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I smiled softly at the security guard watching our interaction closely. “No, thank you.”
He nodded and turned toward the elevator just as I was closing the door.
She reached out and wrapped her hand around my arm. “You doing okay?”
“Yeah.” I nodded, but we both knew I wasn’t perfectly honest. She waited patiently until I continued. “I really am feeling better.”
“Good. This place is like Fort Knox. I don’t think anyone is getting in here without you knowing.” She pulled her bag from her shoulder. “You ready to get started?”
I was happy when she changed the subject. “Yeah, but we can do this at your office if that’s easier.”
Bree kicked off her shoes and headed toward the island in the kitchen. “I know you’re still healing, and I know that you won’t tell me when you need a break, so at least if we’re here, I can just leave when I see you’re done.”
I appreciated how perceptive Bree was. I was grateful the doctor wanted me to stay at the hospital as long as he had because I felt safe there, and now that I was here, I was glad I wasn’t alone. I wasn’t lying when I told her I felt better because I did, but I wasn’t quite back to myself yet.
And I had a feeling it would take a while until I felt safe again.
She laid her bag on the counter and faced me when I stood across from her, the island separating us. “Have you talked to your parents?”
“No.” I shook my head. “My mom called, but I ignored it. I eventually texted her that I needed to rest, but she didn’t answer.”
“What does that mean?”
I sighed. “That means she’s fine with it, or she’ll show up here.”
Rachel appeared in the doorway. “Hey, Bree.”
Bree turned to face her. “Hi.” She gestured toward Rachel’s purse. “Are you leaving?”
“Yeah, I need to run a few errands.”
“She was waiting for you to come to babysit me so she can go.” I laughed softly. “I told her she didn’t have to.”
Rachel laughed. “It’s true, but I just want to make sure you’re safe, that’s all.”
“I know.”
Rachel started past us, heading toward the front door. “I should be back in a few hours. Call me if you need anything, Jane.” I only had the chance to nod before Rachel looked over her shoulder. “Oh, Bree, ask Jane about Tank.”
After she closed the front door behind her, Bree tilted her head. “What about Tank?”
“Nothing really. Rachel was just impressed that he was at the hospital every day, and he texted me after the nurses kicked him out.”
“Does he know you were discharged today?”
“Yeah,” I admitted. “But I haven’t talked to him since I got here. Actually, I haven’t even looked at my phone.”
She reached her hand across the island. “Don’t you think you need to talk to him?”
“No.” I shook my head. “It was nice that he was at the hospital and he was saying all the right things, but I ended it for a reason, and I still think that was for the best. If I give in to all of this and pretend it’s something it isn’t, I’ll only get hurt in the end.” I could tell by the look on her face that she didn’t agree. “You don’t agree?”
She squeezed my arm before releasing it. “I just think you should hear him out. Becs said she’s surprised he’s been this patient, especially because he’s so worried about you.” When I didn’t answer, she smiled sadly. “Do you miss him?”
I nodded, unable to lie about that. “I do, but it would’ve never worked.”
“Why not?”
“He doesn’t want a relationship, and that hasn’t changed. He feels guilty right now, like he didn’t do enough to find me, but once he lets go of that guilt, we’ll be right back where we were. And the truth is, Bree, I don’t need another person in my life who doesn’t want me for the right reasons. I need to figure out who I am without any of them.” Bree watched me closely, and I saw sadness in her expression, but I ignored it. “And the first step was accepting this job.”
