Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 100750 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100750 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
“Sure.”
“You said earlier that he was in love with—”
Before she could finish her question, Pearce began nodding.
“If he is, why not say something? Why does he keep me at arm’s length?”
Pearce looked from her, out the window, and then at the ground. “I don’t know, Reid. I do know he’s in love with you. He’s said as much. Each time I’d ask why you guys weren’t together, he’d brush me off. For the longest time, I thought it was because you didn’t want to date a coworker, but I know that’s not true.”
“That’s what I thought about him,” she said. “It’s not a policy. I mean, they definitely don’t like it, but there isn’t anything enforceable in our handbook.”
“You could always ask him.”
Reid shook her head. “Doesn’t change anything,” she told him. “I still want to date and find the one I’m supposed to be with. I used to think that was Grayson, but he’s made it clear over the years we’re nothing more than friends.”
“With benefits,” Pearce pointed out.
She opened her mouth and then closed it quickly. “Absolutely not. We’ve been together one time,” she told him. “And the next day, he told me it would never happen again.”
Pearce’s mouth dropped open. “Yeah, he’s led us all to believe you’re in a benefits situation.”
“What an asshole,” she muttered. “You know he said that so no one would pursue me.”
Pearce nodded. “Without a doubt. Damn. I know there’s a handful of guys who would’ve asked you out.”
Reid rolled her eyes. “Jerk. I have half a mind to tell him I’m seeing someone since he’s been out of it for so long.”
Pearce laughed. “Can you imagine? I think you should totally play it up. Do the whole ‘I didn’t know if you’d make it’ thing. He’d crap himself.”
Reid grimaced. “I told him I was going to start dating—that’s how we ended up here.” She ran her hand over her face. “I’m so stupid.”
“You’re not,” he told her. “I think we’ve all been there at one point in our lives. You just gotta move forward with your life and let him do his thing. He’ll realize he messed up sooner or later.”
“Yeah, maybe.” She felt guilty about wanting to date and Grayson’s reaction, even though she knew she wasn’t at fault.
Gilbert found them at the end of the hall. He had a beaming smile on his face. “Reid, if you want, you can go in. Grayson’s asking for you.”
“He is?” She stood and took a shaky step toward Gilbert, who nodded.
“After he asked what happened, he asked where you were.”
Reid glanced at Pearce. “I told you.”
Okay, so maybe Grayson was in love with her, and it had taken this colossal moment for him to realize it.
“Wow, okay.” Reid had tunnel vision. She dumped her coffee cup in the nearest trash can and walked briskly toward the double doors. Once she was in, the nurse helped her scrub her hands and put on a gown, which would be necessary until the sutures healed.
Reid paused at the door. Grayson was awake, and gone were the machines that kept him alive. He still had oxygen, but now the tubes rested along his cheeks and pushed air through his nostrils. She cleared her throat, and Sydney looked over. She smiled.
“Grayson, Reid’s here now.”
“Yeah?” His eyes opened slightly, and he smiled. “Hey,” he said as he tried to lift his hand toward her. Reid rushed to his side and gripped his hand in hers. Tears she thought had long dried up streamed down her face.
“Hey,” she said.
“I’m going to give you guys a few minutes.” Sydney left the room.
“I’ve never been so happy to see those brown eyes of yours.” She brushed her hand through his hair, like she had done many times during his stay.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly.
“Don’t be,” she told him. “Everything’s good now.”
“Yeah,” he said as he started to fall back to sleep.
Reid sat next to him and refused to let go of his hand.
“I should’ve told her that I love her,” he said softly.
“Told who?” Reid asked. She waited for him to respond. When he said nothing, she prodded. “Who do you love, Grayson?”
“Sully.”
EIGHT
NADIA
Nadia woke, startled, heart racing, beads of sweat dripping from her forehead. Her eyes came in and out of focus. Colored shadows danced on the wall and voices spoke softly, their words muddled and unfamiliar. She blinked, and her eyes darted around the room, absorbing the familiarity of her bedroom. Nadia exhaled and rolled onto her back. It was a nightmare. That’s all. The sound of crushing metal, the agonizing and scared screams of the injured—she made it all up. She wasn’t there. Her girls weren’t there. She reached for Rafe.
He’s not here.
Where was he?
She sat up quickly, scrambled out of bed, and rushed to the bathroom.
Empty.
His clothes hung in the closet. He had to be in the house.