If only I’d left the bar and gone straight to his house.
If only I’d told him how I felt.
Then none of this would have happened.
The tubes taped to the back of my hand slap my cheek when I shove my greasy hair off my face.Willow and Lola should be here soon with an update on how things are going at Mugs.With Willow acting as interim manager, and Lola cat-sitting, all my responsibilities outside this hospital are covered.
Rest and recover.
That’s my job now.
Too bad it doesn’t keep me busy enough to stop my mind from running around in circles.
I close my eyes and let out a breath.
A throat clears, and I open them again, glancing toward the doorway.
This concussion must be messing with my brain.Ethan can’t possibly be here.He went back to Philadelphia.
Green eyes meet mine and widen as the hallucination steps into the room, a small box clutched in his large hands.His shirt is wrinkled, his hair stands up at the back, and he has dark circles beneath his eyes.Still, he’s never looked so handsome.
My voice comes out croaky.“What are you doing here?”I try to sit up, but the angle of the bed makes it almost impossible.
He drags one of the pleather chairs over from the wall and settles into it.“I was in the area.Thought I’d swing by.”His lips twitch into an almost-smile.
Was that a joke?Man, I must’ve hit my head harder than I thought.“Since Philadelphia is just around the corner,” I tease back.
Warmth flickers in his eyes, but then his deep frown returns.“Willow called me.”
How is that possible?“How did she get your number?”
“She asked the guy who sold Mom and Dad the house if he could ring them and get my contact details.”
Yet another reason to love this town.If something needs to be done, these folks will find a way.
He reaches for my hand, smoothing his thumb over my pale fingers.“I was so worried about you.”
“I’m fine.”
His expression hardens.“Fine?Chloe, you’re in a fucking cast.”
“Am I?I didn’t notice?”Just kidding.My arm beneath the white plaster itches like crazy.How am I supposed to live with this thing for six weeks?
Ethan barely breaks a smile.
Tough crowd.
I nod at the box strangled in his fist.“Is that for me?”
“Yeah.I was in a bit of a rush to get here, but when I saw it in the gift shop, I knew I had to get it for you.”
I flip the box open.Inside it sits a lemon-yellow mug with a big smiley face on it.
My lips curl up.My new favorite.
“It’s perfect,” I say, gulping back a lump in my throat.“I love it so much.”
Not as much as I love you.
