Page 47 of All Bets are Off

“West?” I say groggily. I’d left my door partially open, hoping I’d hear him when he got home.

“Yeah. Hey, sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you up.” He sounds tired.

“How’s Mom?”

“She was asleep when I got there. I ended up going for a drive.”

“That’s too bad. I know she wanted to see you,” I whisper into the darkness.

“She’s not in her right mind,” West says. “If she were, she’d want you around all the time.”

“I know that. The rejection is still hard to take, though. And she’s getting worse every day,” I say.

West remains quiet, and I know it’s because he can’t argue about that. It’s extremely obvious how quickly my mother’s mind is deteriorating. After a moment, he turns and looks at me. The light from the hallway shines on my face, but West’s features are completely in shadow.

“I know this is hard on you, but I’ll be here every step of the way,” he promises.

“I’m okay.”

“Logan.” West rests his hand on my arm, and just that little bit of comfort threatens to undo me.

Rolling over to face the other way, I mumble, “Get some sleep. I know you’re tired. And I’m sorry I ruined your date.”

“It wasn’t a date.” West pokes me in the back. He hesitates, then I hear him get up and cross the room. The door clicks shut, sinking the room into complete darkness when he leaves.

I sigh softly. West might not have wanted it to be a date, but I’m pretty sure Anna did. The few looks she sent my way at the ice cream place weren’t friendly.

I stiffen when the bed dips behind me.

“What are you doing?” I ask, looking over my shoulder. West has stripped down to his shorts and stretched out behind me. His arm snakes around my waist.

“Sleeping with you,” he mumbles into my hair.

Slowly, I relax, listening to his soft, even breathing. His arm, which he’s wrapped tightly around my chest, gradually loosens as he falls into a deep sleep, and I lie there for a long time enjoying his warmth before I nod off myself.

****

After physical training the next morning, I call Donna and ask her how Mom’s night went.

“She slept like a baby once she finally fell asleep,” she tells me.

“I’m really worried about her.”

“Her other nurses and I are keeping notes for you to give to the specialist.”

“I really appreciate that.”

I haven’t talked to the two other nurses as often as I have Donna, but they seemed pleasant and helpful the few times I did talk with them.

“Everything good?”

I turn to find Colt and Dex standing behind me, sweat dripping from their faces after our intense morning run of the obstacle course.

“As good as it can be at the moment.”

Colt pats my back. “I’m sorry you’re going through this.”

I smile. Looking at my phone, I see a text from Jase for me and West to meet him in his office, so I quickly shower before heading that way. When I walk in, West is already there, sitting on the leather couch. Somehow, sleeping all night with him cuddled up to me in bed makes things feel different between us. I suddenly want to touch him, but I leave a few feet between us on the couch. He gives me a small smile that makes my heart flutter.

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