Sweet Harmony (Harmony Falls #1) - Elizabeth Kelly Page 0,83
not in love with you the way you want me to be, but I still care about you as a friend.”
“Oh yeah? When’s my birthday, Daniel?”
He hesitated and she made a small bitter laugh. “What’s my favourite colour? When did I learn to drive? How long was I depressed after my parents died?”
He didn’t reply, and she sighed and gave him a look of sorrow and regret. “You don’t know because you didn’t come around much during that time, did you? I couldn’t be the attentive, everything is about Daniel, Kira that you were used to, so you just disappeared. You walked away when I needed support the most.”
She wiped away the tears that were starting to stream down her face. “The worst part? I forgave you for it. I loved you so much that I told myself it didn’t matter that you abandoned me during the worst time of my life. I told myself that not everyone was good with death and with grieving and it didn’t matter because I had Gideon and Grace to take care of me.”
“I’m sorry, Kira.” Daniel’s voice was low, the look on his face one of genuine regret.
“I know you are,” she said. “But it’s too late. I don’t love you anymore and right now? I don’t want to be your friend either. I can’t keep giving and giving and not receiving anything in return. That isn’t how a friendship works. I deserve better than you, Daniel Moore.”
She turned and walked away. Halfway up the porch steps, he called her name. She turned around and studied him in the glow from the street lights.
“I’m sorry, Kira. I really am,” Daniel said.
“I’ll see you around, Daniel.”
Chapter Eighteen
“It’s twenty minutes after your appointment time,” Kira glanced at her watch. “I’m going to go ask the nurse where he is.”
“It’s fine,” Connor said. “Orthopedic specialists are always running late.”
She chewed at her bottom lip and, without thinking, he reached out and caught her hand, linking their fingers together. “He’ll be here soon.”
She smiled at him before staring at their clasped hands. “I’m sorry. I’m supposed to be supporting you in this moment.”
“You are,” he said.
“Yeah, my skyrocketing anxiety must be super helpful for you,” she said.
He smiled and squeezed her hand. “I’m glad you’re here with me.”
“Me too.” She studied his mouth and then looked away, the telltale flush of embarrassment rising in her cheeks.
“I’m sorry about yesterday,” he said. “I ignored you all day and that was really immature of me.”
“It’s okay,” she said. “I upset you.”
“But that’s no excuse,” he said. “I hate when people call me cold, but that’s exactly what I was to you and it wasn’t right. I’m sorry.”
“You’re not cold,” she said. “But apology accepted. Also, I’m sorry for, um, upsetting you Wednesday night. I didn’t mean to.”
“It isn’t your fault that I’m jealous of Daniel. Some fake boyfriend I turned out to be, huh?”
“You don’t have to be jealous of Daniel. I’m not -”
“Dr. MacMillan?” The door opened and a short and stocky man with thinning hair and a goatee bustled into the room. He shook Connor’s hand and then Kira’s before sitting down behind the desk. “Sorry, I’m late. I’ll get right to your results.”
Connor tensed and was grateful when Kira immediately scooted her chair closer and linked her arm around his. He held his breath as the doctor sat back in his chair.
“Good news. Nothing is torn. The MCL and ACL are looking good as is your meniscus.”
Connor blinked at him. “I – what?”
“Everything’s good. Well, other than the bruising and swelling but,” the doctor stood and moved around the desk to crouch in front of Connor, “even that is looking better. He probed a bit at Connor’s knee. Swelling has gone down significantly, I see.”
“Nothing is torn,” Connor said.
The doctor nodded and the weight that had sat in his stomach for a week dropped away. He took a deep breath before staring at Kira. “Nothing is torn.”
“That’s such good news,” she said.
She squeaked in shock when he leaned closer, cupped her face and planted a kiss on her mouth. He pulled back as the doctor stood and returned to his chair.
“I’m going to recommend you wear the brace for at least another few weeks, just to be on the safe side. Keep icing it and on Monday try switching to a cane and see how that works for you. Sound good?”
“Yes,” Connor said. “Can I return to work on Monday?”