Twenty-four hours ago, Emmett let me into the darkest parts of his life, and it cemented that the feelings I have for him run much deeper than something temporary. Now, I’m standing three doors away from him, unable to reach him.
Unable to fix this.
“Hard, isn’t it?”
I sniff back the tears that are right there, threatening to fall, and swipe the corners of my eye before forcing a smile and turning to find Connie standing in Monica’s doorway, watching me with a sad sort of understanding.
“What is?” I ask. I’m too in my own head to try to decode her meaning.
“Being on this side of it.”
My forehead creases.
“Loving someone but not being able to make it better.”
The words hit harder than I expect. I’m a nurse, trained to assess and intervene. My whole life revolves around finding solutions.
But there’s no medication I can give Emmett to ease his pain. There’s no treatment plan for his grief or fears.
There’s nothing to do except get through it.
Connie follows my gaze toward the consultation room.
God, I hope he’s okay in there. I should have gone with him.
“He let you meet Monica,” Connie says, interrupting my thoughts.
I look back at her.
“What?”
“That’s huge for him”
My brows pinch together. She’s not telling me anything I haven’t already figured out.
“She’s his heart,” Connie corrects softly. “And he’s spent years protecting her.”
The lump in my throat returns.
“He brought you into the part of his life he keeps the most guarded.”
“I’m honored he trusted me with it. Monica is lovely.”
“She is.” Connie’s smile is genuine. “Emmett learned too young that loving someone doesn’t mean you get to keep them.”
My chest aches because I know exactly how true that is.
“And he brought you anyway.”
She leaves the words hanging between us like she wants me to pick up the pieces.
“I just want to be there for him.” My eyes drift toward the closed door, again. They’ve only been in there for a few minutes, but it feels like forever. “However he’ll let me.”
Connie nods thoughtfully. “That’s the hard part—letting him decide how much he’s ready to let someone in.”
The truth of that settles heavily between us.
“Maybe he will. Maybe he won’t.”
