Page 32 of You Loved Me Once
“I need to check on my patients,” I say with a nervous laugh. “I’ll check on your wife, Mr. Peyton, and we can go over the information later on.”
Bryce’s eyes narrow slightly and then he nods. “Okay.”
He walks away, and Westin wraps his arms around my middle. “Sorry I had to run out this morning. I got a call in the middle of the night and didn’t want to wake you.”
I don’t know when he left, but I didn’t really think much of it. It happens often for the two of us. It’s part of being a doctor, and my mind was elsewhere. “It’s fine.”
I try not to feel uncomfortable with him once again initiating a public display of affection, but I set this tone. Me going to his house last night was what I needed, and I still want to move forward, give more of myself to him.
The feeling that we’re being watched overcomes me. My chest grows tight and I turn my gaze to see what is causing my unease. As I scan the room I realize Bryce is still here, and find his eyes trained on the two of us. His fists are clenched at his side as he sees me in Westin’s embrace. It would appear to anyone watching that we’re a couple.
Maybe this is exactly what I need him to see. I don’t want him to know I’ve spent the last fourteen years thinking about what we could’ve been. He needs to believe I moved on.
I move my fingers up Westin’s arms and hold onto the back of his neck.
“Are you going to take a day off this week?” Westin asks. “We could try to get away for the weekend...”
I don’t like myself for playing any sort of game, but I need to protect my own heart right now.
“I don’t know, I think I’m going to visit my dad and brother.”
Westin’s face falls slightly. I glance back over to see Bryce walking away. I watch as he disappears around the corner and then I step back.
What the hell am I doing?
I’m out of my fucking mind. I need to get out of here and fix myself.
“Just let me know if you change your mind.”
There’s no way I can stick around Chicago. Besides, my family is why I’m in this mess to begin with.
Chapter 9
Sixteen Years Earlier
“My father wants me to go to Rice University, which is where he went,” Bryce informs me as we lie on the couch, curled up after watching a movie.
“Where is that?”
“Houston.”
I sit up. “Houston? But that’s so far.”
He gives me a reassuring smile. “It is, but I’m not going there. We’re both going to Penn State.”
I release the breath I was holding and nod. “Well, if I get in.”
“You will.”
I applied at the same time he did, and he already got his acceptance. There’s no reason to think I won’t get in, but still...I’m worried. If I don’t get accepted, I’ll have to go to either Johns Hopkins or Northwestern. Both are excellent schools and offer what I want, but Penn State is where Bryce will be.
“We should discuss the options.”
He pulls me back down so I’m lying on his chest. “We don’t need to, because we’ll work it out. If you go to Johns Hopkins, we’ll be close, Northwestern is the only one that would be hard.”
“But we’d make it work?”
“I’d make anything work if it means I have you.”
