Her mind flicked to another girl who had been targeted for her smarts.Until an unlikely ally rose, his own smarts hidden by more apparent skills in the sporting arena.And because he was well-liked, rich and strong, nobody had dared picked on her again.They’d stayed friends through the rest of middle school, then throughout high school, when their friendship had bloomed into deeper affection.Until, in senior year, it had ripened into desperate passion at graduation, when the looming specter of separation caused by scholarships and NHL drafts had meant they’d be forced apart.
“Mom?”
“Sorry.Tell me more.”
As Bella continued chatting, Gen silently exhaled, forcing her thoughts elsewhere, forcing her body to relax.One of Bella’s many gifts was her sensitivity to Gen’s moods, and hence was quick to pick up when Gen was stressed.That was probably what happened when three women—well, two women and one girl—shared a house for so many years.Mom had long been attuned to Gen’s emotions, more clued in than Gen was herself, and had even suspected that Gen was pregnant before Gen herself had known.
She’d sometimes wondered what it would be like to be more independent, but knew she couldn’t have achieved her medical dream without her mother’s constant support.And for as long as Bella needed a steadying presence at home and Mom was happy to play that part, Gen was happy to let sleeping dogs lie.
Which meant there was zero chance she’d tell Mom about the man she’d treated at hospital last night.Not when he was the person Mom blamed for having upended their life.It felt like a gift from the universe to not have to go in today.After years of suppressing the guilt, to see him last night had been like a red-hot poker thrust through her heart.She didn’t want to see him and somehow accidentally spill the truth of what she’d done.Neither did she want to run the risk of seeing his parents and deal with their snobby ways.And while she’d made a habit of overcoming her fears to stop avoiding people, sometimes discretion was the better part of valor.Which meant avoiding certain scenarios and certain people was best for all concerned.
“Mom?”Bella wriggled.“You’re holding me too tight.”
“Sorry.”She loosened her hold.“Better?”
“Yeah.”
“So, what are you wanting to do today?”Days together felt like rare gems.But she bet Bella would start by saying—
“Can we have choc-chip pancakes?”
Gen laughed.“Of course we can.”Even if Mom objected.
Sure enough, fifteen minutes later when Gen and Bella were whipping up the pancake batter, Mom objected.
“You know too much junk food is bad for her brain.”Mom’s hands were on her hips.
“Mmm, how much junk food have you had this week, Bella?”Gen asked.
“Nothing.Not even a single choc-chip,” Bella owned, misery in her tone.
“So it’s unlikely that her brain will rot by having these pancakes, Mom.”
Mom sniffed.“Back when you were a child, I made sure you never ate anything processed, if I could avoid it.”
Hmm.Not how she remembered things, but okay.“We are allowed to have some fun occasionally, Mom.”
“Hmph.”
Gen swapped quick grins with Bella as Mom moved to the coffee maker.Usually caffeine—Mom’s one vice—helped Mom gain more perspective for the day.Gen didn’t love coffee, but could appreciate its perk-up ability, but too much left her feeling anxious and jittery.
The day passed as most of her days off did, doing laundry, catching up on study, juggling finances to pay bills, meal prepping for the week ahead.Mom’s work as a cleaner meant she was often able to juggle what days she worked, so between them they managed Bella’s school hours and appointments okay.And that was great.Their tight-knit unit of three didn’t need another person to disrupt their equilibrium.
Everything was okay.Everythingwouldbe okay.
Provided Kyle never found out about the daughter she’d been too scared to tell him about, sure that would result in Kyle’s parents insisting on taking her baby away.
And provided Mom never learned that Kyle was in the area.
CHAPTER5
Merciless noises punctured his dreams, forcing him awake.Kyle blinked, his fuzzy brain slowly recognizing his hospital room, as he tried to shift to a more comfortable position.
Dimness met him, the same drowsy heaviness that had cloaked his memories.He closed his eyes again, yet the vivid pictures remained.He and Gen.Their last days together.Prom.Graduation.Their first—their last—night together.
Regret panged.How could he have been so selfish to let her walk away?Gen, the smart and beautiful, his girl at Lincoln High, the one person who had been his constant cheerleader through the ups and downs of school and sports, who had supported him even despite his parents’ dramas.He’d done a great job of pushing his hurt to the side these past years, allowing his life to get filled with distractions and busyness and a million things demanding attention.But still, a hole remained where Gen should be.Hisfriend.The girl he’d once considered his very best friend.Until he’d woken up one morning and saw her as something else, and hormones had flamed their relationship into something hot and heavy which only made the sudden final cut seem all the more savage.
He exhaled, the sound like a moan.He hoped no passing nurse heard that, as they’d be in here asking what was wrong.And saying he was filled with regrets at how he’d abandoned his high school girlfriend sounded kinda juvenile.Even if it was true.
