I narrow my eyes. "And why are you telling me this?"
"I’m going to sue the hospital," he says, straightening. "And I need you to be a witness. To back me up."
A breath of disbelief escapes my mouth before I can stop it. I cross my arms. "Yeah, that’s not going to happen."
"What?" His tone sharpens. "Why not?"
For half a second, the old reflex kicks in. To smooth it over. To apologize for something that isn’t mine. But the feeling burns out quick.
"Because I don’t owe you anything, Holden. And I’m not going to lie for you."
His jaw clenches. "You don’t even know the whole story."
"You’re right. I don’t," I say. "But I know enough to know I don’t want to be part of it."
His eyes flick to the diner window, where I’m sure Brooks is still sitting, waiting.
"You’re not seriously letting that guy cloud your judgment, are you?" Holden scoffs, annoyance laced through every word.
I meet his gaze without flinching. "This has nothing to do with Brooks. I’m just not going to help you sue a hospital that’s saved my dad’s life."
His mouth opens like he wants to argue, but there’s nothing left for him to say. Not to me. Not anymore.
When I walk back into the coffee shop, Brooks is waiting with a blasé expression, like he hadn’t spent the last five minutes pretending not to care.
"What did he want?" he asks, voice casual, but I see the flicker of tension in his jaw.
Holden was the past. This? This thing with Brooks? It might be terrifying. But it’s real.
And I’m done wasting energy on anything less.
"No idea," I murmur as I slide into his lap and wrap my arms around his shoulders, grounding myself in the only place that’s made sense lately.Him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Let Me Take You Home
"How did your video series with that nice Southern lady go?" Dad asks as I fluff the pillows behind his head.
I smile.Nice Southern lady. That’s a cute way to describe Belle. "It went really well. We’ve got a meeting next week to brainstorm a follow-up series."
"That sounds fun," he says with a warm, tired smile.
"You ready to get out of here?" I ask.
He nods, hopeful. "The sooner, the better."
"Dr. Kulkarni said tomorrow might be the day."
Dad sighs deeply. "Your mom’s been here every day."
"She has." I nod, pride swelling in my chest. "She just went home to shower and change, but she’ll be back tonight to stay with you."
He gives me a pointed look. "Her coming was your doing, wasn’t it?"
I shake my head. "Nope. This was all Brooks."
He exhales and reaches for my hand. "You still sneaking around with him?"
