Serves Me Wright (Wright #9) - K.A. Linde Page 0,98
on was a huge thing for her.
“I still love him, but I’m not in love with him,” she said to our shocked faces. “It’s for the better. Maybe I can start dating again.”
I groaned, and Jordan looked green.
“Not to interrupt,” Annie said, entering, “but that sounds like a good idea to me.”
“Oh, Annie,” Mom said. She was beaming. She loved Annie. “Jordan didn’t pull you from the ER, did he?”
“He did, but that’s okay.”
“Are you going to let me out of here?”
Annie pulled her chart up on an iPad and laughed. “I think we’ll listen to whatever the oncologist said. It looks like your vitals are still not where he wants them to be. He said to keep you overnight.”
“I know. But I don’t think it’s necessary.”
Annie smiled a careful, doctoral smile. “Well, the doctor says it’s necessary. So, here we are.”
My mom rolled her eyes. “All right. Fine. I’m here already. What’s one night?”
Annie kissed Jordan. “I should really get back though. They’re going to need me the minute they realize I’m gone.”
“Okay, babe. Love you.”
“Love you, too,” she said and then headed out the door.
“I’ll be right back,” I said, dashing after Annie. “Hey, Annie!”
She sighed and turned to face me. “How can I help you, Julian?”
I ran a hand back through my hair. “Could you…tell Jennifer about this?”
She furrowed her brow. “Is your phone still not operational?”
“No. It works. She just won’t respond to me.”
“And you don’t deserve that?”
I winced. “Uh, I do, but I just…I want her to know. I’m not asking for more…yet.”
“You Wright men,” she said with a huff.
“Please, Annie. I fucked up, but I want to fix things. You of all people should understand.”
She wavered for a second and then nodded. “Fine, Julian. But she doesn’t owe you anything.”
“Of course.”
She got out her phone and texted. “There.”
“Thanks, Annie.”
She shook her head. A small smile came to her lips. “Good luck.”
Then she disappeared. And I needed every ounce of that luck if I was going to fix this with Jen.
41
Jennifer
“Hi, I’m here to see Helena Wright,” I said to the nurses’ desk. “Can I be buzzed through?”
“Sure thing, honey,” the nurse said.
The buzzer went off, and I yanked the door open.
“Thanks,” I threw out as I rushed forward.
Annie’s text had sent me into a frenzy. I hadn’t been responding to Julian’s messages. I wanted to, but I needed to decide what I was going to do about it all. He’d said he was sorry and that he wanted to fix things. But saying those things were not actions. And I didn’t know how to reconcile what he’d done with what I wanted from him. Not to mention, plucking up the courage that Chester’d had with our mom.
Anxiety was a part of who I was. It wasn’t who I was, but it was a defining point of my person. Did I risk Julian seeing me differently by divulging that? Did I risk everything by being my real self?
All I knew was that when I’d found out his mom was in the hospital, I had to get to him. I had to get to him right now. I was mad at him, but I wasn’t callous.
I stopped in front of the door for Helena’s room. My hand rose, but I didn’t knock. I was half-worried that I would be interrupting and half-worried that I would have no idea what to say. Welcome back, anxiety.
I took a deep breath and then knocked.
“Come in!” a voice called.
I turned the knob and found myself face-to-face with a room full of people. Julian and Jordan sat at their mom’s bedside with Hollin and Nora also there along with their dad and aunt. I’d met them all at some point, but I was blanking on their names. Mostly because I was now accosted with the sight of everyone staring at me.
“Hey,” I said with a small wave. “I just, uh, came to check on you.”
“Jennifer, I’m glad you’re here,” Helena said with a smile.
“Are you…are you doing all right?”
“Fine,” she said, staring at her sons. “They’re keeping me overnight, but I’m fine.”
“That’s such a relief. I’m glad to hear that. I was worried.”
Julian shot to his feet. “Can we talk?”
I eyed the room. Everyone tried to look anywhere but at me. I swallowed. Eesh. Then I nodded, backing out of the room.
I heard his mom and Hollin make fun of him from the open door and almost smiled a little at it. Clearly, everyone knew what was going on with us.