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It was a whole hour later when Noon’s tardy text pinged through my phone. “I, ah, gotta go,” I said, standing and waving my phone in the air. “I’ve got a…thing.”
“Can’t your booty call wait another hour?” Jasper said, ribbing me playfully as he leaned into Cole.
“A gentleman never keeps a lady waiting,” I said. “Or a man, for that matter.” A sour taste filled my mouth when Franky’s silverware clattered to his plate. He wiped the corners of his mouth with his napkin but didn’t look at me.
“What’s your week look like, Cole?” I asked, hoping if I made an effort to get a guys’ night on the calendar that he’d let me slip out now without a fight.
“I’m free Wednesday evening,” he said.
“Okay. Wednesdays are slow. I should be able to get away from the bar early. Pencil me in.”
We said our goodbyes, and I didn’t release my held breath until I’d escaped into the muggy night air. I stopped at the corner of the busy intersection, spinning around to face the direction I’d come from, fighting against the urge to go back and collect the other piece of my soul.
I backed up a step, and then two, and then a few more. Car horns blared and pedestrians screamed for me to look out, but I didn’t take my eyes off the restaurant that still held the other half of my heart. Not until headlights blinded me, not until the sound of tires screeching deafened me. Not until a delivery van barreled down on me. Not until it was too late.
Chapter 33
Franklin
Seeing Noon’s hands on Leland didn’t inspire thoughts of violence the way it used to, but that didn’t mean I was okay with it.
“Should you be touching him?” I asked, returning to Leland’s hospital room with a hot cup of tea. “You might be unknowingly causing him pain.” I counted the seconds it took Noon to remove his lips from Leland’s forehead. If anyone’s forehead kisses were going to make Leland feel better, it would be mine.
“As opposed toknowinglycausing him pain?” he asked, his pointed jab perfectly aimed at my heart.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Cole asked in defense of me from where he stood at the foot of Leland’s bed. We were all on edge thanks to the argument he and Leland had been having before I’d decided to take a break from it to grab some tea.
“Enough,” Leland said. “I think I’d know if he was causing me pain.”
The vehicle he’d been struck by, mercifully, wasn’t going fast enough to cause any real damage. He’d suffered a few minor scrapes and bruises, and a fractured arm and leg. Nothing that a few weeks or so recuperating couldn’t fix. They’d kept him a couple nights for observation—something he was well enough to complain about during every waking hour.
“As I was saying,” Cole began.
“No,” Leland said. “My answer is still no.”
“You heard the doctor,” Cole said. “Your dominant arm has a fracture, and you’ve suffered a complex break in your left leg. Between the splint and cast, you’ll need round the clock assistance for at least the next four weeks. His words, not mine.” Cole jabbed a finger toward the door, to where Leland’s doctor was making his rounds somewhere on the other side of it.
“I don’t need you to take care of me,” Leland said, sending my son into a tailspin.
“You’re so damn stubborn,” Cole exclaimed, but Leland’s obstinance was unshakable.
“You can stay with us,” Noon said.
“No,” I said sharply, and everyone’s head snapped to me. I breathed through my irrational jealousy before giving a rational answer. “Noon’s got a new job and a wife. He doesn’t have the bandwidth to help you in the way you’ll need. And Cole has a company to run and a wedding to plan.”
“This is more important—” Cole tried, but I made a downward motion with my hand to calm him.
“I know, but pausing your life to take care of him isn’t necessary. Not when I’m retired and wouldn’t need to sacrifice anything to do it. He can stay with me until he’s back on his feet.”
“You shouldn’t have to—”
“I want to,” I assured Cole. “If he’s important to you, that makes him important to me.” I hated that I had to pretend I was doing my son a favor. I would take care of Leland because I wanted to. Because I loved him.
“I’ll hire a nurse,” Leland said, setting Cole’s rage on edge. Frustration and worry guided Cole, and I was sure Leland understood that.
“Brilliant idea,” Cole said dryly, “and I’ll pay for it, because we both know you can’t afford to right now.”
“No,” Leland barked, cursing when his splinted arm hindered his movements.
