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“What about Remi?”
“Of course, I still want to be part of her life. No matter what happens.”
I reached a hand across the table to wrap around his, my eyes flooding with tears. “Of course. She adores you.”
“We can wait to file until she’s done with treatment, and I’ll make sure she stays on my insurance. Of course, Chase is loaded, so I don’t think money will be an issue.” His voice was thick and tight. “I can see he wants to take care of her, and he can maybe save her life where I am powerless to help.”
My heart swelled with love and admiration for this man. “You’ve given her so much. You gave her your love.”
“I couldn’t help it. In my heart, she’s my child, too.”
A tear rolled down my face and I squeezed his hand. “I know. I owe you everything, Jensen. I can’t ever repay you. Especially for how you are with Remi.”
“She’s a gift. That’s how I’m always going to think about this time with her.”
“You’re a gift to both of us, and there will be more time. We have to pray she’ll recover enough to have this transplant and it will cure her cancer. I love you, Jensen.”
“I know, but not the way you love Chase. If I’m honest with myself, I knew you never would. I just hoped, I guess.”
I sniffed knowing I couldn’t deny it and I didn’t want to hurt him more by lying. I let go of his hand and reached for a napkin from the container on the table. If I let myself, I’d be full on sobbing. Instead, I dabbed at my eyes and concentrated on not crying.
“Can we keep this between us? Chase’s girlfriend is in town and I’d rather not stir the pot.”
“Aren’t you going to tell him that you want to be with him?” he asked incredulously? “He’s been in your head and heart this whole time, Teagan.”
I shook my head, sadly. “I’ve already screwed up both of your lives so badly. I don’t have the right to keep doing that. If he’s happy now, I want that for him. Just like I want it for you. Just—please? I don’t want him to trash his relationship in an impulsive moment. Can we keep the divorce between us, please? I’ll tell him if I feel the time is right, but our focus is getting our baby better, first.”
“Okay. Remi first,” Jensen agreed, somberly.
“Yes. Remi first.”
My heart knew Chase would agree.
CHASE
A sick feeling of dread hung over me at the coming meeting between Bronwyn and Teagan.
“Do you know what room she’s in?” Bronwyn asked.
We took a cab back to the hospital after I’d had a quick shower and change of clothes, and she was walking beside me through the hospital. I felt an obvious distance between us, but she tried to compensate for it by clinging to my hand. I knew why I felt this way, but I also knew I shouldn’t. There should be no guilt involved regarding Teagan, no worry about her feelings, and I should be more considerate of Bronwyn, but instead, I felt withdrawn from her.
“Yes,” I stated simply, not telling her that Teagan had texted it to me fifteen minutes earlier. “It’s late. You didn’t have to come.”
“Of course, it might be awkward for a moment, but you don’t have to worry about me, Lovie. I can handle Teagan.”
I stopped mid-stride, pulling my hand free of hers and stopping her by grabbing her elbow and turning her to face me. “Look, don’t turn this into a confrontation. Teagan is fragile right now and she doesn’t need any more stress.”
Bronwyn looked up at me, with a shocked look on her face. “You’re still doing it.” Disgust laced her voice. “You’re still protecting her after everything she's done to you?”
I huffed. If I had to deal with this every second, it wasn’t going to go well. I was stressed, Teagan was stressed, and the last thing I needed was more agitation. “This isn’t about me and Teagan. Remi almost died tonight. Don’t you get that?”
Her hand reached out to flatten on top of my chest, and her expression softened. “Yes, but I can’t help feeling defensive, Ace. I mean, you came back tonight with your face a mess and blood all over your shirt.”
“That was just old anger working its way out.” I started walking again, not liking where the conversation was going.
“Was it?” Bronwyn fell into step beside me, her stiletto heels clicking obnoxiously on the tile floor. I was skeptical about why she’d chosen this occasion to change her dress code. Maybe it was unfair, but I was annoyed.
“Yep.” My jaw set as I reached forward and pushed the elevator button. “Jensen and I worked it out. We’re fine.”
