Part of me felt relief. I hated that part.
Lily bumped her shoulder against mine. “That is not the same as you doing this to her.”
“I was in his room.”
“You were his nurse.”
“I kissed his forehead.”
“He was unconscious.”
“I told him I loved him.”
Lily sighed. “Yes. And he couldn’t even hear you properly. It’s messy. Life is usually messy.”
I looked toward Room 412. The blinds were half-closed. I couldn’t see him, only the glow of monitors.
Georgia stepped out of the elevator at the far end of the hall.
Maybe not quite gone after all.
My entire body went still.
She had changed clothes. Jeans, a loose sweater, hair in a messy knot. Her eyes were red and swollen. She looked younger without the ring.
My gaze dropped before I could stop it.
Her left hand was bare.
She saw me looking.
For one second, neither of us moved.
Then she walked toward me.
Lily shifted like she might throw herself between us.
I touched her arm. “It’s okay.”
Georgia stopped a few feet away. Close enough that I could see she’d been crying again. Far enough that we both had room.
“Can we talk?” she asked.
Her voice was quiet. Not hostile. That made me more nervous.
I nodded.
We ended up in the empty family room down the hall. Two worn couches, a muted television, a box of tissues, and a fake plant that had given up years ago.
Georgia stood near the window. I stayed by the door.
“You don’t have to stand like I’m going to hit you,” she said.
“You can, if you want.”
A broken laugh slipped out of her. “Tempting.”
I folded my arms around myself.
