Page 108 of Starting Back
“Nothing,” I said, waving him off as I took a step back. “Emotional times. I’m easily weepy around newborns, you know that.” I kissed his cheek. “Tell Peyton I’ll see her later.”
“Okay,” Jake said, eyeing me with suspicion as I backed away. “You’re sure that’s it?”
“Sure,” I whispered, not wanting to give away the quaver in my voice.
Jesus, what was wrong with me?
I headed down the long hall, taking in slow breaths to calm down enough to go back to work. Once I had my bearings, I pressed the button for the elevator and was surprised to see Gabe after the doors opened.
“Hey, Gabe. What are you doing here? Is everything okay?”
Gabe smiled and gave me a quick hug hello after I stepped onto the elevator.
“I forgot you work here too. My father’s cardiologist wanted to do some tests here today to send his new doctor the latest results.”
“New doctor? Why are you switching?”
“Leo didn’t tell you? A new facility opened near us. Full assisted living and only an exit away. They like the one in Kelly Lakes, but my mother misses her friends, and with the kids missing them both, it’s easier to have them close to us. I’m grateful my cousin took a break from his travels to help us out.” He squeezed my arm when the elevator chimed on his floor. “Good to see you.”
I nodded, forcing a smile after Gabe made his way off the elevator. I got off on the next floor and stalked to the nearest bathroom. I slipped into a stall, sat down, and let my head drop between my knees.
Leo didn’t say anything about his aunt and uncle moving to be closer to Gabe. Gabe’s mention of Leo’s break from traveling fed into all my fears. Yes, he’d bought a condo, but condos could be sold, and he had two jobs that allowed him to transfer to any location he wanted.
He’d told me that this was his home, but would he feel that way if his family wasn’t included? He moved here for them, not me.
He’d done nothing but show how important I was to him, but was I important enough to keep him here? Maybe my marriage left me with just enough emotional trauma to always believe I wasn’t worth staying for, and that was what was pushing me down this miserable spiral.
The residual insecurities still gnawed at me, the question of whether I was really enough so loud in my head it was deafening.
I stifled my tears, patted cold water on my face, and went back to work.
We were overdue for that simple conversation now, and I needed to know if his home was still here if onlyIwas here, even if I didn’t know if I was ready for the answer.
THIRTY-NINE
LEO
“Hey man, congratulations!” I spotted Jake leaving the hospital’s main doors just as I was coming in for my shift.
“Thanks,” he said, shaking my hand. He looked like a happy kind of exhausted as he shot me a tired smile. “I’m heading home to get Mike, and Peyton strongly hinted at maybe picking up a burger on the way back.”
“Kristina sent me a picture of the baby. She’s gorgeous.”
“Thanks.” His smile faded as he studied me. “About my sister, did something happen with you two?”
“What? No, why do you ask that?”
My stomach fell at his deep frown.
“When she came by to see us today, she seemed off, upset.”
“No, I spoke to her early this morning when she was heading into work, and she was fine. I haven’t had the chance to speak to her after that, so I don’t know if maybe something happened on shift.” I shrugged, rubbing the back of my neck as an uneasy feeling settled into my chest.
“I never felt the need to make the ‘hurt my sister and I’ll kick your ass speech’ to you. I didn’t make a mistake on that, did I?” Jake quirked a brow as he took a step closer.
“You did not. I’d never hurt Kristina. I couldn’t.”
He nodded, still not appearing too convinced with a deep frown pulling at his mouth. “Then when you see her, talk to her. Maybe she’ll tell you what’s bothering her.” Jake shifted, giving me one last glance before heading toward the front parking lot.
