When the Heart Lies - By Christina North Page 0,30

attempt to keep her head empty of thoughts. Eventually, the trance was broken when a nurse knocked on the door and stuck her head in.

“I need you to sign your discharge papers. Here’s a couple bags for your clothing. Your ride called. They’re running late, but they’ll be here soon.”

She signed the papers, filled her bags, and headed to the main room to get some coffee and wait for Wayde.

The dining area was quiet this morning. She poured her coffee on autopilot, looked around, and saw the empty table she and Jackson sat at only yesterday —if she sat there. Too late. She was already thinking about Jackson. Her legs took her to the table anyway, and she sat, tapping her fingers mindlessly against her coffee cup. She’d wasted far too much time on him already. Who was she kidding? She would never forget her time with him. Soon after, Scar sat down next to her. Kinsley acknowledged her, but didn’t say anything.

“You don’t look good. Are you okay?” Scar asked.

“I don’t know.” She did know. She felt powerless and unsure of the future. Even a bit heartsick. She wouldn’t see Jackson again. Regardless, that’s the way it had to be.

“Jackson’s kicking himself for taking you out last night.” Scar said.

“I went because I wanted to. It’s ridiculous for him to blame himself.” Suddenly, the emotions of the previous night overwhelmed her; she couldn’t contain herself and bumped Scar, being silly. “If by any miracle we were ever alone together again, I’d probably strip myself naked within five minutes, and we’d be tangling limbs, unable to get enough of each other.” She laughed, but then sobered her tone, trying to convince both of them of the validity of her next statement. “I don’t want those kinds of distractions. Besides, his confidence is annoying.” The way he looked at her was problematic, too. Because she reveled in it. She didn’t want to, but she did.

Scar laughed. “Ha, I’m certain the feeling is mutual…ya know, with the naked tangling stuff.”

A little flutter tickled her stomach. She tried to avoid it. “Dr. Pierce is letting me leave; my ride will be here soon.”

“Great.”

She looked at Scar. “I hope it’s not out of line to ask, but why’ve you been here so much?”

Scar hesitated briefly. “I’m bipolar. This place reins me in. I feel safe here. Other times, I get down and need to snap out of it. Being here helps.”

“It must be hard being here so much. Well, at least this place is comfortable.”

The bipolar —it’s hard sometimes, but I’ve learned to stay on my meds, and Jackson’s a big help.”

“Seems like he’d be helpful. I suppose I should say goodbye to him.” Strange as it seemed, it was as if she’d known him for a long time. And even though he infuriated her, he was appealing. Not a safe mix.

“He’s very helpful. This morning he needed to take off to do some stuff for work though. I’m not sure he’s going to be back before you leave.”

Her mouth opened to speak, but slowly closed again. Why do I care if he said goodbye? He was being nice to a needy stranger. No more.

“Here’s my number in case you need anything,” Scar said. “You can call me, you know.”

“I know. I’ll call if I can.”

“Why wouldn’t you be able to call me?”

“I’m not alone often. Do you have an e-mail address?” She imagined the chances of getting an e-mail to Scar would be slim. E-mailing her when she returned to New York would have to suffice.

“Yeah, I’ll write it down for you. You want me to put Jackson’s phone number down?”

It took nearly half a minute of contemplation before deciding not to take the number. She had no doubt she would call if she became weak, but adding one more man to the circus she called life would complicate things further. She needed to fix what was already broken and forget about Jackson. “Thanks, but no, having his number wouldn’t be a good idea.”

Wayde and Max walked through the door. Max smiled and ran to her. She opened her arms, wrapped them around him, and laid her chin against his head. When holding him tight, he often filled her with the strength to go on. Scar lifted her hand a little and said goodbye.

Kinsley smiled, lifted her hand in return, and headed out to the car with Wayde and Max.

Wayde opened the trunk, and she put her purse and small bag in. She