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As if on cue, Paisley walked up from the parking lot, her heels clicking against the pavement. The sharp, staccato sound echoed in the quiet evening air, and there was a tense energy in her posture as she approached. Her head was held high, and her jaw was tense, but…
She was beautiful.
Both of us stood still when she reached me, surrounded by the dimly lit parking lot and the looming hospital building. The tension between us was almost visible. The air seemed to hum with it, thickening around us like a heavy fog. Our postures were stiff, and our bodies rigid as if trapped in a stand-off that neither one of us had signed up for.
And yet, of course I’d noticed how beautiful she looked, even with all of that. Even after what must have been a long day. Her chin-length, nearly-black hair framed her face, and she was still wearing the same pencil skirt, blouse, and heels she’d worn to work.
“Not exactly dressed for a long night in a hospital waiting room, are ya?” I commented, trying to break the ice.
Paisley shot me a look. “Well, I was a little caught off guard by my brother showin’ up with a wife I didn’t know about. We went out for pizza, and then I came straight here when I heard about Bailey.”
“I’m not complainin’ about seein’ you in that outfit again,” I said before I could stop myself.
Paisley’s eyebrows shot up.
I cleared my throat, mentally kicking myself. “I mean... I’m glad you could make it over to support Bailey.”
I couldn’t believe I’d let that slip out. I must’ve been more tired or off-kilter than I thought. Comments like that would only ever lead to an argument, and I knew better.
Paisley sighed. “Right, well… sorry I’m late.”
“Better late than never.”
Her eyes flashed, and I bit down on my tongue.
Hard.
What in the world was wrong with me tonight?
Another tense silence settled over us, and I scrambled to find a way to break it. “So, uh, how’d it go with Tyler?”
Paisley shook her head. “Honestly? I don’t know what to think. I can’t believe he’s married to some random girl. I’m worried.”
“Don’t worry so much, Pais.”
“It’s my job to worry about him, Adam, I’m his big sister.”
I ran a hand over my beard. “Let’s not go there.”
She frowned. “Go where?”
“You know I get it. I’ve always been protective of my brothers. But it’s not yourjobto make their choices for them.”
Understanding dawned, and she nodded briskly. “Ah, I get it. Let’s not gothere.”
“Exactly.” I crossed my arms. “But you know I’m never gonna change my mind on this point. Everyone makes their own choices, and you gotta respect that. If it goes south, well, they made their bed. And when the nature of your actualjobmeans makin’ choices that are black and white, you gotta respect that, too.”
She let out a humorless laugh. “So much for not goin’ there.”
I felt a bitter smile tug at my lips, but I said nothing. There was no point. We were both too stubborn to have this fight again and expect a different outcome.
Besides, if I wasn’t mistaken, that was the definition of insanity. Wasn’t it?
But then, something seemed to occur to her, and her entire demeanor changed. She softened slightly, and when she tilted her head and looked me over, I could’ve sworn I saw something like guilt in her expression.
I was instantly on alert.
When she stayed silent for a few heartbeats too many, I broke, unable to take the suspense. “What?”
