. I’d made this man think I hated him. I remembered that night in February, when he took me back to my apartment. I’d told him I only loved Cameron.
I love you, Pat. I’m so sorry.
I was too scared to say the words. I didn’t deserve a second chance with his heart.
“How’s Sunny?”
All the sparkle in his gaze melted away. “Not good. Haven’t seen her since February. She has not consented to the visitations and is adamant about me not getting rights. I’ve had multiple phone calls with Debbie. We could still go to court, but it would be against Sunny’s wishes. I don’t want to do that to her.”
