“I haven’t lost a game in a while, and never to a girl. Although I can’t remember ever really playing with anyone but Layla, and she could barely make a straight shot.”
I felt my cheeks warm as he walked over and put his arms around me to draw me in close for a kiss.
I wondered what he had on his mind. He had opted to take me out again instead of going to the night’s victory party at Omega House. That made two wins and two no-shows, and while it showed me how much he cared, I had to wonder how long it would take before he missed his friends.
I’d enjoy it while it lasted, but I knew it was only a matter of time before the party-animal Seth reared his gorgeous head. And what then?
But maybe I was just afraid of it ending so much I wasn’t giving him enough credit for how much he’d changed. Maybe he wouldn’t ever want to go back to another victory party? That would be fine with me, but I just didn’t know if Seth could be happy without it.
Things had been going so great between us, and Seth was really going out of his way to prove to me that he was a better man than anyone had ever given him credit for.
When he pulled away, he brushed my hair behind my ear. “I guess I should take you home and tuck you in.”
I checked the time and realized it was nearly one thirty in the morning. “Wow, I didn’t realize it was so late. I’ve had so much fun.”
“Yeah, me too. Even though I got my ass kicked repeatedly.” He took out his keys and drank the last sip of his beer, which had to be warm by then.
“Hey, you beat me the first few games fair and square.”
We walked out to the Jeep, and he opened the door for me and made sure I was in before he closed it and went around to the other side. When he got in behind the wheel, he checked his phone and put it in the console.
I didn’t want the night to end, but I didn’t want to suggest that Seth stay another night so soon. Not that I didn’t want him to, but I felt I needed to take things a little slower, especially now that we’d been so intimate.
When we arrived at the apartment unit, he found his usual spot next to my car and shut the Jeep off to walk me to the door. After a long kiss goodnight, he said his goodbyes and left without even a suggestion of staying a while.
Maybe he was waiting for me to ask him to stay? I wasn’t sure. I just knew that I missed him as he drove away, and I wondered if that longing was normal or if I was hopelessly falling in love with him.
As I went inside, I thought about the Omega party and wondered if he was going to stop by. I quickly put the thought out of my head, giving him the benefit of the doubt. I couldn’t go around accusing him of sneaking. It wasn’t fair, and he’d done nothing to deserve that kind of suspicion. At least not with me. And I couldn’t hold the sins of his past against him.
I went to the bathroom to shower, but as soon as I turned on the faucet to let the water warm, my phone rang.
I smiled. Seth must miss me already. But it wasn’t Seth.
Clara’s number showed up on the screen. “Great.”
I wondered if she had driven by and found I wasn’t home, or worse, maybe she heard that Seth and I were out together, kissing in public and acting like a couple.
I answered the phone. “Hey, sis. What did I do now?”
“It’s Dillon,” he said in a panicked voice. “Look, I know it’s late, but I’m at the hospital with Clara. She’s having some problems.”
“What? What kind of problems, Dillon? Is she conscious?”
“She’s awake. She was just having some issues breathing, her heartrate is up, and she’s freaking me out.”
“I’m on the way!”
“Thanks, I didn’t want to be here alone. I’ll see you soon. They’re calling me back.”
I turned off the shower, grabbed my keys, and hurried to the hospital. I drove past Omega and spotted Seth’s Jeep there. He was outside talking to Micah and Ben when I drove by, and he turned just in time to see my car.
I kept going. He was going to do what he wanted, and there was nothing I could do about it. I had my sister to think about. It didn’t stop the hurt in my heart. He had brought me home so he could go to a party without me.
A few minutes later when I was almost to the hospital, my phone rang, and sure enough, it was Seth calling, probably to give me an explanation. I didn’t want to hear it. But when the call ended, a text came next asking if everything was okay, and that set me off. I hit the call button in my car and commanded it to call him back.
He answered on the first ring. “Hey, was that you who drove by?”
“Yeah, I’m on my way to the hospital. Don’t let that interrupt your good time.”
“Hey, it’s not like that, but what’s going on? Are you okay? Is it Clara?”
“Yes, it’s Clara. And I don’t know what’s going on. With you or her.”
“Nothing is going on. I saw Micah waving me down and stopped to talk a minute. When I saw you driving by, I thought you were checking up on me.”
“Nope, I thought you had gone home. But I guess I know now why you didn’t want to stay with me.”
“I did want to stay with you, but I didn’t want to be that guy. I hoped you’d make the first move again. And if you’re this upset, you should have called me, and I could have taken you to the hospital myself.”
“I got upset when I saw you at Omega House. I thought you went to the party. It wouldn’t be my business if you did, I guess.”
“It is, Avery. Babe, don’t make more of this than it is. I’m about to leave and go home. I could come there if you want me to.”
“No. I don’t want to upset Clara. She wouldn’t want you there.”
“I guess you’re right. I’m sorry I upset you.” I could tell by the sound of his voice that he meant it.
I felt terrible for thinking the worst, but things were just going so well, it had to be too good to be true. “I’m sorry I got upset.”
“Will you call me when you get home? I’m worried about you out so late. You were already yawning earlier on the way home.”
“I’ll be fine. I’ll drink some strong hospital coffee, and it will wake me up. Plus, Dillon is there. If I get too sleepy, I’ll catch a ride.”
He sighed. “Okay. Just let me know you’re safe. Night, babe.”
The call ended, and I felt a tear roll down my cheek. I didn’t like how close to a fight that had come. I didn’t want anything to mess us up, not jealousy, or fear, or anything.
I went to the elevators and pushed the button for the cardio wing. When I landed, the door opened, and I could already see Dillon filling out some paperwork with one of the staff.
I hurried over. “How is she?”
“She’s fine. They have her taking it easy, and they are going to check her heart and make sure it’s not giving out.”
“Oh no. Do you think that’s possible?”
Dillon, who was as pale as a ghost, shrugged. “She kept saying she felt weird earlier after she ate.”
“At least she’s eating.”
“Barely,” he said. “I’m not sure my being away was a good idea.”
“She wouldn’t eat much for me either. I was afraid she was just putting on a show for me.”