Page 33 of The Other Side

“Can she have breakfast?” Brett asked the nurse.

“She sure can. They’ll come by and give her an order form in just a minute. I think I have everything I need. Call if you need anything.”

“Thanks,” Brett and Thea said in unison.

When the door closed behind the nurse, Brett pulled the chair beside the bed. “I got you something.”

“What is it?”

“A strawberry cupcake from Sticky Sweet’s.”

Thea looked up at him and tilted her head. “What?”

“Isn’t that what you like?” His brows pinched together in a flicker of uncertainty.

“How do you even remember that?” she asked with eyes narrowed.

“You’re the only person I’ve ever met who lit up like a kid on Christmas morning whenever someone mentioned strawberry cupcakes. It was hard to forget.”

Thea looked down at her hands. She’d made a huge mistake in leaving him.

Brett sat on the side of her bed. “Hey, what’s wrong? I’m sorry if you don’t like the cupcake. I can get you something else.”

She chewed on the inside of her lip and didn’t look up at him. “No, it’s great. Thank you. I haven’t had a strawberry cupcake in a long time, and I want it. It just brings back a lot of memories that I don’t know what to do with.”

Brett’s furrowed brow eased. “I know what you mean. Seeing you has really churned up the old muddy waters.”

Thea squirmed and winced as the pain and discomfort vied for her attention. “Everything hurts.”

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“You didn’t do it. There’s nothing to be sorry for. I’m the one who’s sorry. I–”

Brett picked up her hand, and she didn’t pull away. “Let’s not talk about it now. It’s over. We can move on.”

But she couldn’t move on, and she didn’t believe he could either. “I’m just as confused as ever. Not about you. I believe you. But Gage and Emerson…”

“I don’t know the answers. I still want to rip Gage’s head off for his part in all this, and I definitely won’t trust Emerson.”

Thea pinched the bridge of her nose. “I’m not sure trusting anyone is a good idea.”

“Gage gave me his number. I’ll only use it if necessary. Right now, you don’t need to worry about anything else. You’re perfectly safe.”

“Thanks for staying. And for bringing me things. And for not hurting Gage.”

Brett grinned. “You think I could take him?”

She laughed, and it left her ribs screaming. “I don’t know, but I would bet good money you’d both end up with broken bones.”

He cleared his throat. “Actually, I think we were on the same page by the time he left. We both just want you to be safe and happy.”

Another punch in the gut. She’d been so wrong for so long.

“So, what do you want for breakfast?” he asked.

“She said they’d bring a menu,” Thea said.

“I can get you anything within sixty miles of here with one phone call. Say the word.”

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