Bent in half, he buried his face in the hair at my neck and breathed deeply. I wrapped my arms around his waist and hugged him back. My heart, cracked and forlorn, splintered in two. He was still broken. He needed someone who’d understand. Who wouldn’t demand too much. He neededme.
“I could stay,” I murmured into his cheek. “For a little whilelonger.”
With my words, he stiffened. He hadn’t said a word since we’d left the house, about an hour and a half before. Pulling back, he ran his thumb over my lip, then turned and walked away, leaving me standing in the middle of the hall, mouth bouncing off the carpetedfloor.
Of all the… I sucked in a deep breath and counted to ten. When my blood was still boiling, I counted to ten again. As I made my way through security, an errant thought chased away all my anger. “Damn, life with that asshole would never be boring,” Ithought.
The thermometer beepedas the little girl jerked her head away from it. At least I got the read. “She’s got a fever,” I said as her mom hovered. “We’ll do a flu and a strep test, but I bet it’s a cold.” I busied myself with my patients, ignoring the mounting excitement. Ellion was on a plane, headed myway.
Every day since I’d left Alaska three weeks before, I’d called and video chatted with both Ellion and Chandler. We’d emailed and messaged, and I’d even sent a package. Every moment since I’d said goodbye to them had seemed a little dimmer, a little…less.
At first, I’d ask how Griffin was doing, but Chandler and Ellion didn’t like talking about him. I quickly gave up asking. He wasn’tinterested.
I did get his permission, through them, to talk to my brothers about his case. They took it and ran with it. Chandler had gone with Griffin to Grenève to deal with Hunter and the prenup. That’s how Ellion found the time tovisit.
My little patient did have the flu, so I helped the doctor get the prescriptions and care paperwork together. She was our last patient. As soon as I had her information charted and the room clean, I tookoff.
The apartment Ellie owned in Texas was vacant when I’d returned from Alaska. She and my brothers planned to move into the house in the suburbs and keep her apartment for the times they needed to be in the city late atnight.
Apparently wealthy people could do stuff like that, keep a furnished apartment in the city. They let all my brothers’ apartments go, since Ellie’s was thenicest.
They generously offered it to me for as long as I wanted to live there. After much discussion, I accepted on the premise that it was to give me a leg up and allow me to save some deposit money for a place of myown.
I had enough time to shower and make myself look presentable before heading to the airport to pick Ellion up. It’d be the first time he’d see me with my hair done. I usually didn’t wear a lot of makeup, but I did slap on a little mascara and lipgloss.
As I was doing last-minute straightening up, my doorbell rang. I checked the security system to find Ellie’s best friend, Todd, out in the hallway. I opened the door, and he pushed his way into the room without giving me a chance to invitehim.
“I still have a key,” he said. “But I promise I won’t barge in here without knocking like I would withEllie.”
At least he’dknocked.
“I appreciate that.” I didn’t ask for the key back. I trusted him, given his presence in Ellie’s life, and it’d be nice to have a spare in the building. “What’s up,Todd?”
“Ellie called. She said I should offer my expertise. That you’re meeting your boyfriendtonight.”
My mouth dropped open. Of all the nerve. “He’s not myboyfriend.”
Todd turned to me, one hand on his hip and his left eyebrow arched. “Are you excited about him comingtonight?”
Inodded.
“Did you put onmakeup?”
Nod.
“Is he staying here?” I sighed andnodded.
“One more question. Did you shave yourlegs?”
I wanted to slap the triumphant look off his face. With no desire to see his expression, I turned and walked back to my bedroom as I called, “Yes.”
His laughter was badenough.
“Lady, if he’s not your boyfriend, I’ll kiss… well nobody, I’m married. But he’s your boyfriend. Get used to it.” Todd followed me into mybedroom.
“I don’t have much time. I was neatening up and heading out the door.” My closet overflowed with clothes I’d had my mom ship from back home, and about a hundred new outfits I’d obtained during the world’s most exhausting shopping trip, hosted by Ellie andTodd.
Todd slapped my hand away from the sneakers I was reaching for. “Go neaten, I’ll get your outfitready.”
