Page 32 of Healed Hearts

“No, I can definitely do that,” he says with a blinding smile in my direction.

Chapter Eleven

Holden

Two for two, Hold. Two for fucking two. Awkward handshakes. Falling asleep on Julian. I roll my eyes at myself as I walk through the parking lot. I can’t get rid of the smile on my face, though. Ugh.

I really didn’t mean to fall asleep on him, and I wouldn’t have if I hadn’t been coming off working five days in a row. Five twelves back to back and then being woken up in the middle of the night? I probably could have fallen asleep standing up.

Truthfully, after my confrontation with Doctor Asshole, I needed comfort, and since the normal people I go to for comfortweren’t available, I used Julian. Was it fair to do that without his permission? Ugh, definitely not. And then to wake up in his lap? Snuggling into his stomach? He probably thinks I’m a damn weirdo. But I slept really well. Like really fucking well. What is it about that man? It’s most likely the dad thing, right? Like he justfeelssafe. But then again, I didn’t know he was a dad the first time I crashed out on him.

Speaking of the normal people I go to for comfort, it’s probably a miracle they haven’t realized I’m gone yet. I pull my phone from my pocket and glance at the time. It’s just after 8:00 a.m, so they most likely think I’m still asleep—if they’re even up themselves.

I climb into Julian’s car and take off toward his house to grab mine. I’m glad he agreed to let me come back. I don’t know what I was thinking, giving myself that permission. It’s like a weird ache in my chest, though. I can’t help it. I want to be around them.

My stomach flutters, so I press a hand to it, trying to stem the feeling.

By the time I’ve transferred Wren’s car seat to my car and started the drive back home, I’m feeling more stable. Less anxious about the situation I woke up in, and more excited to get back to the hospital. God, Wren was so bad off last night. I was trying to stay calm, so I didn’t freak Julian out, but it’s a good thing he called me when he did.

I like him. My stomach flutters again. Oh shit, Ilikehim.

When I pull into the driveway at home, I’m a nervous wreck. I need to get in, change clothes, and get out without raising any suspicion. I step into the house and pause, listening closely. I don’t hear anything, so I rush down the hallway. I’m staring at the ground when I collide with Roman. I lift my eyes on instinct as he lets out a little grunt and stumbles backward.

“Holy shit, Hold. You just about tackled me.” I laugh, but it’s loud and all wrong. He looks at me, his head cocked to the side, assessing. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m alright,” I get out.

He studies me. “Why are you running so early in the morning? Hot date?” he asks with a smirk.

That’s entirely too close to the truth, and not at all the truth. “No. Of course not. Why would you ask that?”

He narrows his eyes. “You’re acting strange.”

“I’m acting totally normal,” I defend, trying to step past him to get to my room. Nothing to see here. Move along.

Thankfully he lets me, but I can feel his eyes on me as I slip into my room and close the door. “Holy shit,” I mutter to myself, trying to calm my racing heart. I don’t waste time, though. I head to my closet and pull out a pair of comfortable jeans and a t-shirt. I strip quickly, leaving my clothes on the closet floor, and change. I’ve already been away from the hospital for too long, and I don’t want to miss anything. Honestly, I don’t trust Dr. Mays as far as I can throw him. I’ve got half a mind to ask that Wren’s case be assigned to someone else, but that would cross many lines that I have no business crossing.

As soon as I’m dressed, I take off again. I do not pass go. I do not collect $200. Hell, I don’t even stop for eyeliner. I peek down the hall both ways to see if I’m about to be blindsided, then I sprint to the front door. I grab the handle, thinking I’m home free, when Roman’s voice stops me.

“Holden James Nash. Where the fuck are you going at a full sprint?”

I turn, glaring at him. “You didnotjust full name me!”

He grins. “Oh, I so did. Where’s the fire? Where are you going?”

I wave my hands around, like that explains everything. “To the hospital.”

He raises an eyebrow at me. “You’re not scheduled to work. And even if you picked up a shift, you’re not dressed for work.”

Ugh. “What are you? The clothes police?”

He lets out a shocked laugh. I pull my bottom lip between my teeth, biting down hard to keep myself from laughing with him because honestly, this is ridiculous. Why am I trying to sneak out? I’m a fucking grown-up. “Hold, is there something going on I should be worried about?” he asks once he manages to stop laughing.

“Nope. Everything’s fine.”

He stares at me for a few minutes, before a smile spreads across his face. I don’t like it. He looks like he knows too much. “Am I to assume this is a hospital trip that Beck doesn’t need to be aware of?”

“Can you even keep secrets from Beck?” I ask, chuckling at the absurdity of that.

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