Page 19 of Someone to Watch Over Me

“I, um… He’s been an amazing friend to me at a time when I needed one very much.”

“Yes, he has, and it’s worried me on more than one occasion that he might end up hurt because you’re not available for what he wants with you.”

I’m struck dumb. Literally.

Cora sighs deeply. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said any of that. Blame the sleepless night.” She glances at me. “I really am sorry. Disregard all that. Please. He’d have my head if he heard me say any of it.”

“I, ah… I should go.”

“Please don’t go because of me, Lexi. Tom wants you here. He wants you here more than he wants me.”

I need to get out of there. That’s all I know. “I’ll be back later. Please tell him…” I can’t think of a single thing to say, so I leave it at that. In the hallway, I focus on breathing as I make my way to where Iris is waiting for me.

“Hey,” she says, “how is he?”

“Good. He’s good.”

She takes a closer look at me. “And you?”

“Can we go? Please?”

“Yep.” With her typical efficiency, Iris takes me by the arm and has me in an elevator in two seconds flat, or at least that’s how it seems to me.

5

Lexi

My entire body buzzes with tension and anxiety and… something else that I can’t quite put a name to.

“What happened?” Iris asks when we’re in the car.

“I…” I’ve never been such a stammering fool. “He was very thankful for what I did and apologetic for retraumatizing me. He… he said he was glad he didn’t die without me knowing how much he cares or how happy he’s been since I moved in.”

“Oh. Wow. How do you feel about that?”

I give her what must be a wild look. “I don’t know. And then his sister… She said…” That goddamned lump in my throat makes me choke.

Iris turns to face me. “What’d she say, Lex?”

“That she’s been worried about me hurting him because I’m not available for what he wants from me.”

“Oh damn. That’s a lot for her to lay on you, especially right now.”

“She said that when she apologized, blaming the sleepless night. She said he’d be mad at her for saying that to me.”

“He should be. She had no right to dump that on you. Tell me you know that whatever he feels for you is not your responsibility.”

Leave it to Iris to cut to the chase. “I know.”

“Say it like you mean it.”

“I know that whatever he feels for me isn’t my responsibility, but… I really like him. Hell, I was more than halfway in love with him in high school when I’d never exchanged a single word with him.”

“This isn’t high school, and just because he did you a huge favor when you really needed it, you don’t owe him anything but friendship and appreciation for his generosity.”

I nod, grateful for her succinct summary.

“All the emotions are heightened after last night. A close call like he had would naturally make him grateful for the blessings in his life, including you. You’re under no obligation to take what he said and run with it. You’re on your own journey, your own timeline, not anyone else’s, even someone who’s stepped up for you the way he has.”

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