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“Thanks for doing this.”
“Of course, I’d do anything for Clare.”
The words came out automatically. I would do anything for her, and that thought didn’t scare me. Confusion swept over me. What in the hell was happening? Was I falling for Clare? Was it because she was going along with this crazy plan of mine to win Mandy back. Clare didn’t owe me anything, she didn’t have to do or agree to any of it. She could have easily pushed me away in the kitchen earlier as well. But she hadn’t. And the bigger question was…did I even want Mandy back?
I gripped onto the steering wheel tighter. Why didn’t she push me away? I knew the moment we drew apart and looked at each other that she had been just as confused by that kiss as I had been. Everything was starting to feel blurred. I had no idea why in the hell I said we were dating when Clare made it clear she didn’t want to lie to my family. And because of that, now she felt obligated to stick to the story that we were dating.
My hand pushed through my hair, and I almost slammed my fist down on the wheel. Instead, I turned to see Clare staring out the passenger window, completely lost in her own thoughts. I reached over and took her hand in mine.
Once we got to the hospital, I pulled into a parking spot, shut off the car, and jumped out, expecting Clare to already be ahead of me. Instead, she was sitting in the passenger seat staring out the window.
Opening the door, I bent down and gently touched her arm. “Hey, are you okay?”
A tear slid down her cheek and it felt like my breath had been sucked from my lungs. I reached in, pulled her out, and wrapped her in my arms.
“They’re going to be okay, Clare.”
She practically sank into my body as she lost the battle and started to cry.
“They’re all I have, Wes. My parents and Tim. They’re all I have.”
I drew back and cupped her face. Using the pads of my thumbs, I swept her tears away. “That’s not true, Clare. You’ve got Rory, Harmony, Angie, Finn, Preston. My parents. Me. You have all of us.”
She sniffled and shook her head. “I’m scared, Wes.”
Pulling her back into my arms, I held her tightly. “I’m here, Clare. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere, I promise you.”
• • •
Rory walked up and handed me a cup of coffee before she sat down next to me.
“How long has she been asleep?”
I glanced over to see Clare curled up sleeping on the small sofa in the waiting room. Both of her parents had made it through their surgeries, but they were in ICU. Her brother got clearance for an emergency leave and had flown straight to Boston from where he was stationed in California.
I exhaled. “She fell asleep about an hour ago.”
Rory sipped her coffee as I stood and paced while I drank mine.
I’d finally talked Tim into heading to his parents’ house for a shower and a few hours of sleep, but Clare had refused to leave the hospital. I called Rory to see if she or Autumn might be able to bring Clare a change of clothes since she was still dressed for the anniversary party.
“Wes, it’s nearly six AM, why don’t you head on home.”
“No,” I said with a shake of my head. “I told Clare I would be here for her and I’m not leaving.”
I could feel her eyes on me, but I ignored it and kept walking back and forth.
“Wes?”
The sound of Mandy’s voice caused me to instantly stop walking and freeze in place.
“Wes, is everything okay? Why are you here? Is everyone okay?”
Turning to face Mandy, I cleared my throat. “Mandy, hey. Yeah, I mean, everyone in my family is fine. I’m here with Clare.”
I pointed to Clare curled up on the small sofa sleeping. “Her parents were in a car accident.”
Mandy covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh no. I hope they’re going to be okay.”
