Her eyes squeezed shut and she shook her head. “Not until I’ve told Zadie. She’d never forgive me if I told you first. Hell, I’d never forgive myself.”
“Fair enough. When are you going to tell her?”
“I don’t know. None of this is as simple as it should be.” She rubbed her temples. “In the meantime, I’d appreciate you keeping your insights to yourself. I’d hate to have to admit you to my ER.”
“Your empty threats don’t scare me.” I laughed. “Besides, I know plenty, and I’ve kept all of it to myself. You can trust me.”
She studied me a moment, the furrow between her brows softening. “Are you taking Zadie home?”
“I rode my board here, so I was hoping to borrow your car. You can get a ride with Eric later.”
She waved her hand dramatically at the disaster surrounding her. “Have you seen this kitchen? I’ll be here until midnight.”
“I’ll help,” Eric offered from the doorway.
Chantel’s composure cracked. “How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough to hear you admit you need help with this mess.” He smirked, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed.
“I admitted nothing.”
He raised an eyebrow. “So you don’t want a hand?”
“I didn’t say that.” The tension in her shoulders eased, and the anxious twist of her mouth gave way to something that almost resembled relief.
“Great. I’ll leave you two to it.” I stood and grabbed Chantel’s keys from the counter.
“Caleb.” Eric’s voice stopped me at the door. “I’m sorry about dinner.”
Good. He fucking should be. But I wasn’t going to say it out loud. I held his stare, waiting for him to give me something more.
“I was an asshole. The thought of you spending more time in that hospital…” He shook his head, emotion cracking through his rough veneer. “It doesn’t matter what I think. I just want you to be happy.”
“Volunteering makes him happy,” Chantel said.
“It does,” I agreed. “I can’t explain it. But it does.”
“Good.” Eric nodded. “That’s all I care about. I want my entire family to be happy.” His gaze drifted to Chantel, and I wondered how much more of our conversation he’d heard than he was letting on.
“On that note, I’m taking Zadie home.”
“I won’t be there until tomorrow,” Chantel called after me. “Or maybe the next day. Depends on how long this disaster takes.”
Eric chuckled. I left the two of them to figure out the dishes and whatever else needed sorting between them.
Zadie was asleep on the couch when I came back. Curled on her side, her shoes kicked off, one hand tucked under her cheek.
I crouched beside her and brushed a curl from her face. “Time to go home.”
She blinked up at me. “Did I miss something?”
“Nothing that can’t wait.” I helped her to her feet and kept her hand in mine.
She leaned into me as we walked to the door, her body warm and heavy with trust. And somewhere between the kitchen and the front hall, she whispered something so quiet I almost missed it.
“I think I’m ready to face my fear.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
