Something in River’s chest pulled tight.
There was something in the way she’d said it that made River want to believe her. She’d never been needed like that before. In all her life, she’d never been first pick. She’d never been prioritized.
Abandoned by her parents.
Moved from foster home to foster home while other kids were adopted.
Emerson knew enough of her story to understand where her mind went when it came to things like this. The look he gave her now said he wanted her to push past it.
River folded her arms tighter. “Even if Mathew was interested in me, I’m not the kind of woman who can live on theback burner. He’s got a life he cares about, and I’m not going to sit around hoping I someday matter as much as his work does.”
Rose opened her mouth, then closed it.
River lifted a brow. “Exactly.”
Rose glanced at Emerson, then looked back at River. “Maybe you’re right. I just hoped…” She let out a breath and shook her head. “Never mind.”
The disappointment in her voice tugged at River more than she wanted it to.
But Rose didn’t give her a chance to say anything else. She turned and walked off, with Emerson following a step behind.
9
MATHEW
“You need to go home.”
Mathew ignored Aiden’s request and continued tapping away on his computer.
“I’m serious, Matt.”
His head jerked up and his eyes narrowed. “Here, it’s Doctor Klein.”
Aiden’s brow lifted and he folded his arms, his muscles flexing. “Sorry?”
It had been a week since he’d buried his father. His mother was now staying with Penny at her place, but they weren’t sure how long that would last. She was getting worse. Jason was busy planning his wedding to his fiancée—or maybe throwing himself into the planning process was a better descriptor. Each of his family members were coping with the loss of his father in different ways, and this was his.
He’d taken every shift he could, only sleeping when he absolutely had to. Thankfully, it had been busy. He wasn’t surewhy exactly, but there were a lot more traumas taking place this past week. From farming injuries to rodeo accidents, to the usual run-of-the-mill automobile accidents and broken bones from kids thinking they were invincible.
He’d managed to keep his mind busy because if he didn’t, he’d be forced to remember how kind River had been when she’d insisted he stay at her place. When she’d fixed him breakfast. And worst of all, when she’d apologized for something that wasn’t her fault.
It had irked him to no end to hear her take accountability. No, it wasn’t her fault. It was his. He shouldn’t have fought with his father. He should have noticed the signs of a heart attack and taken proper measures. What was his training for if not to handle emergencies?
“Doctor Klein,” Aiden said forcefully.
Mathew stared up at his friend and colleague with a modicum of guilt. The guy was probably right. He should leave. But he… couldn’t.
“If you don’t head out on your own accord, I’m going to have one of the other doctors contact the board and force you out. I haven’t said anything to anyone because I knew you needed to stay busy. But…” He blew out a breath and his hands dropped to his sides. “It’s been a week, and you’re drilling yourself into the ground. You can’t keep going like this. One of these days you’re going to drop dead.”
The second those words escaped his lips, he grimaced. It was a turn of phrase, but in poor form and they both knew it.
Strangely, Mathew didn’t even flinch at the statement. Death was normal. Natural. His father had been overdoing it. And there was a history of heart conditions on his father’s side of the family, among other issues.
Knowing all of that didn’t make anything better.
“Just… will you take a few days off at least? You can’t do your best work when you’re tired and on edge.”
Mathew stood, his hard gaze cutting through Aiden and his ridiculous statement. “I’ve been on my A-game all week. You can’t tell me that my work is suffering.”
