Page 131 of Wild Side
“It doesn’t seem like he?—”
“Will, shut up. I’m telling you that he likes you. He trusts you.” I continue shoving random clothes into a bag. “For a man who has no friends, you might be the closest thing to it. So get there, and do not leave. Be annoying. Ask for updates. I don’t know if Will is your real name, but throw that cocky, obnoxious Million Dollar energy around, ’kay?”
“But I’m not family.”
“Then lie!” My voice comes out shrill.
“Okay. Okay.”
“Okay, text me. Bye.” I hang up on a clearly spiraling Will and pull up a browser to check for flights, cursing as I scroll through them. They are all tomorrow, and I’ll need to drive three plus hours to get to the Calgary airport—which is right now since there’s no way I’m sleeping. It’s all just… too fucking slow. I want to be therenow.
I groan, but it edges on a sob. Living in a small town is all fine and dandy until you need to be somewhere fast. What I really need is—Rosie.
I dial her, and she picks up with a singsong, “Hellooo,” on the third ring.
“Rosie, I need help.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Rhys is seriously injured, and I need to get back to California. You’re the only person I know who is married to?—”
“A billionaire with a private jet? Say less. Ford!” she shouts, and I hear her footsteps rushing through their house. Murmurs filter through the phone, and I can hear her relaying the story.
“I’ll call my guy. It’s not that late. Tell Tabitha I’ll come pick her up.” I let out the breath I’d been holding when I hear Ford’s voice. He’s so matter-of-fact, and that authoritative vibe he has does nothing but bring me comfort in this moment.
“Okay, Tabby. Ford is on it. What can I do? Tell me what you need.”
I look around and let out a whimper when I think of Milo sleeping peacefully down the hall. It all seems so unfair. Have we not been through enough?
But I shake the sentiment and put even more energy into the belief that everything will be okay.
“Milo is here. And our cat, Cleo. Is there any?—”
“I’ll be right over.”
Then she hangs up on me, and I finish getting ready, doing my best to ignore the tears in my eyes.
I blast into the hospital with Ford hot on my heels. He might be the least annoying moral support I’ve ever received. He’s justthere. Getting shit done. Not asking me about my feelings. He got us a retired pilot he uses who lives in Rose Hill. He booked us a car on the landing side. He called ahead to the hospital to make sure Rhys was in the best room money could buy.
One day, I’ll weep over his steady, supportive brand of kindness. But right now, I just feed off of his big-swinging-dick energy and cool, collected demeanor.
He makes it easy to hold it together.
I jam my finger against the button in the elevator and tap my foot as it ascends. My eyes stay locked on the numbers above the door.
“You don’t need to be here, you know.” I don’t look at Ford as I say it to him, but from the corner of my eye, I can see him shrug.
“I know.”
“You can go back home.”
A nod. “I can.”
I turn to face him. “Honestly, Ford. You’ve done enough.”
He regards me carefully. “You know what you and I have in common, Tabitha?”
My head tilts. “Aside from our good looks?”
