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Walking to the sink, she turned on the tap and let cold water cool the skin, inspecting the pink area. She saw only a surface burn but unfortunately that didn’t ease the pain.
“You OK?”
“I’m fine.” The cool water helped. “Now, why did you call to tell me about one of Jared’s patients?”
“Like I said, I’m worried about him.” He hesitated. “I’ve never seen him so upset over a patient. He feels responsible for Connie’s death and, just like with Laura’s accident, he’s blaming himself.” Another hesitation. Very unlike her brother. “I thought you might go to his place and check on him.”
Chelsea’s heart squeezed. “You’re kidding?”
“Why?”
“Because you’ve done everything you can to keep me away from Jared since I got here. I can’t believe you’d intentionally have me go anywhere near him.”
“Have I?” He considered her accusation as if the thought had never occurred to him, which she knew it had. The fink. “If I’d wanted to keep you away from him, I’d never have agreed to you coming to work at the clinic.”
“Huh?”
Will gave a big sigh. “I know something happened between you two that spring break.”
“I had a crush on him, that’s all.”
“He was so wrapped up in Laura during that time, but you got to him. Still do.”
Will was asking her to go and check on Jared, telling her Jared was interested in her.
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I care about you both and any fool can see he still gets to you, too.”
Chelsea had no more
than hung up the phone when a knock sounded at her door. Not a very loud one and she could almost convince herself she’d imagined the noise.
Except she knew she hadn’t.
“Who’s there?” she asked, before releasing the safety chain. Although she was afraid to get her hopes up, she had a pretty good idea of who stood on the other side.
“Jared.”
Her heart beat a rapid tattoo in her chest, making breathing difficult. Jared had come to her. Of his own free will. Maybe her brother was right. Maybe she did get to Jared. With shaky fingers she released the catch and opened the door.
Any joy she felt that he’d come to her faded the moment she saw him. He looked awful.
She stepped back, allowing him entrance, wanting to convey her sorrow at his loss, to let him know she understood and was there for him.
Only he stood on the stoop, staring at her with hollow eyes. “I’m not sure why I’m here.”
“Jared.” She sought the right words and didn’t find them. “Come in.”
Which couldn’t have been the wrong words because with only a moment of hesitation he came inside.
“Sit down,” she suggested, feeling self-conscious about the gym shorts and T-shirt she’d changed into after arriving home.
His gaze touched on the sofa but he didn’t move, just stood a few feet from her with his hands shoved in his pants’ pockets. He looked like a lost little boy.
She couldn’t stand the ache in his eyes, the aloneness that permeated him. Whatever his reasons, he’d come to her. She cared too much to ever turn him away, not when he needed her. Whether he acknowledged that need or not.
She reached out, touched his hand, and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Will called me.”
