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For some reason, his cockiness in this time of need puts a smile on my face. It’s how I am when I’m playing baseball—confident and self-assured. Those are good traits for a doctor.
“But you’ll have to leave for a while. When your parents get here make sure the nurse calls me.”
I put my hands on my knees and nod. “I love you, Joe. I’m sorry.” The doctor’s brow furrows. He probably thinks I was driving.
When I reach the waiting room, I’m stunned to see Archer walking toward me and surrounding me with his arms. I think I hear the word sorry. God, I hate that word. We throw it like a baseball around the diamond. What’s he sorry for? I’m the only one who should be sorry. I am and I can’t live with myself.
“Where’s Adalee?”
I shrug and my voice comes out rough. “Ginger’s room, I guess.”
He steps back, placing both hands on my shoulders. “Look at me.”
But I can’t, it’s like looking into a mirror. And I feel like I’ve aged enough tonight to be him. Now I know how Mr. Summers felt when his wife died. Grief is an albatross around your neck. I’m just like her dad. I can’t deal with this.
His voice becomes firmer. “Joe needs you to be strong.” Archer takes me outside. “What’s going on?”
I walk around the small courtyard, searching for the words to explain. “Adalee’s dad is in the hospital too,” I say as Archer’s eyebrows rise. “I called him and set up Thanksgiving tonight with Adalee. He didn’t show and then Ginger called Adalee. I walked down the hall looking for Joe and saw a door withSummerson it. All of this is my fault. I need to go. I can’t be here.”
“Does Adalee know?” he asks as pulls me back into his chest. “It’ll work out. But you have to tell Adalee. Text her now and tell her to meet you out here. Then I’ll take you home.”
I take out my phone and text her, asking her to meet. A few minutes pass, and I see my soon-to-be ex-girlfriend exiting the automatic doors. Archer slaps my shoulder. “Be honest, that’s all you can do.” Suddenly, she steps into our orbit, and my stomach crashes. My brother gives me a head nod before saying, “Adalee, thanks for calling me. Luckily I was in Cincinnati for a meeting tomorrow.”
She nods as Archer goes inside. I sense her frustration as she crosses her arms over her chest.
“Why haven’t you answered my texts?”
I run my fingers through my hair, but when she tries to do the same, I jerk away. Something is lodged in my throat, keeping me from speaking.
Shame. Guilt.
“Hagan, I know you’re worried. We all are.”
I snap. “He has a brain bleed. So yeah, I’m worried.”
She takes a step back, gasping as one hand flies to cover her mouth. “Ginger doesn’t know. Does his family know?”
I shake my head. “I pretended to be his brother.” I hand her the doctor’s card. “When they get here, tell them to call this number right away.”
“What do you mean? You’re not leaving,” she says, seeing the grimace on my face. “Why?”
“Because you won’t want me here when you find out what I’ve done.”
She places her hands on my chest, and her palms burn through my clothes. I love this woman so much, but I know this is the last time she’ll touch me. I shut my eyes, breathing in the sensation of her final touch. Gently, I wrap my fingers around her wrists and come clean. “I invited your dad here for Thanksgiving dinner. I was irritated that he was later than we were. But he’s here. He caused the accident that’s put our best friend in a fight for his life. It’s all my fault.”
Nothing can stop the waterfall of tears on my cheeks. At first, her head turns in confusion, then her hands squirm away from my hold, and I know it’s over. How can one decision to help the person you love change the whole trajectory of your life?
ChapterThirty-Nine
Adalee
“How long haveyou known my dad was here in this fucking hospital? Tell me.” I push my hands against his chest. For someone that doesn’t curse, I’m throwing around the F-bomb a lot tonight. “Is he hurt too? Will he be okay?”
He wipes his tears, but they keep coming. Seeing Hagan cry is gut wrenching, but I’m not sure I can take it tonight. He finally chokes out, “I sat with him for an hour. They took him for tests but based on his bloodwork, they don’t think it’s anything major. I’ve been in Joe’s room the rest of the night.”
“And you thought it was fine to leave me in the dark about my dad?”
He mumbles, “I’m sorry.”
