I released her hand and moved back at the same time, breaking the moment before it turned into something we couldn’t take back.
She straightened immediately, drawing herself up like armor sliding back into place. One breath. Shoulders squared. Composure restored with practiced ease.
It didn’t help me at all.
Because reality had crashed down hard.
There was someone else in her life. Someone she was missing. Someone she might’ve been crying over only minutes ago. Add that to everything else circling my head, and the situation went from tempting to impossible.
“Hey.” My voice came out rougher than I intended, but I wasn’t apologizing for it. “Come say hello to Caleb.”
She blinked, clearly caught off guard by the request. Or maybe by how close we’d just come to crossing a line.
“He’s had a rough day. You wouldn’t know it to look at him. But I can tell, and I know he’d get a kick out of seeing you.”
“Oh.” Her expression shifted, tension melting into something warm and sincere. “Would that be okay? He seems like such a good kid. And he was so nice to me.”
“He’s an incredible kid.” The words came without hesitation. “And yeah. It would mean a lot.”
She nodded, already decided. “Okay. I just need to wash my face first. I don’t want to scare him with”—she gestured vaguely—“this.”
“You look perfect.” The words tumbled out before I could stop them, honest and unfiltered. I took a breath and reined it in. “But do whatever you need.”
Her mouth curved, shy now. She ducked her head, then stepped past me into the hallway, moving quickly like she needed the distance as much as I did.
“Jamie.”
She turned back, eyes wide. “Yeah?”
“My parents are here.” I fell into step beside her, close enough to catch her if she stumbled. “Maybe don’t mention how hard Caleb was flirting with you yesterday. My mom still thinks he’s her sweet baby boy.”
She laughed, lighter this time. “I think I can manage that. But can he?”
I huffed. “Good point.”
“I’ll be right back.” She angled toward the washrooms. “Wait for me?”
“Of course.” The answer came easy, automatic. “I’ll be right here whenever you’re ready.”
And I meant it. In more ways than one.
She disappeared down the hall, taking the warmth with her. I stayed where I was, leaning against the wall, watching the space she’d just left like I could will her back faster.
For the first time all day—hell, maybe months—my head wasn’t full of cancer treatments or worst-case scenarios.
It was full of a woman with tear-stained cheeks, a sharp laugh, and a hand that had branded itself over my heart.
And how easily she’d made everything else fall away.
Chapter Four
Jamie
Eric waited exactly where he’d promised, and relief flooded through me at the sight of him.
Not just because he was devastatingly good to look at, but because having him there made facing Caleb feel possible. In my head, all I could picture was the vibrant teenager reduced to a hospital bed, surrounded by beeping machines, looking too much like my father.
The pain slammed back into my chest, sharp and relentless.
