Words have never tasted so bitter.
She steps away as I ease into the back seat, pulling the door shut before I lose the battle with my willpower.
CHAPTER
EIGHT
ASPEN
Watching Emmett pull away from the hospital is surreal. I knew it was coming. Hell, we said goodbye yesterday when I got called away.
Usually, I’m ecstatic for patients to be released.
And don’t get me wrong; Iamhappy for him.
Being here was crushing his soul, and those moments we were outside yesterday he was a new man.
But selfishly, it feels like a loss for me. And that’s never happened before.
There’s so much I don’t know about him. So much I could learn from him. And now I’ll never get the chance.
Emmett is a take-it or leave-it kind of guy. He doesn’t care whether people like him.
On the other hand, the idea of someone not liking me makes my stomach flip.
There’s something freeing about the way he just . . . is. Like my brothers, in a sense. A little more blunt about it, but sure of himself all the same.
I want that for myself . . . so, so badly.
I can already feel the sense of steadiness his presence brought with him slipping through my fingertips. Like witnessing it gave me permission to do the same.
My cheeks heat at how naive that seems now. I blame it on being an empath who cares too much.
Our lunch was filled with my fears and doubts—things I’ve never even shared with my closest friends.
Now, we’re out of time. And I’m stuck with the notion that it wasn’t just me who needed this. It was him too.
I’m tired. Tired of being the family fixer. Tired of being the one everyone depends on to pick up extra shifts. Arms that carry things I shouldn’t have to just to avoid burdening someone else.
I need a break.
Taking a deep breath, I turn away from the van disappearing around the corner and head toward my car. My toes drag over the cracked asphalt, and somehow I’m emptier and heavier than a moment ago.
With each step, I remind myself to be grateful he accepted help from Care Management—that he’s going home to recover.
Wherever home is, I hope he’s not as alone there as he was here. Ineedto believe that him leaving is for the best.
Eager to put distance between myself and the hospital, I dig in the pocket of my shorts for my keys.
My hand comes up empty.
“Of course.”
I look back at the hospital. I don’t want to go back inside for so many reasons.
They’ve got to be in the conference room.
I’d been about to leave the retirement party when Jeremiah walked in and started a conversation I didn’t want to have. My convenient excuse to stop by the hospital and maybe catch Emmett one last time before his discharge suddenly felt like a trap.
