Page 37 of Enemies, Lovers & A Valentine's Baby

“You’re nothing without me. You have no talent. You’re never going to be good enough.”

I thought nothing could hurt worse than losing him, losing the life I thought we’d build together.

I was wrong. This pain eclipses it all.

Suddenly the night of Sue’s wedding rehearsal comes rushing back. The words from Cole cutting deep.

“If you can’t even get this small thing right, then I’d hate to see what the rest of your life looks like. Maybe it’s time to reevaluate your life choices and find out exactly what it is you’re good at, ‘cause this ain’t it.”

I thought I was over it, but the cracks have always been there, just waiting for the right moment to split wide open.

The walls of the room feel like they’re caving in, the air thinning until I can’t draw a full breath. I claw at the IV, yankingit free. Blood drips down my wrist, but I don’t care. The sting is nothing compared to the ache inside me.

I swing my legs over the edge of the bed, my bare feet hitting the cold tile. I hold on to the bed to steady myself as the room sways slightly. I take in a few deep breaths and take a few steps; the hallway blurs past me, fluorescent lights buzzing overhead.

The receptionist doesn’t look up as I pass, too engrossed in her phone conversation to notice.

Outside, the cold air slams into me, and I gasp like I’ve been underwater. My breath drifts into the frosty air, and for a second, I just stand there letting the cold nip at my skin.

The rush of the city noise is a welcome contrast to the hospital’s suffocating silence. I start walking. Slowly at first, then faster, praying that distance can pull me out of this nightmare.

I pull out my phone, my thumb hovering over the screen. There’s only one person I want to call. My hand trembles as I dial the number. She answers on the first ring, her voice warm and familiar. A soothing balm for the pain in my soul.

“Hey, sweetheart,” she says, her tone carrying the soft smile I know she always has for me.

“Hi, Mom.” My voice is a whisper, barely audible over the noise around me.

A single tear slips down my cheek.

“You okay, baby?” Her concern is immediate, woven into the gentle cadence of her words.

“I’m fine,” I lie, throat tightening. “Just a cold coming on.”

Her sigh is teasing. “Well, if Boston’s too cold, you know you can always come home. It’s always warm in Florida, sweetheart.”

I can’t help the small smile that tugs at my lips despite everything. All I want to do is crawl into her arms and wrap myself in her warmth.

“I just saw you last month, Mom.”

“And I already miss you,” she replies with a hint of a pout, the kind that used to work so well when I was little.

She doesn’t push, though I can hear her hesitation. Instead, she shifts the conversation, asking about Sue, about work, filling the space with her voice, her love.

“Everything’s good. Work’s going well, Sue’s great.” The lies leave a bitter taste in my mouth, but her voice quiets the chaos in my head, and that’s enough for now.

“Dad and I, we’re always here for you,” she says softly. “If you need anything—anything at all—you just say the word and we’ll be there.”

“Hi, baby,” a gruff voice says into the phone. “How’s my favorite youngest daughter?”

“Hi, Daddy.” I put the phone on mute as sobs rack my body at the sound of his voice.

My throat feels raw, and It’s all I can do to respond. The tears continue to fall silently, and I let them.

“I love you, Daddy,” I manage to get out. “I promise to come see you soon.”

“We love you too, sweetheart. Always.”

When the call ends, I stand there for a moment, phone clutched tightly in my hand. The world moves on around me, loud and chaotic, but their words linger as an anchor in me.

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