The Quiet Between

Chapter Twenty-Four Sloane

Chapter Twenty-Four

Sloane

“Hey.”

I turned and saw Gabriel standing behind me.

“It’s been a while,” he said.

“Yeah. Been busy,” I said quietly, my eyes drifting away from him.

Because behind Gabriel, I caught a glimpse of Cameron walking by. He paused when he saw me, offered a small smile, then turned away and continued heading toward the operating room.

I had been keeping a distance from Cameron. Two months had passed since our last conversation.

I just needed space. Room to breathe. A clean break from everything so I could finally let go. Because it was the only way to start over.

Even though it hurt.

Staying away from him hurt. And I had to keep reminding myself that distance, aside from what was necessary for work and for Harper, was the right thing, even if it didn’t feel like it.

I needed to heal.

I needed to find my footing again. To remember who I was before the whirlwind of us knocked me off my feet. Because right now, the memory of him hurting me was still a fresh bruise, tender to the touch. And so was the memory of how I had hurt him.

The space between us was the gap between what I wanted and what I knew was right. And maybe, someday, the ache would fade. Perhaps the memories would soften around the edges, no longer sharp enough to cut.

But I was not there yet.

I couldn’t be with him while the pain still sat heavy in my chest. Our conversation that night lingered in my mind—his honesty, the rawness between us.

We had hurt each other deeply, and space was the only thing that made sense.

He might not have realized it, or maybe he could not admit it, but we were both carrying the same unspoken question like a splinter in our mouths.

Can I trust you not to break me again?

And that was the hardest part. Love couldn’t erase doubt. It didn’t make us invincible because forgiveness isn’t the same as forgetting.

We carried the memories like stones in our pockets, weighing down every step forward. The love was real, but so was the hurt. And some scars didn’t fade, but they taught us where to be careful.

For now, I had to hold firm, even when every fiber of me ached to return to him.

Even when the silence between us screamed louder than all the words we had ever spoken.

This wasn’t about assigning blame—I knew my mistakes had left their deep mark on him, too.

But if I ever wanted to begin again, whether with him or on my own, I had to quiet the uncertainty still echoing inside me. And he would have to do the same.

This space between us wasn’t only mine; it was his too.

Because if I couldn’t trust myself not to hurt him again, I had no right to ask him to.

I was still fragile. Still lost. Still trying to put the broken pieces of myself back together.

I’d spent too many years focused only on my own misery, on my own pain.

I had to work through all of that before I could begin to care about anyone else.

So I was doing it for him, even if I didn’t know what the future held for us.

And for Harper.

I just hoped, deep in my heart, that my daughter never suffered because of me. I hoped it wasn’t too late for me to change.

Yet despite it all, I knew one truth with absolute clarity. My heart would always carry him. It would never change. But my story, my healing, had to begin with me.

Healing wasn’t a straight line. It was messy and uneven—a stumble forward, a step back. A slow, soul-draining process, finding the strength to make a comeback.

But now I knew that was okay. It was meant to be that way. I just had to keep going.

“Earth to Sloane.” Gabriel’s voice pulled me back to the present. I looked up at him.

“You drifted off for a second. Lost in your own head.”

“Sorry,” I mumbled, turning away again. I leaned my elbows on the railing and looked down at the main floor, watching people move. “Just got too much on my mind.”

“Yeah.” He mirrored my posture, standing beside me. “Everything alright?”

“Yes. Everything’s good,” I replied flatly.

“It’s been a while since we had our usual coffee break together,” he said softly. “I kind of miss that.”

I didn’t respond to that. I was avoiding it too, though I wasn’t even sure why.

“Are you on a break now?” he asked.

I nodded.

“Usually, you’re hiding out with Lina.”

“She took the day off. Said she had something to do.”

“Okay,” he said slowly. “How much time do you have left?”

“About ten minutes,” I replied.

“Mind if I join you?” he asked.

When I didn’t answer right away, just stared at him, he added, “I mean... just to stand here. With you.”

I looked at him for a few more seconds, then gave a slight nod. “Okay.”

“You’re hiding yourself again, Sloane. Pulling away from everyone.”

