The second Ward and Cox left, Joel stepped forward. “Hey, Sunshine. How are you feeling?”
Confused. Exhausted. A million other things she had no energy to think too deeply about. “I’m actually really tired. Imight nap and get Maggie to stay with me until the doctor okays me to go home.”
Disappointment skittered over his face. And yeah, she didn’t want him to leave either. But she wasn’t in the right head space to have the conversation they needed to have.
“That’s really what you want?” he asked quietly.
She nodded. Because if she tried to speak, the wrong word might pop out. A no from her heart instead of a yes from her head.
“Okay. I’ll go, Sunshine. But this thing between you and me…it isn’t over.” He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her temple. His lips lingered. Then he whispered, “Stay safe.”
Her heart ricocheted against her ribs.
He straightened and turned to Ethan. “Keep her safe for me.”
“Of course.”
Then Joel left, dragging little pieces of her heart in his wake.
Joel stepped into the hallway,every part of him, every fucking limb, screaming to go back. To stick as close to Polly as possible and shadow her in case the person who ran her off the road made a reappearance.
But she didn’t want him there. Not after the shit with Bronte.
Ryan pushed off the wall. “You okay?”
“No.” He tore down the hall. Heat pulsed beneath his skin. He felt restless and agitated, like his body was trying to hold itself together even as his world spiraled out of control.
He was on edge, and not just because of this faceless asshole who’d run Polly off the road. Because of his mother. His father. Because Bronte was playing along with the clusterfuck.
And at himself, for not telling Polly about his family drama sooner.
“Why doesn’t she want you to stay?” Ryan asked, matching him step for step.
They rounded a corner. “Bronte went to my house.”
“Bronte? As in the woman your parents want you to marry,thatBronte?”
“Yes. She was in my home. She opened the fucking door when Polly arrived this evening and told her we were engaged. She showed Polly my grandmother’sringon her finger.”
“Shit.”
Joel shoved outside and stopped. He tried to breathe in the fresh air, even though every inhale felt thin and every exhale was a hiss between his teeth. “I’m so pissed I can’t think straight.”
“I would be too.”
He swung toward Ryan. “It wasn’t enough that I had to grow up in a house with people who believe love is transactional. Who believe people are only worth what they can give. No. They still want to control me. Even though I got out. Even though I’ve built a life away from them. They don’t just want a piece of me, they wanteverything.”
“They’re assholes.”
“There are no words for what they are.” He scrubbed his hands through his hair. “I love Pollydespitethem.Despitethem trying so hard to teach me that people are either resources or liabilities.”
“You love her?”
He could have laughed. Because yes, he loved her. It was a damn miracle he was capable of that after his upbringing. After being hardwired to believe as a kid that love wasn’t a feeling, but a business deal.
“What do I do?”
“Give her some space. She’s just been through something really shitty. Once a little time passes, talk to her. Explain your side of what happened.”
