Page 48 of Falling for You

I can’t admit to how I feel. I know it’s there, my reaction proof of that, the sobs that wretched from me making it hard to breathe, but I can’t commit my heart to him. Not until I know he’s there for our son, that he wants me for me and not because I birthed his child.

I need to know I am his like he says, but I don’t see what he can do to prove that. So far, he’s done everything to show me he means business, yet something is holding me back.

Maybe it’s my childhood, my family’s insistence on an arranged marriage? Perhaps, I just don’t want to put myself in a position to depend on someone.

I sigh as I stretch my back, then go to the next shelf, hoping counting will stop my thoughts when there’s a knock at the door and I turn to see Doctor James.

“How’s it going?” he asks with a soft smile.

I wince and state, “Five storage rooms are complete, and I’ve done half of this one.”

He nods as he looks around the organizing I’ve done and asks, “How’s Taylor?”

I smile and say, “He’s doing okay. He's going crazy with not being on the ice, though.”

He snorts, “I can imagine. I don’t know what I’d do if I was told I could only watch as someone else does my job, but at least the guys are three to five on wins since being away.”

Yeah, and only because two of those wins were down to Taylor being out. Since he’s been benched with a concussion, they’ve lost two games. Last night, they lost because Ezra was put in the sin bin when the other team's center goaded him about Taylor, who just smirked.

The news outlets now think they’ll lose the cup this year, but if Taylor has his way, he and his team will prove them wrong.

He wants a picture holding his son and the cup while his son places a hand on it.

Doctor James sighs, “Anyway, I came to inform you that your sister is back in the ER,” I slowly close my eyes.

This is the third time she’s had to come to the hospital.

Tony kicked the crap out of his brother a few months ago when he hurt her again for the first time in months, all because she wouldn’t sleep with him.

The ass broke her rib and yet she still stayed despite dad stating she could leave him.

“Okay, I’ll head down there now,” I say.

He gives me a sympathetic smile before leaving while I grab my phone and, without thinking, write out the message.

Me: Harry has put Avery in the ER again; Doctor Hottie informed me xx

I press send to Taylor, then put my phone away before walking out of the room, locking the door behind me, fully aware I messaged Taylor instead of my dad. This says a lot, really, about where my mind set is concerning him.

Shaking my head, I walk over to Kelly, who smiles sympathetically. I give her a smile and state, “Half of the storage room on this floor is complete.”

She nods and takes the clipboard, and I turn and go to the elevator as my phone buzzes.

I get it out and smile at seeing Taylor's reply.

Baby daddy: I’m going to fucking kill him! Keep me updated, and stop calling him Doctor Hottie! xoxo

Shaking my head with a chuckle, I put my phone back into my pocket and enter the elevator before pressing the button to go down. Then, I lean against the wall, crossing my arms over my chest.

This is it. She’s not returning to him, I’ll make sure of it. I don’t care if he’s paying for all her worthless shit. If she loves Tony as much as she says, she’ll leave Harry.

Once the doors open, I walk out of the elevator and head to the nurse’s desk and as soon as Hallie sees me, her light blue eyes soften. She nods to room four, and I give her a smile back and walk that way. Like the last two times, I walk in without announcing myself.

“Please tell me you kicked the crap outta him?!” I snap at Tony, sitting next to my sister, as my eyes latch onto my sister’s form.

Her eye is swollen shut, her lip is cut, her nose is bleeding, and my anger builds.

“I didn’t have to,” he rasps, and I look his way and raise a brow. He smirks and admits, “Dad did,” and my brows hit my hairline in shock. He continues, “We walked in to find him plowing on Avery and he went ballistic. He broke his nose, kicked the shit outta his stomach, then had him arrested.”

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