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She didn’t know what she expected to see, but the sight of him sitting up in bed with a smile wasn’t it. Part of her wondered if she had dreamed the whole breakup.
“It’s good to see you,” he said with a slight edge to his voice. It was all the confirmation she needed that the meeting was awkward and uncomfortable for both of them.
“You too.” Her feet glided toward him of their own accord, like a magnetic force was pulling them together. Or a moth to a destructive flame.
If she wasn’t careful, she was going to get burned… again. He didn’t give her a chance to react before he reached for her hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Warning bells went off in her head as the warmth that spread up her arm was too much, and she pulled away. There was no missing the disappointment in his eyes.
She cleared her throat. “How’ve you been?”
“Better, actually.” He patted the space beside him, but she shook her head. Things were different between them, and she needed to maintain physical distance if she had any hope of preserving her sanity.
“That’s good.”
“Yeah,” he continued as if he couldn’t bear the awkward silence any more than she could. “Dr. Myers is supposed to come by today and talk to my doctors here.” A wry smile pulled on his lips. “I might be released by the end of the week.”
She blinked. “That soon?”
His face fell. “I’m not sure I’d call it ‘soon’ after being stuck here for a couple of weeks, but I’ve improved immensely.” His hazel eyes flicked to hers before he returned to pointedly staring at a loose thread on his blanket. “So I’ll be leaving with full support from my medical team.”
“This time,” she said without thinking.
He pressed his lips together. “Yes, this time.”
His chest rose and fell as he took a deep breath, and she braced herself for a subject change.
“How are the wedding cancellations going?”
Warmth crept up her neck and into her cheeks, and she bowed her head to hide it. Ever since the night Lanie had stopped by, she’d avoided anything wedding related. Carissa had been blowing up Rose’s phone, likely having heard the wedding was off through the town’s gossip mill. But she didn’t want him to know about her hesitation. It might give him the wrong idea. Should I lie and say I’ve already canceled everything?
“I’m sorry I can’t help with that,” Steven said, his voice sincere enough to make her look at him. “And I’m sorry that it’s… necessary.”
So he didn’t know. Good. It was better that way. No need to get his hopes up that she had changed her mind.
A heaviness settled in her body. On the one hand, she was relieved he seemed to have accepted her decision. It would make their visit more pleasant if she didn’t have to worry about defending her choice. But on the other hand, a part of her felt cheated. After all they’d been through, he wasn’t even going to fight for her.
I’m not some damsel in distress. I don’t need a man to want to be with me.
While the truth of those words reverberated through her, a tiny voice inside questioned whether her disappointment was about needing him to fight or wishing he wanted her enough to do so.
“Rose?” he prompted. “Are you still with me?”
“Uh, yes, sorry,” she stammered. “I have a few things to take care of, but I’ve almost canceled everything.” The lie almost caught in her throat, but she forced it out.
“That’s news to me,” a voice said from behind her. When she turned, her stomach dropped to the floor as she saw Lanie leaning against the doorframe.
Rose shot Lanie a pleading look. “I haven’t had an opportunity to tell you.”
“And it’s probably going to be news to the catering staff at The Muddy Oar,” Lanie continued, her tone cool. “They asked me to request that you call them the next time I see you. Seems they’ve been having a time getting in touch with you.”
Rose’s mouth went dry. Her gaze vacillated between Steven and Lanie as she thought fast. Things had been going so well, but if he found out she hadn’t canceled their wedding, it might give him false hope.
“They’re next on my list.” Play along, Rose silently begged Lanie.
Steven’s face fell the slightest bit, confirming to Rose that he’d held some hope they could mend things. But his sister’s eyes glinted with suspicion.
“I see.” Though from her tone, it sounded like Lanie didn’t believe her at all. “Anyway, I stopped by to drop off some homemade cookies.” She pushed past Rose and set them on Steven’s bedside table before kissing his forehead.
