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“Thank you.” I’m too stunned by all this to say anything more; then again, what more is there to say?
“Could you do me a favor?” she says before she leaves. “I hate to ask you this because you’ve already been so gracious to me, but if you ever get the chance . . . if it ever comes up in conversation someday . . . could you tell Dorian that I still love him? And that I always will?”
My eyes turn hot, and I blink away the threat of tears.
“Sure,” I say, though I imagine I’m the last person Dorian would want to talk to about that topic.
On that note, Audrina’s gone, her long legs striding toward the elevator bay outside the waiting room. From here, I watch her step inside, her eyes glued to the floor, and in the seconds before the doors close, I swear I see her swipe a tear away.
That woman could have anyone she wants.
Anyone in the world.
And she wants Dorian.
I knew he was special when we first met, but learning I’m not the only one who feels that way is the gut punch I wasn’t expecting today.
I wallow in my thoughts for a few more minutes before Burke appears in the doorway. He scans the room until he spots me, then makes his way to the chair beside me—the exact one Audrina sat in just moments ago.
“How’s he doing?” I ask.
Despite the fact that I’m displeased with his lies, I’m not heartless.
He slumps back, his fist half covering his mouth, and then he exhales.
“He’s gone,” Burke says.
I begin to say something before I realize what he said.
“Oh, Burke.” I place my hand on his arm—a knee-jerk reaction—and offer him some comfort. Comfort he hasn’t needed and arguably doesn’t quite deserve. “I’m so sorry.”
When the nurse came out earlier to grab Nicola, there was a sense of urgency about the whole thing, but I didn’t expect this.
At least, not so soon.
“You doing okay?” I ask after a bout of silence.
He sniffs, though there aren’t any tears, so I don’t think he’s crying.
“Yeah,” he says.
“What can I do?” Sitting here makes me feel useless. I can’t imagine that going to the room is an option, but what wouldn’t I give to throw my arms around Dorian and offer him my heartfelt sympathies—even if he doesn’t want them?
Burke straightens his posture, and I release my hand from his forearm.
“How did Audrina know we were here?” He angles his head my way, his eyes pointed and dark. “Nic and Dorian claim they didn’t tell her. Dashiell doesn’t have her number, and he’s not on social media. The staff at Driftway are all under strict NDAs. You were the only other person who knew.”
His father just died, and this is what plagues him right now?
“It was me,” I say, “but before you get upset, please hear me out.”
His stoic, unreadable expression is unnerving, but nevertheless, I continue.
“You know when we went into town? And we had cell service?” I ask. “I messaged her on Instagram. I told her I was your fiancée and that I was worried you were still in love with her.”
Burke leans forward, his elbows on his knees and his head in his hand. “For fuck’s sake, Briar. Why the hell would you do that?”
“Because I thought I was . . . I don’t know . . . reuniting you with the one that got away?” I shrug. “You were always looking at pictures of her on your phone—I just thought—I don’t know—I thought you were brokenhearted, and I thought I could help.”
He pinches his nose before sitting straight again and rubbing his palms on the tops of his thighs.
“I’m sorry,” I say. They say the worst thing you can do is justify an apology with an excuse, so I’ll leave it at that.
“You didn’t mention our”—he scans the room before leaning closer—“arrangement, did you?”
“Of course not.”
He studies me as if he’s some sort of human lie detector all of a sudden.
“I would never,” I say. Voice low, I add, “Why didn’t you tell me she’s the one who dumped you? That she was with Dorian first? That she still loved—”
“Because none of that was any of your concern.”
“You didn’t have to make up a story about some stupid dating app. You lied to me.”
“I’m not discussing this with you.” He rises from Audrina’s chair, turning to face me. “If you don’t mind, I just lost my father. I’m going to be with my father. And you should come with me, seeing as how you’re my fiancée.”
The jig isn’t up simply because Redmond’s gone.
I imagine I’m still obliged to play this part until he collects his portion of the Rothwell inheritance.
I follow Burke to the ICU, and we stop in the hall outside Redmond’s room, where Nicola, Dashiell, and Dorian are huddled.
