Page 81 of Play It Sinful

Mom sits up straighter, pulling my attention from Sean. I follow her line of vision and see Chris’s doctor approach.

We all get to our feet, but it’s Mom who asks, “How is he?”

“We expect him make a full recovery.”

Mom covers her mouth with her hands and lets out a sob. Sean and Kenzie hug each other. Then my gaze locks with Sean’s. The relief on his face is obvious, but so is the guilt. He looks away first and turns to the doctor. “When can we see him?”

“He’s in the ICU now, but you’ll be able to visit him in a couple of hours.”

“Thank God,” Mom whispers.

“I think some of us should go home and grab a few things,” I say, hoping Sean will volunteer to come, but he doesn’t.

“You and Kenzie go. I’ll keep Marnie company,” he replies.

Disappointment floods me, but I try not to show it. It’s selfish of me to feel sad that Sean is giving me the cold shoulder when his father almost died. I know that, once the shock wears off and Chris is fully recovered, he’ll come around. He loves me. A near tragedy wouldn’t change that, right?

CHAPTER 35

SEAN

Ashley and Kenzie have been gone for an hour. I read the hurt in her eyes when I volunteered Kenzie to go with her, but I couldn’t bring myself to be alone with her right now. I’m wretched, consumed with guilt. Maybe if I had told Dad about us, this wouldn’t have happened. I curl my hands into fists, digging my short nails into the skin of my palms until it hurts. I need the pain to distract me from the dark void forming in my chest.

Despite my inner turmoil, I’m the first to notice a nurse is coming our way. I sit straighter and brace for news.

“Mrs. Davenport?” she asks Marnie.

“Yes.”

“Your husband is awake.”

“Oh, thank goodness. Can we see him now?”

“He’s asking to speak with his son first.”

“Oh.” She sounds disappointed.

My stomach twists painfully, and my pulse skyrockets. Hell, I’m not looking forward to this conversation. I turn to Marnie, forcing a smile. “He probably wants to make sure he doesn’t look like roadkill before you see him.”

She nods. “It’s okay, hon. I can wait a little longer. The important thing is that he’s out of the woods.”

I stand on shaky legs and follow the nurse. I have no idea what to expect, but my problems take a back seat when I enter his room and see him hooked up to all the machines. My throat constricts and my eyes burn.

“Dad…”

“Sean…” His face twists as if he’s in agony.

I rush to his side. “Are you in pain?”

He covers his mouth, and my eyes zero in on the needle attached to his vein. My guilt seems to double.

He shakes his head and grips my arm. “How long, Sean?”

My guts coil tightly. I can’t believe he wants to talk about my relationship with Ashley now. “Long enough to know I’m in love with her.”

His eyes widen. “No, no… No!”

The display on the machine monitoring his heart rate moves faster. “Dad, calm down.”

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