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Striker sat up, but stayed seated on the bed.
“Stuart, what are you doing here?” Aine asked.
“When I heard what happened, I caught the next plane back.” The man looked at Striker. “Could you give us a minute?”
“Aine?”
“It’s fine, Striker.”
“I’ll be right outside the door if you need me.”
18
Aine nodded and watched Stuart follow him, making sure the door was closed tight.
“I guess he’s a lot more than a friend after all.”
“I got some bad news,” she said, wishing she hadn’t. She wasn’t ready to talk to anyone other than Ava about what the doctor had told her.
Stuart sat in the chair by the bed. “What was it?”
“I know you’re angry—”
“What was the news, Aine?” he repeated, louder than necessary.
“Everything okay?” asked Striker, sticking his head inside the door.
“It’s okay,” Aine told him, and he closed the door. “What you saw was Striker comforting me.”
He leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees. “What was the news, Aine?”
She folded her arms, not appreciating that he was demanding she talk about something she obviously wasn’t ready to. Instead of answering, she scooted up straighter and pressed the button for the pain medication. She cleared her throat, giving herself another few seconds to be sure she wouldn’t regret what she was about to say.
“I won’t be able to have children, Stuart. The surgery…well, that’s what the doctor told me.”
“I see. I’m sorry, Aine.”
“I’m sorry too.” She waited for him to say something else, but he didn’t. “I’m very tired, Stuart. I think you should go.”
“I understand,” he answered as he stood. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“I appreciate it. I’m sorry you flew all the way back here.”
“I get that things aren’t going to work out with us, but it doesn’t change the fact that I care about you, Aine.”
“Thank you,” she murmured. “Goodbye, Stuart.”
“Goodbye, Aine,” he responded, turning and walking out of the room.
Striker came back in before the door closed. “That was quick.”
She shrugged her shoulders. “There wasn’t much to say.”
He sat down on the side of her bed. “Did you tell him what the doctor said?”
Aine nodded. “It’s for the best. Having a family is important to him.”
“He left because you can’t have children?”
