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“What are you doing here?”
She sat up, straightened her legs, and swept her hand over her eyes. “We slid down the slide at the park and landed wrong. Ozzy’s arm… I’m waiting for Ozzy’s x-ray results, but he’s calmer now, so I think it’s likely a sprain. I hope it’s just a sprain.”
She looked like the mess I felt on the inside. Finding out your kid was hurt ached deep in a parent’s chest. And she was doing it all alone.
“Can I wait with you? This is Laila, my younger one.”
Her grateful eyes met mine. “Yeah, that would be nice.”
I texted Tiffany to meet me in the car and took a seat across from Laura. Laila stirred in my arms, relaxing into my hold. Her tummy had settled since this morning.
“You didn’t call Ozzy’s dad to the hospital?”
“He’s not present in our lives.”
“Didn’t work out?”
“One-night stands rarely work out.”
I winced at the jab.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”
“No need to apologize. When I met you, I honestly thought you’d be more than a one-night stand.”
Her large eyes grew wider.
“So you’re single.”
She sucked in her cheeks. “I like my life. It’s not easy, but you know how it is with kids. One moment you think your life is on track, and the next, your kid has a sprained wrist. I hope it’s just sprained. It could have damaged the growth plate. Every four seconds, a child is treated for an emergency.” She glanced down at the stroller.
I barely knew this woman, yet I’d felt she belonged with me from the moment we met in Colorado. I should have never let her go.
“What are you here for?” she asked.
“More bloodwork.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. It’s Kensi. My seven-year-old. She’s been sick for a while.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.” I cleared my throat. “I just found out Kensi needs a liver transplant.”
“Oh. I’m so sorry. That’s way worse than a sprained wrist. Sorry.”
“Only proves you right. One moment you’re tucking your little one into bed, and an hour later you wake up because they’re screaming in pain. It’s the worst when they hurt and you can’t do anything.”
“It is.”
Her eyes softened. She pulled her tongue along her cracked lips, and while I knew she was likely thirsty, it was the sexiest thing ever. Three years later, I still had it bad for her.
“You thirsty?” I secured Laila on my hip and crossed the hall to the vending machine. I punched in the codes as she called from behind.
“Can you get the dark orange chocolate as well? I stupidly skipped breakfast, and it’s already—”
“After dinner. Sure. Dark orange chocolate coming right up.”
