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“No. I’m not stranding you two here.” He stood and paced the small room, cursing under his breath when he whacked his knee on the corner of the bed frame.
“Greg, you’re going stir-crazy, and Addy is sound asleep. I can have TJ and Melissa pick us up. We’re planning to do dinner anyway.”
Greg stopped under the bright fluorescent hospital light, regarding Addy again, but he shook his head. “I’ll feel better if I get her home safe. I need to not feel like the fuck-up parent of the year. Just tell them to meet you back there.”
“Okay,” Natalie relented, even if his impatience was making her anxious. It was funny how even though Declan was organized and particular about his systems and routines, that structure gave her a sense of calm. He handled stuff without stressing out everyone around him. Unlike her ex-husband.
After shooting off a text to her brother, her phone rang, and she paused momentarily before recognizing the number. It was Declan’s agent. Sean had called on her drive to the hospital to explain how they would deal with the truck. He’d even offered to set her up with a rental car, which she assured him wasn’t necessary. But why was he calling again? Did they have trouble finding Declan’s truck? The parking lot was huge, but she’d told him exactly where to find it and had stuck the key in the wheel well like he’d instructed.
“Hello,” Natalie answered, wishing it was Declan on the other end of the line. She could use his steadiness at the moment.
“Hi, Natalie. I wanted to circle back.” Sean sounded all too chipper.
“Okay…did you have trouble finding the truck?”
“No, it’s at Declan’s place. I’m sending a car out for him and Chris tomorrow. But he’ll want an update when I call him back. So how’s your daughter?”
Wow.
Her spine stiffened. Addy shifted on her lap at the movement, so she ran a hand over her back in hopes of soothing her. But the action didn’t make Natalie feel better one bit. Declan asked for an update through his agent rather than calling himself?
Her heart lodged in her throat, and she swallowed hard.
Okay. That was it, then. She and Declan were over. How mad could she be? He’d been clear that he couldn’t have more. But still. She thought the connection between them had run deeper than most. But she couldn’t let herself be upset in this moment. Not when Sean was on the phone and she was in the room with Greg. When she was in the midst of an actual emergency. No, now wasn’t the time.
Sucking in a hard breath through her nose, she gave Sean a brief and to the point update and thanked him for his help before hanging up and focusing on her daughter.
She’d told herself not to get attached, but no matter how much she tried to ignore it, a part of her heart, one she’d kept locked away for so long and had only just shared with someone again, was crushed.
18
Declan reachedfor a dish towel to dry his hands. His Christmas with Chris had been everything Declan had hoped for. The two had worked on the Lego set Santa had gotten him. Then they’d had a snowball fight before coming inside to work on the lemon cake—which probably would have gone better with Natalie.
In reality, the entire day would have been brighter with Natalie around. He and Chris had finished dinner, and Declan was in the middle of washing the dishes when his phone rang. His excitement at the sound quickly vanished when he saw Sean’s name.
“Hey,” he said, answering the call.
“Everything’s taken care of.”
“What?” Declan asked.
“Truck is back at your place. You’ll have a car at the cabin tomorrow morning so you can drop him off with Lauren long before five. I even went so far as to get an update about Natalie’s daughter. She only needed a few stitches and she’s doing well.”
“Oh.” Declan swallowed hard. Nothing about this would be considered bad news. And his agent had done exactly what his job required—more in reality. And yet Declan wanted to reach through the phone and strangle him.
“You don’t sound happy. Was there something else you needed?”
“No, I don’t think so, but…” Declan ran his hand over his beard.
“Spit it out, Lowery.”
“Did she ask about me?” He winced, feeling stupid.
“Um—no.Why?”
Sean would dig in if he suspected something, so Declan better let it go.
“No reason. Thanks. Have a good night, Sean.”
