Chapter 31 - Jordin
thirty one-Jordin
With Ciarán’s help, I got to the hospital in Tampa in two hours. The flight had been a blur—my mind stuck in a loop. I kept replaying my last meeting with Oak. Thinking about how I told him I didn’t like him.
What if that was the last time I saw him?
This didn’t feel real. It couldn’t be real.
But it was real. The pain in my chest, the fear in my heart made it real.
The waiting room was tense. Divided.
Ciarán sat next to me, his arm draped along the back of my chair, his fingers tracing slow circles on my shoulder. Every now and then, he’d reach down and squeeze my hand like he was trying to keep me grounded.
On the other side of the room was Oak’s family—his mother, his father, his brother Marcus, a couple of cousins.
They kept their distance, but their eyes were on us the whole time.
Marcus had been glaring since the moment I walked in. His knee bouncing, fingers drumming against his thigh. He was pissed. I could feel the heat rolling off him.
Out of nowhere he shot up from his seat, like he couldn’t hold it in any longer. His feet slammed against the tiled floor as he head in my direction.
“You have a lot of nerve being here with him while my brother is fighting for his life,” he spat, voice sharp and cutting.
I inhaled, trying to keep my pulse steady. I was too tired for this.
“Your brother cheated on me,” I said flatly. “You have no right to talk to me about who I bring where.”
His expression twisted. “You’re a heartless bitch. I wish Oak had never met you.”
Before I could react, Ciarán was on his feet, stepping in front of me so fast I barely saw it happen.
His voice dropped—low, controlled—but he sounded like he was seething.
“Watch how you talk to her, motherfucker. I’ll put your head through the motherfucking wall,” he damn near growled. His chest was heaving. Nostrils flaring.
Oak’s father jumped up from his seat, his voice booming. “Get the hell away from my son.” He stepped forward like he was actually going to do something.
I stood and grabbed Ciarán’s arm, trying to pull him back before this turned into a full-blown scene.
“Ci, don’t—”
The doors to the waiting room swung open, and a woman rushed in.
“What is going on—for Christ’s sake?” she said, walking straight into the tension.
“Valentina, thank God you’re here,” Oak’s mother said, her voice full of relief as she stood and pulled her close.
Oaks mother shove her towards me. “See? This is the type of girl Oak should have married,” his mother said, nodding toward the woman beside her.
“She wouldn’t have brought trash to the hospital. ”
That was it.
I let out a tired laugh and shook my head. I was just so done.
“You know what? Fine,” I said, my voice flat. “I put up with you all when I was with Oak. I don’t have to anymore.”
I pointed at the woman. “Since you’re so perfect and his mom loves you, you can make the decisions about his life.”
I turned to Marcus and flipped him off. “I hope you break your fucking neck, you neadrathug.”
Then I grabbed a handful of Ciarán’s shirt and pulled him toward the exit. My chest felt tight. I couldn’t stand there and listen to another word.
We had just made it into the hallway when I heard Valentina behind me.
“You’re not leaving.”
I spun around to face her. “Excuse me, bitch ?”
She stepped in front of me, letting out a frustrated breath. “Look, this isn’t my decision to make. I’m gay, and I’m not his wife.”
I just stared at her. “You’re… what?”
Valentina ran a hand through her hair, looking from Ciarán back to me. “I’m sorry. I’m messing this up. I need to tell you something, and it has to be now. Our mothers set us up on a date.”
I crossed my arms, waiting.
“The moment he saw me,” she continued, “Oak told me he was trying to get his wife back. He said you were beautiful and confident, and that he loved you more than anything.” She let out a soft huff. “That’s not his exact words, but it’s close.”
My throat felt thick, but I kept my expression still.
“We’re not together,” she said firmly. “We just decided it was easier to pretend than to deal with our mothers.”
Then she turned to Ciarán, a sudden grin spreading across her face. “And you—I love you.”
Ciarán smirked. “Yeah?”
She nodded and sang a few lines from his song Midnight Love, completely off-key.
His smirk widened. “Don’t do that again,” he said, shaking his head. “I hate when fans sing to me. Especially when they can’t.”
Valentina burst out laughing. Then her face grew serious again as she looked back at me.
“Come back inside. Oak would want you here.”
I hesitated for a second. Then she grabbed my arm and started pulling me gently back toward the room. This time, I didn’t fight it.
When we got back to the waiting room, she grabbed my hand and pulled me to stand beside her.
“Jordin’s staying,” she said firmly.
Oak’s mother walked over and hugged her side—while glaring at me and physically separating us.
“You’re such a good girl. Thinking about Oak first.”
I rolled my eyes and sat back down.
A doctor walked into the room, scanning a clipboard.
He cleared his throat.
“Jordin Black?”