Page 91 of Sterling Stone

“You okay?” Stone asks, watching me.

I swipe under my eye, uncertain where the sudden threat of tears is coming from. Maybe relief Trudy is home. Definitely joy that Simon will be back. Perhaps, a small pinch of concern that I’m grounded.

But the longer I stare at my van, I don’t feel the itch to hop in her and drive off. Don’t feel the need to disappear before I’m forgotten.

Glancing at Stone, I’m equally overwhelmed by his kindness. He’s done so much for me.

“I’m good,” I whisper, realizing the words are true. I’m scared about the recovery path ahead for Trudy and how I’ll be able to best help her, but I’m also better than I’ve felt in a long time.

Like I just might belong . . . for a little while longer.

Stone pulls me into his strong arms and rests his head on mine a second. “Gloria. Good surprise or bad?”

“Amazing surprise, but how did you do it? And how much did it cost?” I’m living on a starving artist’s budget. Towing a van across several state lines must have cost a fortune.

“Don’t worry about it,” he murmurs before kissing my forehead. With his arm looped around me, he turns me toward Trudy’s front door, and I stiffen.

“What?” he asks, running his hand down my spine.

“I just . . .” I glance toward the front door and back at him. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to get away anytime soon. I can’t really leave Trudy yet. And Simon. Which means I can’t spend the night with⁠—”

Stone holds up a hand to stop me. “I’m not going anywhere. And neither are you.”

It’s not a statement as much as a question without the modifier.

For now.

I’m not going anywhere for now. And I’m realizing as much as I’ve been worried about people leaving me behind, I’m equally as guilty of leaving them.

“I also don’t want to confuse things,” I add.

Stone tilts his head, confused.

“I mean, we said we were dating, but I don’t know how public I want to be about that right now. How public I can be about it.”

Stone licks his lips and chews the lower one. His hands land on his hips, and he glances toward the street.

“Think a few people might already know something’s going on. I’ve been at the hospital every night to pick you up and there every morning to drop you off.”

“I know, but . . .” I dig my teeth into my lip.

“You saying goodbye to me already?” His face hardens, his eyes narrowing. His tone isn’t demanding but hesitant. Cautious.

“No!” My response is a tad loud, and I don’t recognize the panic in it. Holding out my hands, I reach for his chest. “No. Just putting us on pause, I guess. I can’t be at your house every night, and I don’t know when I’ll see you again.”

“Like I said, I’m not going anywhere.” He glances past me toward Trudy’s front door. “Just don’t shut me out. Please.”

Don’t leave without saying goodbye.

Something inside me breaks a little. Sensing this man has some of the same fears I do. He doesn’t want to be left behind any more than me. He doesn’t want to be abandoned.

The fear in his eyes and the honesty in his voice has me wrapping my arms around his middle and leaning my head against his chest. Beneath my cheek, his heart races.

“I won’t.” My mama didn’t give me a proper goodbye. His mother surely couldn’t say goodbye with her sudden passing. I’d never do that to him. I’d never close the door on him.

And I don’t even want to think about goodbyes.

Stone presses a kiss to the top of my head and rubs his hand up my back one more time, but he doesn’t hold onto me. Doesn’t cling to me like he does while we sleep.