Page 124 of Finding Our Reality

“I told him that I wanted to move out.”

“And he didn’t take the news well?”

She rolls her eyes. “That’s putting it mildly.”

“Kristie, you’re thirty-two years old. You don’t need permission from your father to move out and start your own life. It’s definitely time.” I bite my lip in thought. “It might be just what he needs too. He’s not had any long-term relationships since your mom passed away. I think y’all’s dependency on one another has become a burden instead of a benefit.”

She nods, but doesn’t say anything.

“I have to meet with Dad’s lawyers and financial advisors next week to close out the estate. We’re meeting in the boardroom at the office. Your dad will be there. I could speak to him, if you’d like?”

“Really? You’d do that?”

“Sure.” I stand up.

She nibbles on her bottom lip. “Dad’s wanting to buy out Robert’s share of the medical practice and building.”

It’s true. The lawyers presented me with Phillip’s offer a while ago. It’s completely generous. More than generous, actually. I just don’t know if giving one person so much control is the wisest decision. The general surgeon they temporarily brought in to take Dad’s place has made an offer as well. It’s not as lucrative, but she seems to love what she does, and she seems to really care about her patients. I’ve done some digging on her, and from what I can find, she’s honest and sincere. She’s got two children—one in middle school and one in elementary school.

“Yeah. He does.”

“Are you gonna sell to him?”

I furrow my brow. I can’t decide if she sounds worried or hopeful. “No decisions have been made yet. I’ve got to do whatI think is best for the practice in the long run.” I walk Kristie through the house.

“I’ll go out this door so I don’t interrupt the party,” Kristie says.

She’s probably fishing for an invitation to stay, but I don’t give her one.

She leans in for a hug, but stops when she sees me take a small step backward. “Sorry, I forget you don’t like to be hugged.” Smiling, she closes the door behind her.

But I do. I love to be hugged—only by everyone sitting on my back patio right now.

Chapter 40

CRUTCH

How can something so small hurt so bad.

Even to this day, I’m amazed at the pain.

I twist my arm, trying to decide the best angle to cut. The angry scar on my shoulder has been even angrier the past week. What started as a small, tender bump now looks like a bright red volcano. I open the first-aid kit and pull out the small black medical bag where I keep the sealed disposable scalpels.

I freeze the second I hear her feet padding down the stairs. I was hoping she wouldn’t wake up. That’s why I waited until the middle of the night. “Ry?”

“In here. In the kitchen.”

The second she walks into the room, my heart melts. I swear this woman makes me feel like I’ve grown a vagina. I’m so damn mushy all the time. I can’t even think straight when I’m around her.

Her wavy hair is pointing in a thousand different directions and herHarlan’sT-shirt grazes the tops of her thighs, drawing attention to every inch of those mile-long legs that I love so much. She rubs her sleep-swollen eyes. “What are you doing?”

“Nothing. I’ll be up in a minute.”

She takes a step closer, peeking around at the makeshift hospital I set up on the kitchen bar. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?” She scurries over in front of me, scanning her eyes across my face and bare chest, searching for an injury. Her eyes widen and a blush covers her cheeks. It happens every time she studies my body.

Forget the vagina. That definitely makes me feel like a man.

When she finally eyes my shoulder, she jumps back. “Holy shit!”

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