“Marcus?”
I wipe away tears. “I think I need help.”
Chapter 5
CARMEN
After Dee and Wyatt leave, we end up back outside on the patio discussing the possibility of them as a couple. “Tell us everything about him,” I say to my husband. “Leave nothing out.”
“He’s a good dude,” Jason says.
If I didn’t know him so well, he might’ve gotten away with that, but I can tell just by looking at him that something is troubling him.
“You don’t like them together?”
“I never said that.”
His sharp reply takes me by surprise. He never talks to me like that, which only furthers my suspicion that he’s not sold on them dating.
“Do you think something happened between them at the wedding?” Maria asks.
“They danced a lot that night,” I recall. “The photographer got a bunch of pictures of them together.”
“I mean afterward. Dee never did say what she did that night. The rest of us went out, but she said she had other plans. Do you think those plans were with him?”
“Holy crap! That’s why he’s here! Because of her.”
“He’s here for an interview at Miami-Dade,” Jason reminds me.
“Did he express any interest in moving here before the wedding?”
“No, but—”
“It is because of her!”
“This is awesome!” Maria claps her hands in glee. “He’s just what she needs after the nightmare with Marcus. A super nice guy, a talented doctor, hotter than the sun…”
“Hello, honey,” Austin says dryly. “I’m in the room.”
Maria dissolves into giggles. “Sorry, but he is smoking hot.”
“He is,” I agree. “He’s got that whole McDreamy thing going on with the hair and the eyes.”
“We’re going to head out,” Jason says, standing.
I give him a perplexed look but keep my curiosity—and concern—to myself while we say good night and thank you to Maria and Austin. That lasts until we’re in the car when I turn toward him. “What was that about?”
“What was what about?”
“You abruptly wanting to leave? You aren’t mad about me agreeing with Maria that Wyatt’s hot, are you?”
“Of course not. It was just time to go.”
“So you’re just not going to tell me why you’re unhappy at the thought of Wyatt and Dee together—and don’t try to tell me you’re not unhappy about it. I know you too well.”
“It’s not that.”
“Then what?”
“There are things… about him… Things she should know.”
“And you don’t think he’ll tell her those things?”
“He won’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s something he never talks about with anyone in his personal life.”
“What is it?”
He shakes his head. “Please don’t ask me. It’s not my story to tell.”
“You know what she means to us, Jason, and what she went through with Marcus. If you know something that she should know, you have to tell me.”
“No, I don’t. But I will talk to Wyatt. The first chance I get. That, I can promise you.”
My stomach starts to hurt at the thought of our friend hurting my sweet cousin, who’s already had enough hurt. “Is she…” I swallow hard as the words get stuck in my throat. “Is she unsafe with him?”
“Not physically, no. I never would’ve let Dee leave with him if that was a concern, Carmen. Tell me you know that.”
“I do, but you’re being so mysterious. Surely whatever it is, you can tell me. I won’t tell anyone.”
“You’d tell her this. You’d feel obligated to tell her.”
“You’re scaring me, Jason. You know how much I love her and what Marcus put her through. I can’t let a friend of ours hurt her.”
“I know, and all I can tell you is I’ll do what I can to make sure that doesn’t happen. I’d tell you in a second if I could. But I can’t. Wyatt has to tell her, and then she can tell you if she chooses to.”
“And you’ll make sure he tells her soon?”
“I will.” He takes hold of my hand but keeps his eyes on the road. He’s learned to be extra careful driving in South Florida. “It’s possible that whatever’s going on with them is only a passing flirtation. If that’s the case, he won’t tell her because it won’t matter.”
My brain is on fire as I try to read between the lines of what he’s not saying. “How do you know about it?”
“He told me when we were first in med school. He told only me and emphasized how important it is to him that no one else knows about it.”
“Why did he tell you?”
“That’s something I can’t get into unless he decides to talk to Dee about it. I’m sorry to be secretive, Carmen. I’d never keep anything from you unless I had to. You know that, right?”
“I think so.”
“It’s true. I’m not intentionally trying to be evasive. I’ll talk to Wyatt the first chance I get. Try not to worry. I don’t want to see Dee hurt any more than you do, especially by my friend.”
“He seems like such a nice guy.”
“He is.”
“So, we’re not talking about some sort of massive personality defect, then?”
“No.” His jaw is tight, as is his grip on the steering wheel. This situation is stressing him out, and I hate that for all of us.
When we get home, he goes in to shower, and I reach for my phone to text Maria. Something’s up with Wyatt. Jason won’t tell me, says it’s Wyatt’s thing to share or not share with Dee, but whatever it is, it’s upsetting Jason. He said he’s going to talk to Wyatt about it as soon as he can.
She writes back a few minutes later. Oh jeez. WTH?
Whatever it is, he’s stressed. He said it’s not something Wyatt would tell her on his own.
Why all the secrecy?
No idea, but I don’t like this, especially with everything with Marcus.
Agreed. Let’s keep an eye on this and intervene if need be.
I don’t want to have to do that.
I don’t, either. The last time was bad enough.
When Jason gets in bed a few minutes later, I’m already there, staring up at the ceiling, thinking about my sweet cousin and wishing with all my heart that she could find her forever love. It’s all she’s ever really wanted—to fall in love and have a family. While Maria and I chased careers, Dee dreamed about being a mom. At one time, she told us how she and Marcus were going to have six kids. That dream, and all the others she had wrapped up in him, ended when he married someone else. Even when they were apart, we always knew she had her heart set on him.
“Are you mad?” Jason asks.
“No.”
“Disappointed?”
“No.”
He turns on his side to face me. “What’re you thinking?”