Diane shook her head and drank more water.
Emily held up her unopened bottle. “Here.”
Jake wrapped his hand around the bottle, and when his fingers meshed with hers, her pulse flittered. “Thanks,” he said softly before opening it and taking a long drink.
A few moments later, Claire joined him, and Emily’s stomach roiled. She’d hoped that Claire had left, but she knew in her heart that her archnemesis was still there. Claire wouldn’t give up a chance to be at Jake’s side. Her expression was a mask of indifference, and Emily longed to know what Jake and Claire had discussed.
Had they gotten back together? Emily felt sick at that notion.
Claire sat on the other side of Diane and rubbed the woman’s arm.
Jake sipped from the bottle and stared off toward the treatment rooms. When the doors opened and a nurse emerged, Jake’s posture stiffened.
“The family of Leon Hughes,” the middle-aged woman called.
Jake gave Emily’s shoulder a light squeeze. “I’ll be back.”
“I’ll be here,” she said. She craned her neck over her shoulder just as Jake rested an arm on his mother’s shoulder and guided her to the nurse and into the treatment area.
Out of the corner of her eye, Emily spotted Claire moving over one seat to sit beside her. Emily turned to face her just as the young woman gave her a smirk.
“What’s that look for?” Emily asked, dreading the response.
Claire lifted her chin and eyed her. “You’ll only ever be his friend.”
Emily tried to mask her shock as she studied her. “What makes you think I want more than friendship from him?”
“Oh please.” Claire scoffed. “I’ve always noticed how you look at him. You remind me of a sad little puppy. But Jake’s only ever seen you as a buddy, and that’s all you’ll ever be.”
Emily did her best to pretend that the barb didn’t sting, but it did—right in the center of her heart.
Emily parked her Jeep in the driveway beside Claire’s sleek Audi Q5 SUV later that evening. She kicked herself for not taking Diane’s sedan to the hospital so that she could help get Leon home. But since she had taken her two-door, lifted Jeep Wrangler, Claire got to be the hero and chauffeur Diane and Leon home.
Well, good for Claire. She was, after all, perfect in every other way. Why shouldn’t she also take care of Jake’s parents?
Setting her jaw, Emily jumped out of her Jeep just as Jake opened one of the Audi’s back doors.
“Take it easy,” he instructed his father. Jake held out his hand and then gingerly lifted Leon to his feet. “Let’s go through the garage so that we don’t have to climb the front steps.”
Claire looped her arm around Diane’s shoulders and led her to the garage, where she typed in the code and then walked her inside. Of course Claire knew the garage code. She most likely still had a key to the front door of this house—and Jake’s too.
“I’ll help you get organized before I go home,” Claire said. “I bet you’re famished after that long hospital stay. Would you like me to make you something to eat?”
Emily couldn’t hear Diane’s response, but she imagined Claire whipping up a four-course meal in a matter of minutes. And it would be delicious to boot. She shoved away her irritation and envy to focus instead on Jake, who was holding his father up while he limped toward the door that led from the garage into the house.
She hurried ahead of them and held the door open. “Can I help?”
Leon held out his left hand, and she assisted him while Jake nearly lifted him up the two steps. The three of them found Claire and Diane in the kitchen.
“Are you sure you’re not hungry?” Claire asked Jake’s mom.
“Thank you, honey, but I think Leon and I need rest more than anything.” She gave Claire a hug, and Emily hated herself for being jealous. “I appreciate your help.”
Claire gave her a sad smile. “I’m just grateful I could be here. I’ll come by tomorrow too.”
“Let me sit,” Leon grumbled.
Emily pulled out a chair, and Jake assisted his father as he sank down onto it.
