Page 115 of We Were Something
I was nervous about having another doctor do the surgery. I’m glad you’re back.
I grin. “I’m glad I’m back, too. I can’t miss my favorite patient having life-altering surgery.”
She giggles, and I pat her hand before I rise and turn to walk out of the room. Which is when I see Hannah standing in the doorway with a tight smile on her face.
“Good evening, Hannah.”
“Dr. Becker,” she says, her voice curt. “Glad you’re back to finish up with Ivy.”
I nod. “Me too.”
She steps past me then turns, giving her back to her sister.
That’s when I know she’s about to give me an earful, since she’s trying to hide from her sister’s incredibly adept ability to read lips.
“Paige told me and Lennon about what happened in Seattle,” she says. “In probably more detail than I needed, but nevertheless, I just wanted to let you know I think you’re an asshole for pushing her away.”
I sigh. “Hannah…”
“An asshole,” she continues, “but not an unforgivable one because you were just looking out for her, even if you did it in the wrong way.”
She pauses and then crosses her arms.
“I know what it’s like to run away from someone who loves you because they did something stupid. I might be the friend who has known Paige for the shortest period of time, so that probably makes me the least qualified to comment on what will make her happy. But Idoknow Paige isn’t moving to New York because it’s what she wants. She’s running away. And like I said, I know what it’s like to run away from someone who loves you.”
“Paige is moving to New York?” I ask, my eyes widening.
Hannah nods. “I figured you wouldn’t have heard about it yet. Her sister came back to town and…”
“I heard about Penny coming back and asking her to move. I thought Paige hated New York.”
“Well she’s running there to get away from you,” Hannah says, her lips flat and her eyes narrowed. “What does that tell you?”
I rub my palm over my face, suddenly realizing I have a finite amount of time to go to Paige and tell her how I feel, beg her to forgive me.
“Just tell her you made a mistake and you love her.”
My eyes fly up and lock on Ivy’s, and Hannah spins around in surprise. Ivy rarely verbalizes. Her siblings say it’s because she doesn’t want to be made fun of for how her voice sounds, which just breaks my heart. I’ve only heard her speak a few times in the nearly two months she’s been here, and it surprises me each time.
“What?” Hannah asks.
Ivy shrugs and tucks herself in closer to her pillow.
“Girls just want to be told they matter,” she says. “Tell her you’re sorry for whatever you did, and tell her you love her.”
I grin, loving Ivy’s optimism, the innocent belief of youth that things can be solved with just a few words something I hope to preserve for her as long as possible.
“You know what, that’s exactly what I’m going to do,” I tell her.
I just have to hope it’s enough.
CHAPTER22
PAIGE
“Did you call FIT and talk to an advisor?”
I poke at the veggie stir fry Beta prepped for us, shoving my fork through a green bean and lifting it to my lips.
