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“Sorry, I can’t do that as I don’t know where I’ll be coming from or even if I can make it.” I lean forward and for once have to force myself to kiss Jenny on the cheek, and to be polite I offer the same goodbye to Annalise.
Hitting my brother on his back in a manly hug, I hiss, “Tell her to stop or I won’t be joining you again.”
I step back and glance at them once more when there’s a loud crashing sound and the screech of a woman followed by cursing and more crashing.
We all turn to the sound and I feel as though I’ve been punched in the stomach when I spot Charlotte McKenzie, and hear her shout, “Call nine one one, she’s pregnant!”
Sirena?
“Let’s leave and give them more room,” William suggests, but I find myself moving closer and pushing through the patrons of the restaurant who obviously have nothing better to do than to watch a woman who needs help.
“Excuse me.” I finally push my way through and my heart stops. It is Sirena.
Dropping to the floor at her side, I wrap my arm around her and smile when she looks at me. “We really need to stop meeting under difficult circumstances.”
“Garrett,” she whispers.
“Yeah, honey, it’s me . . . Are you in pain?”
She shakes her head.
“You need to leave. I saw you at dinner and you’re with someone.” She looks at her sister and tries to move away from my touch, but I’m not going anywhere.
“She’s a blind date that my sister-in-law set up, against my wishes, I might add.” I refrain from mentioning how much Sirena has been on my mind since our meeting in the elevator and tightening my grip around her waist, I say, “Now stop being awkward and let me help you.”
She holds my gaze and I know she accepts my help as I feel her relax in my arms.
“An ambulance will be here soon,” Charlotte offers. “I should call Mom.” She bites her lip.
“No way,” Sirena refuses. “Please don’t call her. Her and Dad will have me moving in with them, which will only drive me crazy.”
Charlotte sighs. “I get it. Okay, I’ll hold off on calling the troops, but not for long.”
Sirena turns her head and rests against my chest as though she’s tired and wants peace. “Honey, are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m not in any pain, which I guess has to be good, but in truth I was tired before we came out to dinner.” Sirena follows her words by yawning. “Sorry, Charlotte, and Garrett . . .”
I shake my head and rest my chin on the top of her head. “Don’t be sorry.”
“Garrett?” Jenny questions, which brings me back to the reason why I’m in the restaurant to begin with. “Do you know this, um, girl?”
Sirena tries to move out of my arms but I’m not having any of it. “Stay.”
I turn and face Jenny, William, and Annalise. “Yes, I know Sirena. I’m going to stay with her.”
Conversation is abruptly broken off when the paramedics come racing inside. They crouch down on either side of Sirena so I try and move out of the way.
“No,” Sirena clutches at my shirt, “please stay with me.”
My heart thumps in my chest happy that she wants me to stay with her but it causes her sister to frown at us both.
By the time Sirena has been loaded into the ambulance the tech asks, “Who’s riding with her?”
I want to say that I am, but I don’t have that right—Charlotte does, and that makes me jealous and sad, which is stupid.
“He is,” Charlotte states and steps back. “I’ll meet you at the hospital.”
I’m momentarily stunned and then when I hear Jenny in the background hissing at William that I’m embarrassing them, I snap out of it and reach out for Charlotte. “Wait. Why?”
