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My father studies me for a moment longer before his gaze softens, and I can finally take a full breath. But the knot in my stomach remains tight.
A pang of guilt wrenches my insides, twisting and tearing as I remember our unspoken father-daughter pact: always be honest with each other. With every heartbeat, the knot in my stomach tightens.
“Thanks for helping her, Grayson,” my father says, nodding at him. “I appreciate it.”
“Of course. That’s what friends are for,” Grayson replies, his smile warm yet guarded.
My heart races as I watch their exchange, the weight of my secret bearing down on me like an anchor. Then Dad’s gaze turns to me.
“Always looking out for others, huh, sweetheart?” he finally says, his lips curling into a warm smile. Relief washes over me in waves as he affectionately ruffles my hair. “That’s my girl.”
“Don’t embarrass me, Dad,” I manage to choke out, feeling the guilt gnawing at my insides.
“Here, Conrad,” Dad says, handing him the bouquet of flowers he picked up on the way. “How are you holding up?”
“Better now that everyone’s here,” Conrad replies, his voice uncharacteristically soft. They exchange words about the situation, but my attention drifts to Grayson and Levi.
I watch as Grayson’s shoulders slump ever so slightly, the tension draining from his body. His relief mirrors my own. I catch Grayson’s eyes, and there’s a flicker of urgency in them. He seems to want to say something, but with my father standing so close, it’s impossible for us to speak freely. I can only offer him a small nod, silently promising we’ll find a moment to talk later.
My attention drifts back to Conrad and my father as they continue their conversation. Their voices are low, and I strain to hear what they’re discussing.
“Excuse me,” a doctor interrupts, stepping into the room with an air of authority that makes everyone pause. “I’m sorry to inform you that it will be a few more hours before Ms. York can have visitors.”
“Of course,” Conrad says, disappointment crossing his face. “Thank you for letting us know.”
The doctor nods and leaves, the door clicking shut behind her, leaving an unsettled silence in her wake.
“Guess we’ll be here for a while,” Grayson murmurs, rubbing at the tension in his neck.
“Better get comfortable,” Levi adds, his gaze locked onto mine as he speaks.
“Look,” Conrad starts, shifting in his seat. “I know it’s late, and you all have your own lives to get back to. You don’t have to stick around.”
“Are you kidding?” Levi snorts, crossing his arms defiantly. “We’re not going anywhere.”
“Levi’s right,” Grayson chimes in. “You’re our friend, Conrad. We’ll stay here with you.”
“Unfortunately, I won’t be able to stay very long,” my father says, checking his watch. “I have an important meeting I need to get to. I wish I could drop you off at home, sweetheart, but I can’t afford to lose any more time. I just wanted to quickly stop by.”
“Don’t worry about it, Jim,” Grayson interjects, stepping forward confidently. “I can take Brielle home. It’s no trouble.”
“Grayson, are you sure?” he asks.
“Positive,” he replies, his gaze unwavering. “You don’t need to worry about anything.”
“Thank you, Grayson,” my father says, placing a hand on his shoulder as relief washes over his face. “I appreciate it.” He looks at me with a small smile.
He hesitates, then reaches out to put a hand on my shoulder. “Brielle, I know we haven’t spent much time together recently,” he says with a sigh. “I miss our dinners and talks. Once things settle down, how about we have a father-daughter night soon?”
“Of course, Dad,” I reply, forcing a smile onto my face despite the turmoil inside me. “I’d like that.”
“Great.” He beams, squeezing my shoulder gently before stepping back. His eyes flicker over Conrad, Levi, and Grayson, and for a moment I fear he’s going to say something else—something that will reveal the truth. But instead, he just nods at them, offering a half smile before turning toward the door.
“Take care of her, boys,” he says, and then he’s gone, leaving me alone with the three men who’ve turned my world upside down.
25
CONRAD
