"Well, aren't you cocky." She quirked an eyebrow at him.
"I don't mean physical therapists." He smirked back at her. "I mean psychologists."
"Are you saying I need mental help?"
Gabe feared he’d offended her until he spotted the teasing gleam in her eyes. "I'mnot saying anything. You're the one who admitted to having trust and judgment issues.”
"I did, didn't I?" Paige grimaced.
“Aren’t you seeing Dr. Emily Anderson…uh Winters?" Gabe had learned that despite the door plate saying Dr. Anderson, the psychologist went by her married name of Winters in her personal life.
"After Emily realized I wasn’t suicidal, she told me her door was always open if I wanted to talk, but I haven’t taken her up on it.” She shrugged. “I’m not sure why, other than…I don’t want to talk about what really happened with Phillip.”
Gabe didn’t blame her. However, he was curious how she’d found out the truth about her ex. Was it a humiliating, public scene? Had she overlooked the same red flags he did with Harper? He bit his tongue. Such a conversation was too personal for the physical therapy office.
“I’m not sure you need to talk to a licensed professional, but it might be good to talk to someone you trust and feel comfortable with. A friend or parent perhaps.”
He considered her father’s efforts to set up this office and her mother's hovering. Paige might find their concern overbearing. Even though he was close to his mom, he wouldn't blame Paige if she didn't want to go to her parents with her problems.
A thoughtful look filled her face as she nodded. "I suppose the important thing is to talk tosomeone,even if it’s not Emily."
Gabe clamped his jaw shut to keep from volunteering to be that someone. There was so much he wanted to know about Paige, but he was having a hard enough time remaining professional as it was. Being her confidant would only make it harder.
"I’ll have to see if my cousin is busy this weekend.” The grin that filled Paige's face made her look radiant. It was the kind of smile that lit up the room.
To distract himself from her hundred-watt smile, Gabe turned his attention back to Sam, who now did a seated march. His phone vibrated on the desk again as he finished up with Paige. Longer this time, signifying a call. Someone sure wanted to get a hold of him.
As curious as he was about the call and texts, he resisted the urge to check his phone until Paige was gone, and he’d finished working with Sam. It buzzed with yet another text before the office was empty and Gabe was able to check his messages.
All the texts were from Grace.
Call me ASAP.
You need to come home tonight.
Seriously, Gabe, answer your phone.
Gabe's gut twisted with the urgency of each message. Something was wrong. Grace was rarely this impatient and prone to melodrama. He was about to hit the phone icon to call his sister when he noticed a voicemail, also from Grace.
With tightness gripping his chest, he tapped the voicemail and raised the phone to his ear.
"Darn it, Gabe. Pick up your phone. Mom got her test results back—" Grace's voice broke. "And they aren't good."
Gabe's stomach plummeted. His already tight chest hardened tostone, trapping the air in his lungs. The results must be really bad to make Grace cry like that.
"Luke, cancel my afternoon appointments." Thank goodness there were only three. Gabe was halfway out the door before Luke called his name.
"Gabe, wait! What's going on?"
He turned to find Luke on his feet; his face filled with concern and confusion.
"I have a family emergency. Clean up and lock up please." He wished he could give Luke more information, but he couldn't. Even if he had more information, he wasn't sure he'd be able to articulate words around the lump forming in his throat. That's why he waited until he was in the privacy of his car to call Grace.
Paige walkedout of the dressing room on Wednesday with the aid of a single crutch, like Gabe had shown her, and stopped short. Her stomach sank as disappointment swamped her.
Gabe wasn't waiting for her near the pool. Instead, she found a large, barrel-chested, dark-haired man with bronzed skin, who looked to be in his late thirties.
"Hi, you must be Paige." He held out a massive hand that engulfed hers. His gaze raked over her before his lips turned up in a smile that looked both appreciative and predatory.
