but if past experience was anything to go by, I knew Nick didn’t know what he was saying. Going through that pain and rejection again would be too much for me. My heart wouldn’t be able to take it.
Mark was up and walking, pushing his IV pole as he slowly made his way down the hospital corridor, when I arrived at Madigan on Sunday afternoon. I’d purposely waited until later in the day rather than arrive first thing in the morning. If he noticed I was later than usual, he didn’t comment. Ever since I’d mentioned Greg’s name less than a week ago, our relationship had been strained and awkward.
This wasn’t the first time Mark had been out of bed. He was gaining strength day by day. I walked beside him down the wide hallway, matching my steps to his. “Did you have a good night?”
He shrugged. “I slept, if that’s what you mean.”
“Good.” We were both avoiding the subject that was heavy on our minds.
“You talk to Greg yet today?” he asked, not looking at me.
“No.”
“Will you?” His gaze pinned me now, drilling me with the question, as if this was an interrogation.
“Probably.” It’d never been my intention to mislead Mark about my relationship with Greg. Although I didn’t mention it, Greg had asked me out for dinner later and after a lot of discussion I’d agreed. I didn’t feel good about seeing him when I was with Mark, but he’d insisted and I’d caved in. We’d set a time and location in Tacoma.
I held Mark’s gaze, expecting him to comment. “Does that bother you?”
He glared back at me. “What do you think? I’m stuck in this hospital and there’s another man in your life even though you know the way I feel about you. This isn’t exactly how I pictured our reunion.”
“I didn’t think there would ever be a reunion,” I reminded him, and he’d been the one to make sure of that.
I could see that he was angry and frustrated, and I wasn’t helping. “Please, Mark, I don’t want to argue.”
“Arguing is the last thing I want to do,” he admitted softly, expelling a lengthy sigh.
His steps slowed and I knew the walking had tired him out. “Let me help you to your room,” I suggested as I placed my arm around his waist. By the time we made it back, Mark almost collapsed on the bed.
“I can’t wait to get out of here,” he muttered through gritted teeth. Frustration radiated off of him.
I was looking forward to the day of his release myself. It went without saying that he hated being incapacitated. I’d made arrangements for him to stay on the bottom floor of the inn. I knew he’d feel most at home at the inn. Having Rover close at hand would lift his spirits.
Mark rested against the back of the hospital bed and briefly closed his eyes.
“Have you heard anything more about…the mission?” I asked, not knowing what else to call it. I hated bringing it up, but for my own peace of mind, I needed to know.
“Can we talk about something else?” he pleaded. “I’m tired and not up to a serious discussion.”
Seeing how spent he was, I probably could have chosen a better time. “It can wait.” From his look I suspected he had an answer, only it wasn’t one he wanted to tell me, which in and of itself told me everything I needed to know.
Within seconds Mark was asleep. The physical exertion of being outside of bed had completely worn him out. I used the time to answer emails and log on to my Facebook account. I hadn’t talked to Dana in more than a week, so I sent her a text message.
I missed attending my spin class. I missed my life. My days revolved around Mark. Seeing him whole and well again had been my priority from the moment I learned he was alive.
He woke an hour later, and as I knew he would, the first thing he did was look for me. When he saw me at his bedside, he smiled and stretched out his arm to me, clasping my hand in his.
“You know I love you, right?”
“I plan on giving you plenty of time to prove it,” I said, hoping he caught my meaning. If he loved me he’d know he couldn’t ask me to go through what I had in the last year. Not again.
He slowly withdrew his hand and looked away. “Your friend Milford was in