“Sorry to intrude.” Her voice wavered.
“Hey, Jamie.” Caleb called as I moved toward her. “We were just talking about you.”
I shot him a warning look but kept my focus on Jamie, concern overriding annoyance.
“Hi.” She gave them a weak smile. “I need to borrow Eric.”
I didn’t wait for their response, ushering her into the hallway away from prying eyes and big mouths. “What’s going on?”
“I need you to meet my father.”
Fuck. Jamie wouldn’t ask this lightly. Something big had happened, and it made me uneasy as hell.
“You want me to meet your dad?”
“I know it’s out of line, but he wants to meet you. It’s a long story but basically, Dylan was here. He left to get Hunter, but he said things and now Dad thinks you’re my boyfriend. I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say. I don’t know if everything’s falling apart or coming together. I just know he’s dying, and I really want him to be happy with me before he goes. I need my last memories of him to be good ones, Eric.”
She was breathless, distraught, with fear shadowing her features. It was like she had no idea I’d do absolutely anything for her.
“Come here.” I pulled her against me, pressing a kiss to her ear. “I’d be honored to meet him.”
“Really?” She sucked in a sob.
“Of course. That’s what we do for each other.”
I didn’t love lying to a dying man, but Jamie needed this. And I’d already agreed to be her fake boyfriend. Making her happy was reason enough.
Walking into her father’s room felt like facing a firing squad. I was prepared to lie my ass off, but when we approached his bedside, he was asleep.
He was imposing even in illness, cancer eating away at him. I couldn’t help comparing him to Caleb, and I was morbidly relieved my brother didn’t look this bad.
My beautiful girl was going to lose her father soon.
I hoped I could hold her through it. Part of me knew helping her was selfish—I wanted to prove I wouldn’t abandon her. Wanted to show her I could do better than the other men in her life.
I wanted to give her reason to stay.
“Thanks, Eric. I pulled you away for nothing.” She turned those sad blue eyes to me.
“How many times do I have to tell you? I’m here for you.”
“I feel bad you’re missing time with Caleb. He needs you.”
“Caleb has me, but right now you need me. He understands. I’m not abandoning him—I’m doing right by both of you.”
“You’re too good to me.”
“Not possible, beautiful girl. I wish I could fix everything for you.”
“I like this guy.” Her father’s weak voice startled us both.
“Dad, sorry. I woke you again.”
He looked ready to drift off but remained lucid. “Is this him?”
“Yeah, this is Eric.” Jamie gestured between us. “Eric, my father, Frank Hartley.”
Fuck. I hadn’t even known her last name.
