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The buzz of my phone stops her. She watches me pick it up from the edge of my chair. Truman’s name flashes on my screen. What the heck? He’s in Vegas; Ryle’s with his parents. Why would he be calling me? If it were about Ryle, it would be one of his parents calling.
I hold my breath as I tap the screen. I’ve never told Dani that seeing Truman’s name flash on my phone screen still gives me butterflies just the same way it always did.
“Hey.”
“Jules.”
He uses my nickname. I used to love it when he called me Jules, especially when he was kissing me. And then I hated it after we split up. He never quit calling me Jules, so I got used to it. Sort of. Though it still brings to mind things better left in the past.
But right now, he sounds a little panicked.
“What? What’s going on?”
“We’re at the hospital—”
“What?” I’m out of my chair faster than bikes out of the starting gate in a motocross. “What’s going on? Is Ryle okay? What happ—”
“Jules.”
I hear Truman take a breath. But his attempt to calm himself only makes my heart pound harder. Dani scrambles off her chair, sensing my rising panic. She gathers my purse and keys as I slide my bare feet into my sandals.
“What’s going on?” she says quietly as I take my keys from her. “Let me drive you.”
“Jules, it’s not Ryle.” Truman’s voice is firm, but he still sounds worried. Oh no. What if it’s Anthony or Lillian? What if his dad had a heart attack? What if— “It’s Harper.”
“Harper?” I yelp. “What happened to Harper?”
Dani’s still watching me, but she takes a step back now. I’m not close with Truman’s family, but I like them all. I care about them; and the thought of something happening to any of them makes me sick.
But now that I know Ryle is okay, my adrenaline rush has piqued, and I’ll crash from the let down soon.
“She had an accident. I just wanted—”
“I’m on my way,” I tell him. I lean toward Dani, kiss her cheek, and then throw a quick wave at Eric.
“You sure? You want me to drive you?” Dani whispers.
“I’m okay.”
“Let me know,” she says with a nod at my phone still pressed to my ear.
“Thanks.” I turn and hurry to my car. Even knowing that Ryle’s okay, I desperately need to get to the hospital and see for myself. I need to put my arms around my son and hold him.
And I need to make sure Harper’s okay.
In a perfect world, she would be my sister-in-law.
2
Truman
The waiting room is crawling with people; we’re all packed into a corner under the TV. I’ve never been into celebrity gossip, but tonight, the entertainment news show is getting under my skin. Ryle shifts on my lap. With his head on my shoulder, his breath is warm on my neck. He’s been out for a while now, and even knowing it’s going to mess up his schedule for Jules later, I let him sleep. The ER waiting room is no place for kids.
Harper’s mother-in-law met us here earlier when the ambulance first brought my sister in. She took Harper and Keith’s kids home with her. Keith and my mom are with Harper in the exam room, and Dad’s out here with me and Twain. It’s not that I don’t want Ryle around, but I know he’s bored and probably scared, and he would be better off with Jules.
That’s why I called her.
Even though I hated to do it.
