“Forbidden love. Ineedto know,” she teased, half-chuckling.
“Go ask him.”
“Nah. A man that looks like that—my knees went weak just sitting here, looking at him.”
If she was about to say he looked like Owen, she’d be glad we were already in a hospital.
“He reminds me—”
“Don’t say it,”I warned.
“I was going to say one of the Hemsworth brothers, but you’re thinking of Owen! I knew it!”
I exhaled sharply, shaking my head.
“Where does it stand?” Ruby asked. “They said they wanted him back, but then what?”
“Then nothing,” I exhaled. “That was yesterday. He texted later to say he loved me. He has to give them his answer.”
“You’re uncharacteristically calm about it.”
“A. Do you see where we are? I have more urgent things to deal with. And B. I have a flight on standby.” I cracked a tired smile. “I think when you love someone, you have to trust them to figure out what they need. I want him to go for what’s right for him. Doesn’t mean it’s not terrifying.”
“You’re so wise, Rio,” Ruby exhaled theatrically.
“Or deeply sleep-deprived. One of the two.”
Half an hour later, I sent her home, promising I’d leave soon after.
I lied.
The last time I looked at the slowly ticking clock on the wall, it was two a.m. Exhaustion must have won after that, because the next thing I knew, every muscle ached from the odd position I’d slept in—and something warm and solid was beneath my head.
40
Owen
THE WAITING ROOM WASnearly empty in the middle of the night, too quiet except for the hum of vending machines and the occasional beep of a distant monitor. The harsh fluorescent lighting made everything feel surreal, like I wasn’t fully here yet.
The reception desk was closed, a sign indicating a number to call for assistance. That surprised me—until I remembered I was in a small, rural hospital serving only a handful of towns.
I rushed toward the ward next to the ER and stopped at the nurses’ station. “Walter Wheaton?” My breath came fast. “I’m his grandson.”
The nurse gave me a brief update about what happened and the current status, then let me take a quick look inside his room.
He looked smaller somehow, almost fragile beneath the web of tubes and wires. My gut twisted at the sight. This was Walter—strong, stubborn Walter. The man who never slowed down, never backed down, was now lying theremotionless, machines keeping him stable. My throat clogged with love, concern, and the unbearable fear of losing him.
“Your sister is still here,” the nurse said.
I was back at the nurses’ station to let them know I’d be outside and to call me if anything changed.
“My sister?”
“A woman. Said she was his granddaughter.”
“She’s here?”
“She was in the waiting area about an hour ago.”
