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“I’ve been thinking,” she said.
“About what?”
“Maybe Zach and I aren’t meant to be.”
“Are you kidding me? What have we been working toward all this time?”
“I know.” She sighed. “And I appreciate all your help. Really, I do. But…” She took a deep breath. “Zach’s not in love with me.”
“So? Get the license and worry about love later.”
Angelina couldn’t believe what she was about to say. “I’m not sure I want that.” In her heart, she knew she spoke the truth.
Chelsea tapped her Prada-clad toes on the tile floor. “Suit yourself, then. I would have loved to have you for a sister-in-law.”
“Yeah, it would have been fun.” Though Angelina wasn’t sure she meant the words anymore. Was Chelsea truly that shallow? And had she, Angelina, been on the same road? “I’m still going to stick around and help Zach through this. I want him to know I’m here for him. That I care.”
Chelsea’s gaze wandered. She had clearly grown bored with the conversation. “Of course,” she said.
Angelina looked the other way, staring at the abstract art on the wall. All red with black splotches. Kind of the way she felt inside.
* * *
On the second night after his surgery, Dusty awoke in the chair next to Zach, her hand soaked with sweat from his. She scrambled to call the nurse, who came quickly.
“Please, you need to check his temperature. I think… I think his fever broke.”
“Looks that way.” The nurse smiled as she held the thermometer to Zach’s ear. “Ninety-nine point two. A little high, but I’d say it’s perfect.”
“Thank God, thank God.” Dusty buried her face in her hands.
“He’s going to be hungry when he wakes up,” the nurse said as she pulled down the sheet and removed Zach’s catheter. “It’s the middle of the night, but I think we should find some food for him. What does he like?”
“He likes meat and potatoes. Manly food.” Manly food for her manly man.
“I’ll see what I can do. In the meantime, I need to change his linens. These are soaked.”
“I’ll help you.”
“Oh, there’s no need.”
“Please, I want to.”
The nurse’s gaze fell to Dusty’s wringing hands. “Honey, the best thing for you right now would be to go home and get some sleep. You’ve been here nonstop.”
“I’m not leaving. At least not until he wakes up and I know he’s okay.”
The nurse shook her head, smiling. “He’s lucky to have you. You sure do love him, don’t you?”
Dusty nodded. Warmth flowed through her. “More than anything.” She pulled the corner of the sheet out from the mattress. “How exactly do we…?”
“He’s a big one, isn’t he?” The nurse tidied Zach’s end table. “Maybe it’d be better if we wait until he wakes up. He’ll probably feel like getting up. That’ll make it easier.”
At that moment, Zach’s eyelids fluttered. Dusty sat down on the edge of the bed and took his hand. “Hey.”
“Hey.” His voice was hoarse and raspy. “Thirsty.”
The nurse poured a cup of water and held it to Zach’s lips. He took a few shallow sips. The nurse excused herself to see to his food.
