Chapter Twenty-Four
Eric
Watching Caleb suffer was its own kind of torture. He’d drifted in and out of sleep all day, never fully settling, his body too exhausted to fight and too wired to surrender.
Celeste and I had sat on either side of him while his temperature climbed to frightening heights. The nurses moved in and out with steady efficiency, adjusting meds, monitoring every change, and a few hours ago the fever had finally broken.
Now the room was quiet. Celeste had stepped out, leaving me alone to keep watch, to listen to the rhythm of his breathing and pretend I wasn’t on edge, anticipating the next complication.
He shifted, his eyes fluttering open. “Where did Jamie go?”
The worry in his question caught me off guard. Even sick as hell, he was thinking about her. About whether she was okay.
“To her dad. She’ll be back.”
“Was I dreaming or did you kiss her?” His brow furrowed. “If it was a dream, it was a vivid one. I swear you kissed her right in front of me like I wasn’t even here.”
Heat crawled up my neck. I’d been so fucking lost in her that I’d forgotten where we were. That kiss had been desperate with the need to comfort her, to ground myself, and my sick brother had caught every second of it.
“So much for being asleep.”
“I was drifting but still managed to catch the show.” He waggled his eyebrows weakly. “You were really into it. Thanks for rubbing your victory in my face.”
Victory. The word sat wrong. There was nothing victorious about any of this. Not his illness, not her pain, not the way I was grasping for something good in the middle of so much fear.
“I’d say sorry but you’re such a little perv, you probably enjoyed it.”
“It’s okay. I can live vicariously through you. Tell me what it’s like.”
The eagerness in his voice hit me. This was what his illness had stolen from him—his own experiences, his own chances. The unfairness of it made something violent twist in my chest.
“You want to know what it’s like to kiss Jamie?”
“Yes. Absolutely, yes. Tell me it’s as incredible as I imagine.”
“Not happening. I don’t mind talking about girls in general, but my sex life is off limits.”
Caleb gasped. “You had sex with her?”
“That’s not what I meant.” Christ, how did I get myself into this conversation. And how the hell did I get out? “And that’s really fucking personal. I’m sure she doesn’t want me discussing it with you.”
“Are you in love with her?”
My breath stalled, chest tight and heart slamming hard. “This isn’t a fairy tale, Caleb. Love takes time, knowing someone inside and out. People don’t fall in love after a few days.”
“Don’t you dare fuck this up.”
I stared at him, shocked not just by his language but by the conviction behind it.
“If you break her heart, I will be seriously pissed. Like seriously, seriously pissed.”
“Relax. No one’s breaking hearts. We’re taking things slow. No commitments on either side.”
“That’s bullshit and you know it. You’re obviously in love with her. You’re just too scared to admit it.”
The accusation hung between us like a challenge.
Was I just scared?
I did have strong feelings for her. Strong, unconditional, unwavering, un-fucking-relenting emotions that had been gnawing away at my insides for days.
They’d been there from the moment I first held her. They made my heart race, my stomach churn, made me want to vomit every time I thought about her leaving. Feelings that turned me into a walking cliché ready to make over-the-top declarations.
Fuck.
Maybe he was right. Maybe I was falling in love with her.
“I’m not scared to admit anything,” I lied through my teeth. “But jumping in prematurely could hurt us both. I care about her a lot, but I won’t claim love until I’m sure. Right now? Hell, right now I don’t know much.”
“Haven’t you learned anything from me, big brother?” He frowned. “There’s no time to be wasted. Why do you think I took the chance to talk to her in the first place?”
“Because you’re an unrelenting flirt who couldn’t pass up the opportunity to torment a beautiful woman.”
“Okay, yes, there’s that,” he agreed with a quirk of his lips. “But it’s so much more. When I see a woman like Jamie, I see a chance to make a good memory, and I never know which one might be my last.”
“Don’t talk like that.” My hands clenched, the need to fight something, anything, building like pressure inside me. “You’re going to have plenty of chances. You can’t give up.”
“I’ll never give up, but that’s the point. I hope to have years and years of chances. But just in case, I want to make as many good memories as possible while I can. Time is precious. You should remember that, too.”
“I love you, Caleb. You’re too smart for your own good, and you make me look like an ass. But I really love you.”
“You’re supposed to say that to Jamie, not me. But I love you back.” His grin was genuine, practically pain-free. “And you can thank me for introducing you in your wedding speech.”
