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“I need to get back to Rhett.” I inclined my head, noting that my brother was manning the table by himself. “I can come join you all once the movie starts.” A knot tightened in my gut. Maybe that was an overstep. We hadn’t talked about it. I’d just assumed. “You know, if you want me to.”
She peeked up at me from under her lashes, her cheeks pink. “Yeah, that’d be nice.”
Beside her mom, Callie was scrutinizing us, her head tilted and her lips turned down in a frown. The look was one of curiosity, but there wasn’t even a hint of approval there.
“Okay, lead the way. I’ll help you carry your stuff over, and then I’ll make my way back to Rhett.” I followed her through the throng of people scattered across the grass, some sitting on blankets, others situated in folding chairs, until we reached Sarah. She had a blanket spread out, and her baby girl was asleep on her belly in the middle.
“Maybe I’ll get an hour out of her this time.” Sarah brushed the hair off the baby’s forehead.
“Is teething still that brutal?” Tina asked, taking the tote bag from me. She kept her attention on her friend as she laid out blankets.
Sarah sighed. “Yes. And the sleep schedule I finally got her on has gone out thewindow.”
“Don’t worry. She’ll get back there.” Tina chuckled. “Callie was so difficult as a baby?—”
“Yeah. Dad had to sing and rock me to sleep every night,” Callie interjected.
The knot in my stomach twisted, and my chest got tight. Talk of babies, teething, and sleep schedules had me feeling out of place. I looked around, noting the families surrounding us. What was I doing here? This wasn’t my family. These people belonged to Hughes.
Sarah smiled at Callie, asking her about the candy she’d chosen, and when Tina finished laying out the blankets, Teddy and Callie plopped down with their snacks.
I cleared my throat and placed my hand on the small of Tina’s back, leaning over slightly to speak close to her ear. “I’ll see you in a bit?”
“Okay.” She shot me a smile that made my breath lodge in my throat.
Her cheeks had a tinge of pink to them, making me wonder what they looked like when she came.
Callie’s glare seared me, so I turned quickly, ripping my hand away from Tina’s back.
Fuck. I had no right to be thinking of Tina like that.
Callie’s distaste for me and the look she was giving me were good reminders. I didn’t belong here. The weight of Hughes’s death and the part I’d played in it hung over me now, taunting me.
Images of Tina’s reaction—the way her face would crumple or maybe go red with fury—if she discovered that Hughes’s death was my fault flashed through my mind. I didn’t know which scenario was worse. Her finding out I was the medic who hadn’t been able to save him that day or her realizing that I’d known who she was this whole time and was too chickenshit to tell her the truth. Bottom line, if she discovered the truth, itwould only cause her pain, and I refused to intentionally hurt her.
I ground my teeth together and rubbed a hand down my throbbing leg as I walked away from Hughes’s family. His family. Not mine.
Fuck.
“How’s Tina?” Rhett asked as I came around to stand beside him.
“She’s fine.”Please don’t fucking ask if I knew her husband again.
He sighed and turned to talk to the person approaching us. I didn’t mean to be such a dick, but Jesus, how could I tell my family that I wanted this woman but couldn’t have her because I’d killed her husband?
Once the people milling around had settled and the movie was playing, the vendors packed up. After I helped Rhett break down his table and tent and load his truck, I made my way back toward Tina and the kids.
Except I froze halfway to them. This wasn’t where I belonged.Not my family.It would be in everyone’s best interest if I hustled to my truck and got my ass home.
But before I could unstick my feet and make a move to leave, Tina spun and caught sight of me, the corners of her lips tipped up, and she waved like she was flagging me down.
I made my feet move, though a sense of dread swamped me. Like I was heading into a gunfight instead of a kids’ movie night. But I went, and I shook off the discomfort. Because no matter how many times I reminded myself that I couldn’t have this, I wanted it.
Chapter Twelve
TINA
Why was I so nervous?My stomach was fluttering even more than it did when Kyle sat next to me on the blanket last night. He was so close, and it was impossible not to be aware of his every move. It was exhilarating, but I didn’t really feel nervous.
