table while she danced with Gabriel. She’d snuck several peeks at them as she and Gabriel swayed in time to the music. Whatever they’d been discussing had been serious.
Sara reached across the console and placed her hand on his forearm. “You’ll have a chance to make things right today.”
He placed his hand on top of hers. “I can’t keep fucking things up.”
The statement was vague, but it was obvious he had no intention of saying more. She let it go, and they spent the rest of the ride to the hospital talking about the weather and discussing possible places to go for dinner.
Once they arrived at the hospital, she parted ways with Kellan in order to give him some privacy with his dad. She used the time to check on the progress of the other victims of the accident.
After an hour, her cell beeped.
You ready?
She tried to rein in her irrational excitement at seeing him again. For God’s sake, they’d only been apart a little while.
Sara was in completely over her head and terrified this wasn’t going to end well. Despite that, she couldn’t beat down the hope that fluttered every time she thought about him.
The optimist in her still believed he’d open his eyes, see what they had, what they could have, and he’d come to his senses.
The realist told her she was a total idiot and just asking for a broken heart.
She blew out a long, nervous breath, replied to the text, and they met in the lobby. Both of them were starving, so they simply headed across the street to Score. It wasn’t fancy or different, but it was close and the food was good.
Tanya Miller, the owner, was there. Before opening the bar, Tanya had worked as a nurse at Hampton Gen. Her daughter Andy was still a nurse there. As such, she knew Kellan and Sara well. She asked about his father and then led the two of them to the same quiet corner table where he had issued his offer of sex, sex, and more sex, just over a week ago.
He had been uncharacteristically quiet all day, but more so since his visit with his dad. After they placed their orders, Sara bit the bullet.
“Did you have a chance to speak with your father?”
Kellan shook his head. “Not really. He’s on some fairly heavy medication so he kept drifting in and out of sleep. I told him I loved him, but I’m not sure he heard me. Hell, I’m not even sure he realized I was in the room.”
Sara could tell how important it was to Kellan to talk to his dad, to clear up whatever disagreement they’d had just before the accident. She also knew Mr. James, and knew there was nothing Kellan could have done or said that would make him believe his son didn’t love him.
“I get that you’re upset, but your dad knows how you feel about him, Kell. He knows you love him. You may think you need to get what’s bothering you off your chest, but I suspect whatever it is isn’t as bad as you believe. In fact, I bet your dad forgave you for it two seconds after you guys parted ways the other night. Besides, your father is going to get stronger with each day. You’ll have your chance to talk to him. Until then…” She hesitated briefly, uncertain if she should make the offer dangling on the tip of her tongue. She went for it. “Until then, I’m here. Want to talk to me about it?”
He shook his head. “No. It’s okay. You’re right. I have to let it go for now.”
Sara wished his refusal didn’t hurt so much. While they’d always been friends, she wouldn’t call herself his closest confidante or anything. Even so, since their weekend together she’d felt a switch in the dynamics of their friendship. It felt deeper, more connected. She had hoped it was the same for him. Apparently, it wasn’t.
They chatted instead about his father’s prognosis as they ate. They’d both opted for chicken sandwiches and fries, and they split a piece of chocolate cake. Sara hadn’t realized until the food was placed in front of her how hungry she was.
The waitress walked by, asking if they’d like more coffee, and she nodded.
Kellan planned to check on his dad one more time before going home. Her car was still in the hospital parking lot, so their time was growing short. Sara felt guilty stalling their departure, but she