Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 117506 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 588(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117506 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 588(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
As I stepped into the elevator with Merit, I glanced over at her. She was twisting her fingers together nervously as she stared down at the floor. When the doors dinged open, she paused before getting out.
“Everything okay?” I asked. “Well, besides the obvious.”
She looked at me, opened her mouth, and then shut it quickly. “Yes—no. I mean. I’m fine. Are you okay?”
I reached for her hand and tried to give her a reassuring smile. Something in my gut was telling me things were off with Merit, and it had nothing to do with the last time we saw each other or the reasons why we were at the hospital right now. I gave her a simple nod, and she walked out of the elevator.
Merit guided us through the lobby and to the back doors of the hospital that led out to a courtyard. Brock sat there with Ty, Kaylee, and Lincoln. Kaylee turned and saw me. She covered her mouth with her hand and rushed forward in my direction. I dropped Merit’s hand and braced for Kaylee to barrel into me, pregnant stomach and all. “Oh, Dirk! I’m so glad you made it back home safely. He’s going to be okay.”
I smiled and gently hugged her, then pulled back and gave her a quick once-over. “You look beautiful, Kaylee.”
She hugged me tightly. “Liar.”
I caught a glimpse of Merit standing there watching us. When my eyes met hers, I couldn’t read her expression. She quickly looked away and headed over to where everyone else sat. But for the briefest moment, I swore I saw hurt in her eyes.
“Come on and eat,” Kaylee said as she took my hand in hers and guided me over to the table. Brock handed me a bag, and I sat down next to Lincoln. Kaylee sat on the opposite side of me, next to Ty. I couldn’t help but notice that Merit’s gaze bounced between me and Kaylee before she sat at the table next to ours. Alone. I felt like the biggest dick for not even thinking of her when I sat. I went to stand and move over to the other table when Lincoln spoke.
“Merit, pull a chair up and eat over here,” Lincoln stated as she slid her chair over to make room for Merit.
“No, it’s okay, I’m fine, and I don’t mind the extra space,” Merit said, a smile on her face that didn’t reach her eyes at all.
I felt a strange pain in my chest at the sadness in her voice. I watched as she slowly unwrapped her burger and took a bite, not once looking back over toward us. I kept my eyes locked on her as she seemed to drift away, lost in thought. Why in the hell was I sitting here? Get up and move next to her.
Kaylee nudged my shoulder. “Eat something, please.”
I swallowed hard, suddenly feeling sick to my stomach and not wanting to eat at all. Somehow, I managed to take the wrapper off the burger and eat more than half of it. Brock and Ty spoke some, with Kaylee and Lincoln adding to the conversation here and there. I couldn’t focus on anything they said, only stared across the table at Merit. She seemed to be forcing herself to eat, and not once did she look my way. I hated that she felt she needed to distance herself.
Kaylee reached for my hand and squeezed it softly as she smiled. I nodded and squeezed back. It was in that very moment that Merit looked over and her eyes fell to my hand in Kaylee’s. I pulled it away and started to wrap up my half-eaten burger.
“I want to be back up there when he gets out of surgery,” I said as I stood.
“Leave all of that. I’ll get it, Dirk,” Lincoln said.
With a smile, I replied, “Thanks, Lincoln. And thank you, Brock, for the food.”
Merit looked over at me and smiled the sweetest smile. God, how it made all the worry vanish, if only for a moment. Then she stood and walked over to me. “If you’d rather I stay here so that Kaylee can go up with you, that’s totally fine.”
I frowned and went to answer her when Kaylee walked over to us. “How many people are allowed in the waiting room?” She clearly had not heard Merit.
I honestly had no idea, since I had only gotten to the hospital a little while ago. I looked to Merit for an answer since she’d been up in the ICU when I’d arrived.
“It’s only immediate family,” Merit stated in a voice that was barely above a whisper. She looked exhausted. “But because of Timberlynn’s dad, Frank, they’re being a bit more relaxed for now.”
Kaylee nodded and gave Merit, and then me, a smile.
I cleared my throat and spoke to Kaylee. “Merit and I are going to go back up. If you guys want to head home, you can, or maybe wait down here.”