Heather checked her phone, hoping for an update from Jase.
Nothing.
“Candy?” she called. “Can you handle the rest?”
Candy stepped beside Heather. “I’ve got this. Go.”
Heather didn’t need to be told twice. She scooted out to her new delivery van. Key in the ignition, she squealed the tires pulling onto the street. Rose Medical was only a mile away, but it felt like it took an eternity to get there. She parked the van and dashed into the ER.
Jase stood near the nurse’s desk with Anna. Heather’s heart seemed to stop beating. How would she be able to see him and not be able to touch him? How would she be able to go back to who she was before Babushka took out her delivery van?
“Jase,” she called his name. He glanced to her, his expression tense.
She wasn’t close enough to hear him, but he mouthed her name. She hustled toward him. “Is she okay?”
“She’s fine,” Anna answered for him. “Not a heart attack, just a blip. That’s what the doctor said.”
Heather let out the breath she’d been holding since the fire alarm went off.
“She’s been asking for you.” Jase shoved his hands in his pockets.
Heather’s rib cage seemed to cinch tighter. She hated that. The hands-in-the-pockets thing. Normally, he’d pull her to his side. The beginning of the end…that’s what this was. And she’d started it. She’d brought it up. She’d have to own it.
* * *
Jase had welland truly screwed the pooch. He didn’t want to lose Heather. Didn’t want her to believe he was anything less than all in.
So, he’d fix it. He’d make it right.
According to the rules of Dvornakov engagement, if you’re off the hook, don’t screw with it. Jase had been certain he’d be off the hook. He’d decided to keep his Heather life and his family life separate. Everyone would win. He’d dug himself a bunker too deep to escape. All because his brother lied to his mother and Jase was going along with it because it made his life easier.
“Where is she?” Heather asked.
“This way.” He jerked his head toward the curtain where Babushka was being evaluated.
Heather started that way. He strode beside her, letting his hand brush hers. She turned her palm so he could grasp it.
His blood pressure started to return to normal.
They’d be okay. He’d fix it.
“Why’s she here, Jason?” his mom asked from behind.
Or not.
Heather dropped his hand. She bit at her lip. “Mrs. Dvornakov, I wanted to apologize for all of the”—she paused—“mishaps with Babushka. I think you and I got off on the wrong foot.”
“Heather!” Babushka yelled from behind the curtain. “You vill come in.”
Jase pulled open the curtain, letting Heather and his mother through.
“Nadzieja.” Jase’s mother brushed past Heather. “I think since she and Jason broke up, it’s inappropriate that she’s here.”
Heather did a double take. Her eyes focused on Jase. “That’s what you decided you want?”
No, that’s not at all what he’d decided.
“Jase said you two broke up.” His mother enunciated each word as though Heather hadn’t caught it the first time.
