Page 18 of Healed Hearts

“Hey, Julian.”

“Hey, I just got an update from the hospital. Wren is deficient in folate. So they’re going to send a script to the pharmacy for a supplement. Holden seems pretty sure it will make her feel better soon.”

“Holden, huh?” she snorts.

Heat creeps up my cheeks, and I laugh nervously. “Yeah, he’s, um, he’s her nurse.” She chuckles. I know she thinks she knows something, and for now, I’ll let her have it. Because, truthfully? She might actually know something. Good parents are so damn perceptive. It’s annoying as hell. “They want her back next week to test again to make sure the levels are rising like they should be.”

“You’re such a good dad to my granddaughter, Julian. Maya would be so proud of you.” I smile at the fondness in her voice. Not just for her late daughter, but also for me. I was terrified when I found out Maya was pregnant, but I think I’m doingalright with the dad thing. Although it sucks that I somehow dropped the ball, and she ended up sick because of me. I guess I need to be more aware of what I’m feeding her.

We chat for a few more minutes, and I tell her I’ll make sure to update her after our follow-up.

“Also,” she adds. “I know you, and don’t you dare blame yourself for her being sick.” Ugh. Perceptive parents.

Chapter Seven

Holden

This is stupid. Absolutely stupid.

Why am I freaking out about this so badly? It’s just another day. A normal day. A day that I get to see Julian. Why does that matter? It doesn’t. It shouldn’t. My stomach flips. Oh, it so fucking matters.

“Hold, you good?” I turn to Beck, dragging myself from my thoughts. The never-ending, constant stream of thoughts about Julian. He’s infiltrated my mind. He’s got me all fucked up. I’m not sure that I like this. I’m not sure I like this at all.

But I definitely can’t tell Beck that. “Yeah, I’m good.”

He gives me a sideways glance. “Are you sure?”

He’s been… cautious with me, since our argument the other night—if you can even call it that. “Yeah, I’m sure.” I’m not sure, but there’s nothing he can do about that. I have no doubt that he would give me advice. That he would help me work through the stuff going on in my head, but I can’t ask him to do that. I don’t want to. Not yet. Plus, I’m slightly worried he won’t like Julian. As much as I like how overprotective he is, I also hate it. It puts me in a strange place. And why does it even matter if he likes Julian anyway? It doesn’t. He’s a patient’s parent, that’s all.

He’s also the only man who’s ever asked you for consent, Hold.

“Okay,” Beck says, pulling me from my thoughts again as we pull into the parking lot to the hospital. “You know you can come to me, right? If you need something. I’m here for you, no matter what.”

I turn to him with a grin. He’s studying my face, like he’s trying to make sure it’s a real one. I hope to God it passes. He smiles back. Thank God. “Yeah, I know that, Beck.”

He nods. “Good. That’s good.”

I want to roll my eyes, but I won’t. “Well, we better get in there.” Julian.I get to see Julian today.This is so fucked up. Ugh.

We step out of the car together and walk through the front doors of the hospital side by side. Beck gives me a little wave as I veer off toward the elevators, and he heads in the direction of the ER.

When Julian and Wren walk into the unit two hours into my shift, my heart about pounds out of my chest.

“Holden!” Wren shouts the second she sees me.

I laugh and so does Julian. “You can’t be yelling like that in here, baby girl,” he says softly, still chuckling.

I’m inclined to think that she can do whatever she wants, personally. “Hey, guys!” Oh, I sound a little too excited.Reel it in, Hold.

“How are you today?” Julian asks as they approach me.

God, he’s so… justso. It’s kind of fucking with my head a bit. “I’m okay. How about you two?”

Julian grins. That smile. His whole fucking face, honestly. Jesus. “We’re good,” he says. “Hoping this medicine starts working soon.”

“Me too. Let’s go get some blood drawn and see how we’re doing, shall we?”

Julian leans down to lift Wren and then they’re following me into a room. “Okay, let me go grab what I need and we can get you guys taken care of. Sound good?”

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