Page 52 of Thornhill Road

If you can make it to the hospital, I might be able to take 15 minutes for a coffee break.

I knew right away I was not going to show up at the hospital empty handed, which meant a trip to our favorite coffee shop for two lattes and a chocolate croissant, Jenna’s favorite. Factoring in the time this would take, I was quick to send my reply.

ETA 10:30.

At two minutes past the half hour, I was strolling into the emergency room, looking for Jenna. She spotted me from where she stood behind the nurses’ station, smiled, then waved me over.

“Your timing is perfect. Just give me two minutes,” she insisted.

Two minutes later, each of us with our lattes and Jenna already biting into her croissant, we were headed outside. It was a beautiful morning, and she wanted the fresh air. We found an empty bench and sat.

“Alright, what’s going on? To what do I owe this pleasure?” she asked before taking another bite of her treat.

“Well, you were right about Mustang. He didn’t need my number to get in touch.”

Speaking around her bite, Jenna shielded her mouth and asked, “Mustang? That’s his name?”

“Oh, yeah,” I muttered, having forgotten I’d left that detail out last we spoke. “That’s his road name. His real name is Sully, but he doesn’t like people to call him that. After having spent some time with him, I understand he is one-hundred-percent Wild Stallion. That’s his family, so he’s Mustang.”

“Got it. I’m with you now. So, he got in touch?”

“Mmhmm,” I hummed with a nod. “We’re officiallyon.”

Jenna lowered her coffee from her lips and smiled.

Before she could say a word, I added, “But you know how I get…”

“You mean, off the deep end after the third date?”

I nodded and said, “I think I met my match.”

Her eyebrows shot up her forehead in excitement. “Yeah?”

“Last night, we were in bed, and he called himselfmy man. Just like that, he said—you got a man now, sugar,” I said in a poor imitation of his deep voice.

Jenna’s brow relaxed as her smile stretched into a grin. “He calls you sugar?”

“Jen, focus, that’s not the point. I’m officially in uncharted territory now. I don’t know what to do.”

“Honey, you enjoy the ride.”

I coughed out a laugh, unconsciously squeezing my thighs together. I was already enjoyingmanyrides, and I had the sore bits to prove it. But that wasn’t what I meant.

“I’m talking about Ed. I didn’t go looking for his son thinking any of this would happen. Now Mustang’s calling himself myman—which, by the way, is my exact brand of crazy—and it feels unfair somehow.

“There are still parts of their story I haven’t pieced together yet, but I’m coming around to the idea that there’s a reason Ed is alone in that house. He was not the greatest father or husband. Mustang is not entirely unjustified in his refusal to speak to the man, and I’m not holding my breath waiting for him to change his mind. But do I tell him?”

Jenna thought for a moment. “Well, I wouldn’t tell him you’re sleeping together. I would tread lightly. Like you said, you’ve still only got part of the story, and it sounds like Mustang’s side. Not saying that he’s wrong,” she was quick to add. “Just saying—you didn’t go looking for Mustang at Ed’s request.”

I knit my eyebrows together in concern. “I had the best intentions.”

“I know you did. Don’t beat yourself up over it, either. Now, you have to give it time to play out.”

“Yeah,” I murmured noncommittally.

“So, when do I get to meet this Mustang?” asked Jenna, playfully kicking at my leg.

The thought of introducing the two of them instantly brightened my mood.

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