Page 67 of Bending The Rules

I wasn’t sure where that thought came from, but it brought tears to my eyes. I tried to push it away, but I couldn’t shake it. Sitting in a hospital room with this brilliant little girl –Justin’slittle girl – while she read a book to me that was easily two grades ahead of her in skill level… for the first time, I felt like maybe… I was missing out.

I swallowed the ache that built in my chest while I watched her. She was almost through with the book when she dozed off, and I stood up, carefully taking the wrapping paper and books off her lap, and marking her place with the glow in the dark bookmark I’d brought.

“Toni,” I heard, and looked up to find Justin awake, watching me.

I gave him a small smile, then finished what I was doing while he unfolded himself from the sofa bed and motioned for me to meet him on the other side of the small room.

“How are you holding up?” I asked, even though it was all over his face. He was worried about his child.

“I’m alright. Just trying to make sure Bri is good.”

“What did they say was wrong?”

He shook his head. “Nothing new. She just over-exerted herself at recess. Might change some medications around, that’s all.”

“But you don’t know that’s alluntilyou know.”

“Right. And we’re still waiting on a couple of tests, which is why they wanted to keep her overnight. But the doctor thinks she’s fine.”

“Good.”

“I appreciate you coming to check on her. And bringing the books. Shelovesbooks.”

I grinned. “Yeah, I can tell. She was reading it to me before she fell asleep.”

“Yeah, I heard.”

My eyebrows shot up. “You did?”

“Yeah, I heard just about everything. I was just… letting you have your moment with her, I guess. You handled that “are you Daddy’s girlfriend” thing well.”

I snickered. “Yeah, well… I’ve had to get good at deflecting. Finally came in handy for something interesting.”

Justin laughed, then shook his head. “Seriously though… I appreciate you taking out the time. I know you have a lot going on.”

I shrugged. “Not so much that I couldn’t come show my face. I’ve missed enough times where I should have shown my face. Didn’t want to miss another.”

I accepted the tight hug Justin gave me after that, and tried not to enjoy how good it felt to be in his arms. “I might not get to see you tomorrow,” he muttered into my hair, and I tipped my head back to look at him, and nod.

“I understand. You’ve got to take care of your family.”

“But you’re family too.”

Ouch.

There it was.

I knew that wasn’t supposed to be a barb, but the pain in my chest at his firm placement of me in the “friend” box told a different story.

I swallowed it though.

“Ijustre-earned that privilege,” I said, plastering on a smile. “Take care of the people who kept their title. We’ll be seeing each other. We’re back in effect.”

He pulled me into another hug as I blinked back tears for what had to be the third or fourth time that day, then planted a kiss against the side of my head. “I needed to see your face. Thank you again for coming to see about my muffin.”

I grinned.

“That’s what friends are for.”

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