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She considered not even bothering to see who it was. No one actually called her anymore unless it was a telemarketer or an emergency. It was the “or an emergency” part that had her following the sound coming from her phone so she could answer it.
Dakota’s name appeared on her screen and a pang of sadness for her sister hit her.
Dakota had started seeing Aiden right before Halloween—and apparently it had gotten serious. Utah wasn’t sure, but she suspected they’d even spent the holidays together. When their parents announced they were going to visit their brother Phoenix in San Diego for Christmas, Dakota had been too quick to suggest skipping the big get-together they normally had on Christmas Eve, citing, “It won’t be the same without Mom and Dad here. Let’s just wait until they get back.”
Liam had seemed more disappointed than anyone.
Then Dakota confided in Utah that she and Aiden had broken up on New Year’s Eve. Every time their mother tried to schedule a time to get everyone together, Dakota had an excuse why she couldn’t.
“I think we’re just going to have to go to your parents without her, baby,” Liam had told her. Utah had known he’d wanted to meet them ever since Thanksgiving when she’d said, “We don’t exactly have a ‘meet the parents’ arrangement.”
“I know. I promise we will.”
“When?”
“Soon.”
Although Dakota would never admit it, Utah knew she was heartbroken about the breakup and thought her sister just needed more time to heal.
Utah had asked her to dinner and a movie to try to help her keep her mind off Aiden, but she’d declined, saying, “You’re in the honeymoon phase of your relationship; you should be spending all your free time with Liam.”
“Well, come over then and hang out with us.”
“You and Liam don’t need a third wheel.”
“You’d hardly be a third wheel. Come on, if it weren’t for you, we never would have met.”
“And I’m so glad it’s working out—honestly. But, and I mean this with all the love in my heart, I don’t need to see it right now.”
“I get it.”
Had the tables been reversed, and Utah and Liam were the ones broken up, she wouldn’t want a front-row seat to her sister and Aiden being in the throes of new love.
Maybe Dakota was calling because she was ready to schedule a time for them to hang out, or even better, finally celebrate Christmas.
“Hey, long time, no talk! Happy Valentine’s Day! What’s up?”
There was no disguising the panic in her sister’s voice. “They think Dad had a heart attack at dinner. He’s being transported to Boston General by ambulance.”
It felt like all the blood had pooled in Utah’s feet when she managed to utter, “I’m on my way.”
She reached the stairs before she realized she needed to change. And call Liam.
****
Liam
He knew something was wrong the second he heard Utah say his name after he answered the phone.
“What’s going on, baby?”
“My dad… he collapsed at dinner… they’re bringing him by ambulance to Boston General.”
“Are you okay?”
He heard her let out a long exhale. “I’m not sure.”
“Do you want me to come get you?”
