Logan laughed.
“When did you get here?” Brooke asked.
“Logan,” Aubrey glance between them, “called me before you went into surgery.”
Brooke found his hand and squeezed it. “Thank you.”
He winked. “I know she’s your family.” Logan squeezed back.
“You’re one hundred percent right.” Aubrey put a hand on her hip. “Promise me no more passing out.”
“I’ll certainly try my best.” Brooke offered a crooked smile.
“I almost forgot,” Logan’s voice trailed off. He scratched the scruff on his jaw. “My parents are in the waiting room. They’ve been there for hours and won’t go home even when I’ve told them to. They said they aren’t leaving until they can visit you and make sure you’re okay. Can I have them come in?”
“Sure.” Her heart warmed. “But can you hold them off for ten minutes while I talk to Aubrey?”
“Absolutely.” He kissed her at her temple and squeezed her hand once more. “I’ll take them to the cafeteria to eat then bring them in.”
Logan exited and left her alone with Aubrey.
“So, how bad was it?” Brooke tried to readjust herself in the bed but grimaced as pain made it not possible.
“It wasn’t good that’s for sure.” Aubrey lowered herself in the chair next to her bed. “When they got you open, your appendix had already ruptured. Luckily, they removed it and started you on some heavy antibiotics. I’ve never seen Logan look that out of sorts. He loves you by the way.” She shot her a pointed look.
Her eyelids grew heavy. Sleep called her name. “I think I might love him, too,” Brooke mumbled as her eyes closed. “I’m tired—” Her voice drifted off.
“I know.” Aubrey patted her leg and stood. “Now, sleep. The rest you’ll figure out later.”
CHAPTER 19
Logan wandered to the small waiting room on Brooke’s floor. When he entered the room, he found his parents alone. Mom read while Dad worked on a crossword puzzle in the stray newspaper left behind from someone else.
“Brooke’s up.” Logan collapsed into the hard plastic chair across from the itchy plastic sofa they shared. “Her friend Aubrey is with her now.”
“Glad to hear it.” Mom placed her bookmark inside her book and closed it. “How’s she doing? Better yet, how are you doing?” Her gaze roamed the length of his body. “You look awful.”
“I’m sure I do. I feel terrible.” Logan leaned forward in his chair. “But I’m relieved she’s doing okay. Her body is responding to the antibiotics. In another twenty-four hours, she should be in the clear. She’s lucky.” Then as an afterthought, he added, “I’m lucky.”
“What a scary experience.” Dad folded his newspaper closed and tossed it on the side table.
The events of the last day came rushing back, Brooke passing out, her being rushed into surgery, then him scrubbing in on the surgery. As the surgeon cut into her abdomen, Logan keptthinking how Brooke didn’t even know he loved her. She meant everything to him, and he needed the opportunity to tell her.
“I’m okay, but it was a bit traumatic for me to see someone I care about be so vulnerable.” Logan exhaled then ran a hand down the length of his face. “I’m in love with her. I know that now more than ever. I only hope she’ll return the feeling someday.”
“You need to tell her.” Mom squeezed his knee. “Then everything will fall into place.”
Dad nodded. “You can’t ever go wrong with telling the truth.”
“I regret listening to Danielle.” His shoulders drooped as he rested his forearms on his thighs. “I shouldn’t have let her mess with my head about Shelby. Deep down I knew she was wrong for me, but I let myself be swayed.”
“Trust me, I had a few choice words with your sister on that one,” Dad muttered.
“They were friends in high school.” Mom folded her arms. “I think in her way, Danielle thought she was being helpful. Your sister only wanted to see you happy, even if she is completely off about who is right for you.”
His eyes burned. “I might have lost my chance.” He was so tired.
Dad hummed. The look on his face didn’t exactly invoke more confidence in him.
