Page 72 of Falling for the Unexpected

As Jim finished sharing with us what had happened, the doors to the waiting room slid open. Tiffany walked in looking like a mess. She looked like she hadn’t brushed her hair in a week and she was wearing some ratty sweatpants and an old sweatshirt.

“How is he?” she asked as she walked over to us.

“We aren’t sure right now,” Trent informed her in a tired voice. “Sounds like they got his heart going for now, but we don’t know anything else.”

No one offered for her to take a seat so she sat down next to Trent.

“We could be here for a while. Do you want to go home and get cleaned up?” Trent asked and I could tell he was already irritated by her presence.

“No, I’m going to stay until I know he’s okay,” she said.

Silence descended on the room, none of us really knowing what say. Since we were in for a long wait, I decided to text Addie.

Me:At the hospital. Brad overdosed and had a heart attack. Sounds like they got him stabilized. Don’t know anything else right now.

Addie’s response was immediate.

Addie:OMG, what can I do to help?

Me:Will you call Erik and Ian? Trent needs as much support as he can get.

Addie:Of course. What about Simone? Has anyone told her yet?

I had already thought about Simone but hadn’t asked anyone yet if they had contacted her. I didn’t know if it was a good idea. There wasn’t anything she could do here but at the same time, he was Stella’s father. She probably deserved to know.

“Has anyone contacted Simone?” I asked.

“Not yet,” Jim whispered, shaking his head. I had never seen him this sad. In fact, I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen him cry. “But we should definitely do that.”

“I could have Addie text her,” I suggested. “She’s already calling Ian and Erik.”

“That would be helpful,” Marla agreed.

Me:Could you text Simone as well?

As soon as I sent the message, I realized I didn’t want her getting that kind of news via text.

Me:Never mind. I’m going to go tell her in person.

This was not the way I wanted to come face to face with Simone since I left her but she couldn’t be alone when she heard the news. If she wanted to come to the hospital I was going to be the one to drive her.

The drive to her apartment seemed to take double the amount of time it should have. Even so, when I arrived at her place I still had no idea how I was going to tell her about Brad.

I knocked on her door and could hear footsteps and then the deadbolt being unlocked. The look of surprise on her beautiful face broke my heart.

Her hair was up in a messy bun and she was in loose-fitting jeans and an oversized sweater. She looked exhausted, dark circles under eyes, and her nose was red. I stood there staring at her for several long seconds. She still looked absolutely stunning.

Looking at her physically hurt me because it reminded me of everything I had lost when I’d walked away from her. And for what? My self-pity and wallowing in it for a week? It was like a moment of clarity came over me. At just how much I missed her. Missed Stella. Being with them, in this apartment or at my condo. It was so obvious to me, standing before her, what a complete selfish ass I’d been.

I love you.

“Uh, hey,” was all she could get out. I hated to see her struggle to even talk to me.

I miss you, too.

“Hi there,” I said awkwardly. A dozen thoughts raced through my tired brain but right now, it wasn’t about me or her or us. “Um…” I had no idea how to break this news so I just blurted it out. “There’s been an emergency with Brad. It looks like he overdosed and had a heart attack.”

She just stared at me in shock, not expecting me to say that. But she quickly snapped out of it.