“I’m not,” I said defensively, even though I knew he was right.

“I get that you want to be alone. But being alone all the time... It’s not always good. Sometimes you need a friend.”

“But I like being alone,” I said defensively. “It’s peaceful.”

“Is it?” he asked gently, eyes on me. “Even when being alone just makes the thoughts in your head scream louder?”

I straightened, lifting my gaze to his. “Maybe I just need some time to think. On my own.”

“That’s fine,” he said. “But sometimes, it helps to have someone there to think things through with you.”

I frowned, narrowing my eyes just a little. “You keep insisting on this.”

He paused for a moment before speaking.

“Because I know what it feels like to keep everything bottled up, thinking you’re doing everything right, only to realize in the end that you were wrong. Sometimes we just need someone else—someone with a clearer perspective, not clouded by emotion.”

“Did something happen to you?” I asked curiously.

“Yeah,” he said with a heavy sigh. “I lost my wife because of it.” His gaze wandered, distant and full of things unsaid. “And even now, I find myself wishing there’d been someone I could talk to, someone who might’ve helped me find my way back before it was too late.”

I wanted to ask what happened with him and his wife, but the way he said it told me he didn’t want to go any further. So I stayed quiet.

Then he added, “And the way Cameron’s quietly hurting now, the little things he does to show up for you, the way his eyes follow you with that longing.

.. that used to be me. But by the time I realized it, it was already beyond saving.

” He smiled softly at me. “I’d catch him in the locker room sometimes, just staring at the wall with this hollow look.

Completely wrecked. Yeah... I recognize regret when I see it. ”

He looked at me and smiled, just slightly, like he knew more than he was saying. And I remembered how he accidentally overheard my conversation with Lina. He knew about my situation with Cameron.

A thought suddenly struck me. “Why are you talking to me about this instead of him?”

He turned to face me.

“Because you’re my friend first,” he said. “And he doesn’t need me. He’s already handling it better than I ever did.” When he caught the question in my eyes, he added softly, “He’s setting you free, isn’t he? That’s love, if you ask me. Sacrificing your own heart for their peace.”

He rubbed a hand over his jaw, as if trying to ease a memory that still stung.

“So I’m here. If you ever need someone. As a friend.

And if you ever want to know what it feels like from the other side, you can ask.

It’s not the same as what you’ve been through, but the remorse, the regret, and trying to fix what you broke—it might be close enough. And who knows? Maybe I can help.”

He walked backward, away from me. “It’s your call.” Then he picked up his pace. “Gotta go. Surgery in a few minutes. See you, Sloane.”

I heard the sound of the car pulling in and knew it was Cameron, dropping Harper off. I hurried to the door and opened it just as he stepped in, carrying our sleeping daughter in his arms.

“It was a big day for her,” he said with a soft chuckle. “There was an outdoor event with games and all at school. She got really into it and wore herself out.”

“She told me this morning. She’d been looking forward to it all week,” I said.

“Can you help me with her bed?”

“Of course.”

I followed him upstairs to Harper’s room. I slipped off her shoes and pulled the blanket back while Cameron gently laid her down. He paused for a moment, smiling at her, then leaned in and kissed her forehead.

“Love you, baby girl,” he whispered.

When he turned to me, the look in his eyes stopped me for a second—that same expression I saw every day. Quiet desperation. And a flicker of hope that was already beginning to fade.

“I’m gonna go now,” he said softly. “Good night, Sloane.”

I watched him leave the room, staying where I was for a moment before quietly following him down the stairs. I wasn’t sure why. I didn’t have anything planned to say. I just knew I had to stop him.

“Cam.”

He was already off the stairs. He turned around and waited for me to catch up. I paused.

“Are you going back to Anita’s?”

“Yes,” he said, his eyes searching my face, slightly puzzled by the question. “Like I do every day.”

“You’re not going out? With Dean and Ben, maybe?” I paused for a moment before adding, “I asked because tomorrow is our day off.”

And also because I went out with Lina and her friends twice this week, just trying to get used to being around people again. And the whole time, I kept wondering if he was doing the same. Going out, having fun, maybe even just living his life without me.

