“I think it’s already made. It’s just a question of finding the right moment to tell Dante.”
“Tell me what?” Dante asks, walking into the room with his shirt sleeves rolled up, looking unfairly hot.
“It’s getting late.” Jazz jumps to her feet. “I better get going.”
Dante shoves his hands in his pockets. “I don’t want to cut your long-awaited visit short. I’m going to read Noah a story before putting him to bed. I just wanted to see if you’d like to be there.”
I shift to the edge of my seat. “I won’t miss it for the world.” Shooting Jazz a smile, I ask, “Would you like to join us?”
Jazz hooks her hair behind her ear, not meeting Dante’s gaze as she hurries to the door. “I’ll leave the three of you to your family time. I can visit again tomorrow.”
Dante takes my elbow and helps me to my feet. “I’ll get one of my men to drive you home, Jasper.”
She shifts her feet. “I can get an Uber.”
“Not necessary.” Dante already has his phone in his hand, typing a message. “I’ll walk you out.” He pockets his phone and cups my cheek. “Give me a moment. Will you be all right?”
“I’m fine. You don’t have to treat me like a child.”
This guilt trip needs to end. I’ve already tried multiple times for Dante to let me go, and I’m not going to fail again. This time, I won’t allow his guilt to stand in the way of my freedom.
He clenches his jaw but doesn’t reply.
While he sees Jazz to the door, I make my way with small steps to the stairwell. The pain is getting worse again. I’ve been trying to only take the pain meds when it’s absolutely necessary. My mom had an addiction to pain killers, and I don’t want to fall into that trap.
Just as I enter the hallway, Emily exits the dining room, carrying a tray loaded with plates and cups in her hands.
“I’m sorry for leaving you with all the work,” I say. “I know how much you helped out with Noah while I was in the hospital. You have no idea how much that means to me.”
She puts the tray on the table where she always leaves the mail. “I love spending time with him.” Her smile is uncertain. “I know how you feel about me having gone on to work for Dante. I shouldn’t have stayed after everything that had happened, but I already explained, and I don’t want to repeat myself. I know it’s not easy for you. If you prefer, I can go back to the condo tonight.”
“That won’t be necessary.” Moving slowly, I catch up with her. “I was hurt when I found out he betrayed me, and the wound was still raw, especially when he told me that my mom was alive when he got to the accident scene. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forgive him for that, but it wasn’t your fault. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Are you sure?”
I pat her hand. “Absolutely.” Plus, Dante will need her when I’m gone. “I know you like him, and you’re entitled to your opinion.”
She reels. “You say that as if you don’t like him.”
I smile. “It’s complicated. I don’t like what happened, but I don’t hate him.”
Not any longer. Not now that I’m working through the painful past and coming to terms with what I can’t change. Maybe I never hated him. I just hated what he’d done.
“Of course.” She moves aside hastily. “Can I get you anything?”
“I’m good, but thanks for asking.”
Dante appears at the end of the hallway. He makes his way over and unceremoniously sweeps me into his arms.
“What are you doing?” I exclaim when he walks past Emily.
“Taking you upstairs.”
“I have to exercise,” I protest. “The doctor said it’s important for my recovery.”
“Not if you stand for so long and climb too many stairs so soon.”
In Noah’s bedroom, he deposits me gently on the bed. “Scoot over, buddy.”
