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“Clara’s in the hospital. I need to go.”
She nodded. “Okay. Let me get my shoes.”
“I don’t have time to wait. My sister needs me.”
She murmured a protest, but it was too late. I was already gone.
Chapter Forty
Saoirse
Idrovemyselftothe hospital, only a few minutes behind Luca.
But once I arrived, I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to be there for him more than anything, but he was so very mad at me. I wasn’t happy with him either, but I could forgive him because I knew he was hurting.
I texted Luca to let him know I had arrived then took a seat in the lobby and waited.
And waited.
At some point, I must have nodded off because something woke me up. A touch, or maybe a presence. It didn’t matter. When I opened my eyes, Luca was standing in front of me.
His scruff was thicker. His eyes were hollow and bloodshot. His clothes and hair were disheveled, which was so incredibly unlike him. He looked beautiful, though. Sad, but a sight for sore eyes, as he always was.
“Clara?” I croaked.
He nodded. “She has a concussion and fractured collarbone. She’s asleep and hasn’t met her daughter yet.”
I swallowed back my tears and focused on my relief. “And the baby?”
“In the NICU, but she looks good.” He cupped his nape. “You should go.”
I climbed to my feet, wishing he’d open his arms so I could walk into them. “I want to be here. If you guys need anything, I—”
“No, Saoirse. I’m not going to allow my family to get used to you being around when we both know it’s temporary.”
It hurt. The hard look in his eyes. The distance he forced between us. Weweren’ttemporary, even if he believed that right now. The way I loved him wasn’t going away. We owed each other a conversation, more than one, but it wasn’t going to happen now. Not when emotions were high and defenses were even higher.
“But I would like to help if I can. I can stay down here and be on call if a need arises. I won’t get in the way.”
“You’re not getting it.” Luca’s jaw flexed and rippled before he spat out five words that vaporized every ounce of my hope we could find a way through this, striking me to my core. “I don’t want you here.”
My heart lodged in my throat, so big, I couldn’t breathe more than a wisp of air. My mouth attempted to form a brave smile, but it probably looked insane. Luca wasn’t focused on me. His eyes were distant. Like I wasn’t there anymore.
He didn’t want me. Not here or anywhere.
“Okay,” I rasped. “I’ll go. Tell Clara congratulations for me when she wakes up.”
I hesitated for a beat, giving us both a chance to change our minds. Luca remained impassive and far, far away, and I couldn’t stay for another second.
I left without another word, charging through the lobby and out the front doors. I wasn’t looking where I was going and ran straight into someone heading inside. They caught me by the biceps, steadying me.
“Saoirse?”
I focused on the man in front of me. “Elliot. I’m—”
“You’re crying.”
“Am I?” I touched my cheeks, shocked to find them wet. I thought I’d been holding back my tears.