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I always went straight home.”

When I looked at him, a little confused, he added with a softer gaze, “I want you always to know where I am.”

His response caught me off guard. For a moment, I couldn’t find the words. He never said anything to me about it. He just did it, whether I was aware of it or not.

“Busy day for you too today,” he said. His eyes held mine for a moment, and I knew he had heard about the two code blues I responded to this afternoon.

Both patients were in critical condition, barely clinging to stability.

And I knew then, he paid attention. He always did. “Get some rest,” he told me gently.

“Okay,” I nodded, a lump rising in my throat for no apparent reason. The emotion suddenly caught me off guard.

He opened the front door and stepped outside. “Night, Sloane.”

I was watching Cameron. I found myself doing it all the time now. My eyes would search for him without meaning to, and my chest wouldn’t unclench until I saw him somewhere in the room.

And he was still watching me, too. We kept catching each other’s eyes, trading small, unspoken smiles before looking away, and every time, my heart would beat just a little faster.

Right now, he was talking to another doctor, his face focused, likely reviewing the details of his next surgery. I knew his schedule. I still kept track. And I still worried if he skipped meals or pushed himself too hard.

It was ridiculous. I was confusing myself, going in circles.

“It’s like the roles reversed,” came a voice beside me. I turned to find Gabriel standing there, a half-smile on his face. Then he shook his head and corrected himself. “No, that’s not right. You’re both playing the same role now.” He gave a short laugh. “You’re just stalking each other.”

I didn’t answer, just let out a sigh. Still, I had to give it to Gabriel. He always picked up on things.

“Any plans for tonight?” he asked.

“No,” I said. “Why?”

“Want to go out?” he asked with a smile. “I just found the best kebab place in town.”

I paused, thinking it over. Harper would be with Cameron tonight.

Maybe a break wouldn’t hurt. Maybe Gabriel was right. I could use a friend.

“Okay,” I nodded.

“Great,” he said, his voice lifting with an easy grin.

Later that evening, before heading out, I sent Cameron a quick message to let him know I was going out. He once said he wanted me always to know where he was, and I realized I wanted to do the same for him, too.

I hesitated over whether to mention I was going out with Gabriel, but I didn’t. I told myself it didn’t matter. Those small steps were enough for now.

But it turned out I didn’t need to say anything. We ran into each other in the lobby.

Cameron’s eyes flicked to Gabriel, then back to me. We stood facing each other, Gabriel still at my side.

“Going out?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said. “We’re grabbing some dinner.”

His expression shifted slightly. But there was no anger or judgment. Just something crossed his face that looked like sadness, then disappeared under a small smile.

“Okay,” he said with a nod. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I felt something stir in my chest. A pull I couldn’t ignore.

“Gabriel,” I said quietly, turning to him. “Go ahead. I need a minute.”

He gave me a knowing look. “I’ll wait in the car.”

Once he walked away, I turned to Cameron. My voice came out softer than I had intended. “We’re just friends.”

“Okay,” he said, just as softly.

“Just dinner. That’s all.”

His lips curved faintly. “Okay.”

We stood there, silence stretching between us. “Okay, I’ll see you,” I said, about to turn.

“Sloane.”

His voice stopped me. I turned back.

“Thank you for telling me.” He paused, like the next words were heavy in his mouth.

“I just want you to be happy, Sloane. I want you to know that.” His gaze held mine.

“But if he’s the better man... if he’s good to you.

..” He trailed off, swallowing hard. “I just want you to be happy. Whatever you decide, I hope it leads you there.”

He turned and walked away, hands in his coat pockets, head slightly bowed, leaving me standing there with a heart full of things I couldn’t quite put into words.

But then he paused and turned back around. “Maybe we could have dinner sometime too? Just the two of us?” he asked, a tentative smile playing on his lips. “Would you like that?”

I blinked, caught off guard, then slowly, I felt a smile tug at my mouth before I could stop it.

“I’d love that.”

“Okay,” he said, his smile growing. “I’ll find us a good place. Good night, Sloane.”