One to Chase - Tia Louise Page 0,76
lovely Mariska is.”
My oldest brother smiles so warmly, I’m almost sorry Patrick and I ever referred to him as “Captain Asshat.” Almost. It used to be quite fitting.
“Elaine! Patrick, you’re here!” A female voice interrupts us.
The lady in question dashes toward us with Marcus right behind her. I try not to let my expression reflect the joy surging through my chest at his return.
Every moment of Marcus comforting me today has me wanting to rush into his arms, from his secure hugs to his gentle reassurances to his kissing my head repeatedly. He’d been so focused on taking my mind off my fears for my mother. All of it swirls in my brain in a building rush of gratitude and...
Let’s not get carried away.
Still, I will admit, being in his arms was the most divine comfort I’ve ever experienced.
“Marcus!” Elaine skips forward to greet her brother.
He returns her embrace. “How was your flight?”
Watching them, I try to picture the two of them growing up together. I wonder if she thinks of him in any sort of paternal way. I wonder if she’ll be angry at me if she knows...
I have got to stop thinking this way immediately.
“Long and stressful,” she says. “I almost couldn’t take the nerves before we finally touched down at O’Hare.”
“Tell me about it.” Patrick catches her hand, threading their fingers. She melts into his side, leaning her head against his shoulder. “It looks like not much to do here tonight. The doctor said they’re keeping her sedated so she can rest and recover.”
Mariska goes to Stuart, and he glances down at her before returning his attention to me. “I’ll take the first shift tonight if you’d like to head home and get some rest.”
As much as I long to see my mother awake and okay, I know it won’t happen this evening, and now that we’re all together, the waves of exhaustion are pulling me under.
“I might try to rest,” I say, taking the plastic bag Mariska holds out to me.
“Do you need a ride?” Patrick catches my hand. “Elaine and I have a room at the Marriott.”
The hospital is only blocks from Sylvia’s condo building, another blessing in our crisis today. It allowed me to run here this morning, when I would have gone crazy waiting on a car. “I can walk back. It’s not far.”
“I’ll walk with you.” Marcus’s low voice floods my insides with soothing energy.
“Thanks man,” Patrick claps his shoulder. “I owe you like... ten million for being here today, looking after my little sister.”
I can’t help noticing a slight flinch in Marcus’s smile at Patrick’s words. “I was glad to be here,” he says. “I was glad she called me.”
Elaine gives him a proud smile. “You’re always the rock.”
Oh, if they only knew, would all of this be different?
I can’t linger over it. Fatigue presses on my forehead like heavy weights. Taking Marcus’s arm, I allow him to lead me out of the hospital and back to Sylvia’s place.
* * *
Marcus
She’s quiet as we walk the few blocks to the condo. Gusts of wind sweep through the tall buildings crinkling the plastic bag holding her lunch and throwing my tie over my shoulder. I came straight from work when she called. The events of this morning, my conversation with Paige, all of it seems like ancient history now.
My feelings for Amy burn at the forefront of my mind. Paige is settled, and I’m ready to head back in, pick up where we left off, stay with her until she surrenders the fight and agrees to be mine.
As soon as she’s recovered from her mother’s crisis, of course.
The entire walk, our hands don’t entwine. I don’t want to push her. Standing in front of the tall condo building, I can’t help remembering the last time we were in this same place together. She’d run out of Studio O after I’d shown up with Paige. I’d come after her once I’d realized she was on the streets alone.
“Charmed life,” I say, thinking of how wrong that night could have gone.
“What?” She looks up at me, confusion lining her beautiful face.
“Just thinking of the last time we were here. The guy you dropped a fifty on following you. That could have been very bad.”
“Oh.” Her expression relaxes and she shakes her head. “You’re right.” She’s quiet a beat before she finishes. “I guess I’d reached my quota on bad things for that night.”
Her words sting, but I’m not convinced she means them the way