Page 50 of Protecting Salvation

“Hey, Pey, you left us.”

She smiled and turned but kept her eyes on the car as it drove away. “Yeah, I thought you guys should have a minute.”

“Look.”

Peyton looked at the black-and-white image as Aoife and Bram proudly pointed out every little detail. “I’m so happy for you guys.”

At that moment Bram’s phone went and he stepped away to answer it, leaving the two friends alone, although close enough for Bram to keep an eye on them. Not that a lot could happen in the hospital carpark.

“Thank you, Pey. I’m not sure we’d be here without you.”

Aoife’s eyes filled and Peyton hugged her friend. “You would. You’re strong and you would’ve found a way.”

“Maybe, but I might not have met Bram if not for you.”

Peyton pulled away. “You would. You two were destined.”

“What about you and Hurricane?”

“I love him, Aoife, but I’m not sure if our story will have the same happy ending. His diagnosis leaves things up in the air. I want to be there for him but I’m not sure he’ll let me.”

“Has he said that?”

“No, and everything is great but I know he’s hiding his symptoms from me and playing everything down. If he can’t trust me with that maybe I’m not what he needs.”

“You are, Peyton. He’s happier than I’ve ever seen him and all the guys agree. Are you happy?”

“Happiest I can ever remember. He’s just everything I could ever dream of. He makes me feel everything.”

“Then just be happy and let it play out. I love you, Peyton, but you have a habit of overthinking things.”

“A good trait in a therapist.”

“And a friend sometimes but not if you want to be happy. You’ve spent so many years worrying about others, how about you just enjoy the moment and put yourself first?”

“Okay.”

“Good.”

Aoife hooked her arm and they walked over to Bram as he hung up. “We gotta go. Hurricane and Lotus are meeting us at your place, Peyton.”

Alarm twisted in her belly at the way he spoke and the sudden tension in his shoulders. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, but we should go.”

He was suddenly looking around himself like he was on high alert and she followed his lead, happy he’d picked her up from her place and she didn’t have to get home alone.

Warren wasin the drive waiting when they got there and he hurried over to her and dragged her into his arms. “What’s wrong.”

He ushered her inside, his eyes moving around as if looking for something. “Inside and we’ll talk.”

Peyton followed his lead to find Lotus and Titan waiting in her kitchen. Bram had Aoife on his lap as they sat on one of her kitchen chairs.

“So?”

“That woman you were speaking to in the carpark just now. Who is she?”

Peyton glanced around at the worried faces as if waiting for the other shoe to drop. “A client.”