Page 89 of Dr. Stone
I walked through the hallway, still keeping all emotion buried while I spoke with my family’s friends and alerted them that Sebastian was alive and recovering.
The waiting room came into view. It was quiet and dimly lit, tucked in behind frosted glass doors reserved for the families of high-stakes patient emergencies.
I saw them through the glass, first Darcy, Seb’s fiancée, who was near the corner with a pale face and arms tightly folded together, but still composed. Seb was pacing in stiff, frantic loops, always commanding, even when fearful. Then there was Margot Aster, who was like a rigid aunt to me, standing elegantly with her hands clutched together. She was regal, as I had always known the woman to be, even though I knew she was terrified.
I blew out a calming breath and then walked in.
“He’s stable,” I immediately said, sparing dramatics and giving answers first. “There were two severe blockages, one in the LAD and the other in the coronary artery. We placed two drug-eluting stents, and blood flow is fully restored,” I smiled at the relief in everyone’s expressions. “He responded well.”
Sebastian dropped into a chair as if his knees gave out, and Darcy rushed to support him, but Margot didn’t move. Her eyes stayed on me like she didn’t know how to respond.
“He’ll be moved to step-down cardiac recovery within the hour,” I continued calmly. “If all continues smoothly, he’ll be up and walking tomorrow and back home by the end of the week.”
She stepped toward me as Sebastian and Darcy rose, their expressions filled with extreme relief. “And you?” her voice trembled. “You’re the one who operated on him, Jace?”
I nodded, “Yes, ma’am. I was the one on-call.”
Unexpectedly, she reached out and touched my arm. “Oh, dear boy,” she said. “You just saved my husband’s life.”
Then, as most lifesaving surgeries went, I found myself being hugged with utter gratitude by the patient’s spouse. Once I let my emotions return, I fully accepted Margot’s embrace and informed everyone that they could see him once he was awake.
That’s when the unexpected invitation came, and if it had been announced by anyonebutMargot, the matriarch of the Aster family, I would’ve brushed it off as nothing more than the emotional high of relief and celebration.
But Margot never said things she didn’t mean, especially when it came to invitations.
“I’ll be hosting a formal dinner in your honor to celebrate you and your skills. Invitations will be sent, and you will be there, young man,” she smiled, and I looked at Sebastian with the only look that would make the man go from being severely concerned to humored.
He shrugged while Darcy cringed, and just like that, I was facing another damn elite soiree. One that wouldn’t just force me to mingle in their circles, but also put me in the spotlight, being acknowledged like I was some kind of celebrity. I would’ve politely declined, butno oneturned down an invitation fromMargot Aster. That’s why Sebastian wore a sympathetic, yet slightly amused look on his face.
Oh, well. Maybe this was the part where I would blow their fucking minds with my new girlfriend and her son. That should make for some stellar entertainment, especially since, not even a week ago, my girl was at one of these exact events, surrounded by all the assholes Margot would invite—including my parents—and every one of them last saw her on Hawk’s arm.
This was bound to be a masterclass in managing world-class awkwardness…should be fun.
FORTY-ONE
Andie
The sunset walksand all the little things—even being surrounded by the mystical, beautiful paintings in Ash’s gallery—felt brighter since I finally let go of my fear and hesitation and trusted Jace with my heart. Everything had become more vivid and wistful.
I was happy. Honestly, I felt even better than I did after first meeting Jace on the yacht. I had no idea what shifted to align the stars like this, but I wasn’t asking questions anymore. “Are you ready for Jace to pick you up and whisk your sexy little butt off into the sunset?” Ash asked, still unfazed by our inconveniencing her with our dog and needing her car a few days ago.
“I cannot figure out how you and Jake don’t hate us yet,” I sighed. “You’re too sweet, as always,” I smiled and hugged her.
Ash laughed into my hug and stepped back. “That’s because I absolutely love everything about new love,” she said. “When the Universe aligns two souls that were meant to be together…” she drifted off, floating up into her hippie-Ash world. “It’s justbeautiful. I experienced it with Jacob, and I know the feelings that come along with two perfect halves uniting.”
“Oh, babe,” I said, smiling at her. “We’re barely starting to date, and although I can’t get the man out of my mind or this damn smile off my face, we’re just getting to know each other. Unfortunately, getting to know each other means banishing the dog-who-hates-love to another room and risking Jake ending up with a case of blue balls so bad he might never speak to us again by the time we even figure out each other’s birthdays.”
She rolled her eyes. “We’ve managed just fine with Duke. Jake is just being dramatic so he can give Jace shit about it. That’s how those men are, trust me. Duke isnota problem; in fact, he sleeps with Kaley and is becoming quite attached to her,” she laughed. “Thatmight be your real problem; Duke never wanting to leave his favorite girl for you.”
I rubbed my forehead. “What an ordeal, you know?” I laughed. “I mean, I take in a perfect little dog from a guy who was trying to date me. I wind up dating him, and now that dog hates the guy, and I’m about to lose said dog because I can’t have him around if I want to be with the guy.”
“Sounds like a classic crossroads scenario,” Ash chirped. “Boyfriend or the dog?”
I laughed and shook my head. “There’s no better way to put it,” I said with honesty. “However, boyfriends come and go, and dogs stay loyal until the end, right? So, my choice should be easy here,” I teased.
“In my opinion, that dog’s loyalty is starting to shift to my little girl, and you’re about to lose the dog entirely.”
Our laughter and silly conversation came to a halt the moment Jace walked in. He pulled off his silver Ray-Bans, his hair tousled in that unmistakable just-fucked kind of way, looking like a gift from the gods.
