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His gut clenched at her question, a question that hung in the air for a long minute.
"I hope you figure it out before it's too late," Hannah added.
After delivering that parting shot, she left the room.
His heart thudded against his chest, her question making him look at feelings he'd been trying to ignore. He'd never been in love, but the way he felt about Chloe was different from anything he'd ever felt before. And Leo…
He looked down at the sleeping boy and felt another overwhelming rush of emotion. It felt like love. But he couldn't give Chloe the life she wanted, and she couldn't give him the life he wanted.Where did that leave them?
The question was still running around his head when Chloe returned with two cups of coffee and an assortment of chips, cookies, and candy that had apparently come out of a vending machine.
"Looks like you scored." He liked that she didn't look as pale or stressed as she had before.
"I didn't eat dinner, and I wasn't sure you had, either. There is a cafeteria with healthier options, but I didn't want to take the time."
"I can check it out for you later."
"It's fine. I'm not really hungry, anyway." She handed him a coffee and put the rest of the snacks down on the side table. "Did he wake up at all?"
"No. He seems to be sleeping peacefully."
She blew out a breath. "Thank God. He's never been this sick before. I didn't know what to do."
"You did everything right. Hannah stopped in. She said Leo was doing good. She checked with the nurses, so she had firsthand information. She's going to come by when her shift is up."
"That's good to hear. Hannah is great in a crisis. She calmed me down when we got here. She doesn't always come across as the most nurturing person, but she has a huge heart and fights for anyone she loves."
He smiled. "I think you just described yourself, minus the not coming across as a nurturing person, because you are definitely that, Chloe."
"Thanks. You don't have to stay, Decker."
"You're not getting rid of me, so save your breath."
"You're really going to sit here all night with us?" she asked in wonder.
He met her gaze. "Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I want to. Because I need to."
She stared back at him, a mix of emotions in her eyes. "All right. But I can't have any more emotional conversations."
"I wasn't going to go there," he assured her. "We don't have to talk at all. It's up to you."
She thought for a moment, then took out her phone. "Maybe we should play Words with Friends online."
"I could do that," he said. "But I have to warn you, I'm really good.
A smile parted her lips. "I wouldn't expect anything else."
Chloe woke up Saturday morning with a start, not sure exactly where she was. Then she realized she was in the hospital. She got up and walked over to the bed. Leo was still asleep. She put her hand on his forehead, and it was much cooler. His hair was also a little sweaty, another sign that his fever had broken.
Turning her head, she looked at Decker, who was sprawled awkwardly and uncomfortably in the other chair, but he was fast asleep. Her heart filled with love as she studied his handsome face, the thick, wavy hair falling over his brow, the fresh growth of beard across his cheeks.
She couldn't quite believe he'd stayed all night, playing games with her online, watching over her boy when she needed a break, telling her about his travels to distract her from worrying about Leo, and then sleeping in a hard, narrow chair just so she wouldn't be alone.
Decker was an amazing man and maybe they couldn't be together forever, but she needed to stop regretting getting involved with him. He had made a mark on her life. He had shown her that there was a man out there she could count on, a man who could make her laugh, listen to her complain, and love her like no one else.
