Page 77 of After We Fall

“Yeah, but you were taking your medication. Are you okay?”

“Quinn said he needs to adjust the dose. But when I heard you got hurt, I kind of panicked. I took an early flight back. I didn't eat much on the flight, and I couldn’t sleep. After I landed, I was tired, but I wanted to get here, so I started driving. Quinn told me I just can't be casual about things like that. Based on the monitoring info from the EMT’s, he thinks I fainted, which caused the accident. I'm sorry,” she whispered hoarsely.

My eyes stung with tears. I reached for one of her hands, holding it between mine and stroking my thumb across her wrist, where I could feel the steady beat of her pulse. I almost needed to feel it. I needed the reassurance.

“You don't have to apologize. I get it. Maybe I overreacted because of what happened with my mom—”

Her hair swung as she shook her head quickly. “You didn't. I've been annoyed about it, and I guess in denial.”

“You? Avoiding something?” I managed to tease lightly.

She rolled her eyes, squeezing one of my hands. “I guess I've always needed to be tough. I got defensive when I should have been smart. I was in a hurry to get back and see you, but I should have stopped and gotten something to eat. Now, I'm being honest with you about this, so for God's sake, don't drive me crazy over it.”

The vulnerability in her eyes nearly undid me. My heart swelled, and I smiled down at her, joy punching its fist through the fear inside my heart. “As if that would work,” I said.

She looked chagrined. “Lesson learned. It’s possible I just fell asleep, but I'm lucky nobody else was on that stretch of road when it happened. Someone came by right after it happened, which is why the EMTs got there so fast. My car bounced and rolled, but I'm fine.”

“Are you fine, though?” I pressed.

“I mean, I'll be sore, but all things considered, yes.”

Quiet fell between us. I kept brushing my thumb over the steady beat of her pulse on the inside of her wrist. A moment later, I leaned over, brushing my lips over hers. I meant for it to be a chaste kiss.

But she arched closer, making a soft sound at the back of her throat. Her tongue darted out to glide against mine. The next thing I knew, that monitor was beeping again. We broke apart just before Helen opened the door.

“She's one hell of a chaperone,” I murmured.

Harley giggled and sniffled again.

ChapterThirty-Six

HARLEY

The following day, Daphne waved a hand airily in the direction of the table in the front of the kitchen. “Sit,” she ordered.

When I let out a sigh, Daphne narrowed her eyes. “Are you actually going to argue with me about this? You just had a car accident.”

I felt my cheeks heat as I rolled my eyes. “Fine,” I muttered under my breath.

Cat called after me, “We're going to pamper you and drive you insane.”

When I laughed, my sore shoulder twinged with pain. My own stubbornness and insistence had gotten me into this mess. The most annoying part was that I had started to come to terms with my heart condition. I’d just been in a rush to get back to Grant.

I sat down at the table in my preferred corner. In my opinion, it offered the best view. Although when it came to views at the lodge, that was splitting hairs. To one side was the evergreen forest with a pretty stand of birch along the sloping hill. In another month or so, the grassy field would be awash in pink from the fireweed that covered the open fields of Alaska, offering vista after vista of flowers. Fireweed was the precursor to autumn here and offered more color than autumn did, which was mostly golds and coppers.

Kachemak Bay glittered in the distance, and beyond that, Mount Augustine stood quiet in the inlet, a tall, silent volcano rising out of the ocean. I kept telling myself that someday I would go out there. I was so curious, but that would be for another day.

I reflexively started to turn when I heard Cat say something and then winced. She wagged a finger at me. “See? You need to be careful with your shoulder.” She set the platter she held in her other hand down beside me.

“What’s this?” I asked.

“Take a bite and guess. It’s like a box of chocolates.”

“Except it’s not a box of chocolates,” I pointed out.

She grinned. “I know, but they all have different fillings.”

“Ooh, what are my options?”

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