I wished Jamie was here to see his smile. Once again, it was because of her that light had found its way back into this room.
“Now you’re jumping way ahead. Like I said, it’s not a fairy tale.”
“What’s not a fairy tale?” Celeste asked, walking back into the room.
“Eric and Jamie,” Caleb said before I could get out a word.
Meddling little shit.
“What about them?” Celeste persisted.
“Eric’s in love with her.”
“Yeah, so?” Even in question, she managed to scowl. “I thought we already knew this. Why is it big news?”
Apparently, I was obvious to everyone but myself. Was I this transparent to Jamie?
“Will you both give it a rest? I don’t need you convincing me you know my feelings better than I do. Topic closed.”
A soft knock interrupted us. Jamie stood in the doorway, tears sparkling in her eyes.
My heart soared and plummeted simultaneously. How much had she heard? But more importantly, why did she look so devastated?
“Sorry to intrude.” Her voice wavered.
“Hey, Jamie.” Caleb called as I moved toward her. “We were just talking about you.”
I shot him a warning look but kept my focus on Jamie, concern overriding annoyance.
“Hi.” She gave them a weak smile. “I need to borrow Eric.”
I didn’t wait for their response, ushering her into the hallway away from prying eyes and big mouths. “What’s going on?”
“I need you to meet my father.”
Fuck. Jamie wouldn’t ask this lightly. Something big had happened, and it made me uneasy as hell.
“You want me to meet your dad?”
“I know it’s out of line, but he wants to meet you.
It’s a long story but basically, Dylan was here.
He left to get Hunter, but he said things and now Dad thinks you’re my boyfriend.
I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say. I don’t know if everything’s falling apart or coming together.
I just know he’s dying, and I really want him to be happy with me before he goes.
I need my last memories of him to be good ones, Eric. ”
She was breathless, distraught, with fear shadowing her features. It was like she had no idea I’d do absolutely anything for her.
“Come here.” I pulled her against me, pressing a kiss to her ear. “I’d be honored to meet him.”
“Really?” She sucked in a sob.
“Of course. That’s what we do for each other.”
I didn’t love lying to a dying man, but Jamie needed this. And I’d already agreed to be her fake boyfriend. Making her happy was reason enough.
Walking into her father’s room felt like facing a firing squad. I was prepared to lie my ass off, but when we approached his bedside, he was asleep.
He was imposing even in illness, cancer eating away at him. I couldn’t help comparing him to Caleb, and I was morbidly relieved my brother didn’t look this bad.
My beautiful girl was going to lose her father soon.
I hoped I could hold her through it. Part of me knew helping her was selfish—I wanted to prove I wouldn’t abandon her. Wanted to show her I could do better than the other men in her life.
I wanted to give her reason to stay.
“Thanks, Eric. I pulled you away for nothing.” She turned those sad blue eyes to me.
“How many times do I have to tell you? I’m here for you.”
“I feel bad you’re missing time with Caleb. He needs you.”
“Caleb has me, but right now you need me. He understands. I’m not abandoning him—I’m doing right by both of you.”
“You’re too good to me.”
“Not possible, beautiful girl. I wish I could fix everything for you.”
“I like this guy.” Her father’s weak voice startled us both.
“Dad, sorry. I woke you again.”
He looked ready to drift off but remained lucid. “Is this him?”
“Yeah, this is Eric.” Jamie gestured between us. “Eric, my father, Frank Hartley.”
Fuck. I hadn’t even known her last name.
There were still countless things I didn’t know about her, but it didn’t change that I was falling in love.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Hartley.” My voice was stiff, and way too fucking formal. Meeting her father on his deathbed while everything was so intense had me off-balance.
Despite his medicated haze, Frank noticed my discomfort. “James. I need a minute with this one. Alone.”
Jamie looked panicked. “What? Why?”
I wanted to echo her questions, but this was my chance to prove myself. To show Jamie she could rely on me.
“It’s okay,” I told her. “Go spend time with Caleb. I’ll find you when we’re done.”
After shooting warning glares at both of us, Jamie left.
I hoped this wouldn’t backfire. My siblings might not keep quiet about our earlier conversation, and Frank might not like what I had to say.
“Sit down and listen up. I don’t have strength to yell across the room.” Frank Hartley might be dying, but he was still demanding. I could feel a lecture brewing, but I’d listen for Jamie’s sake.
I sat, bracing for his attack.
“You’re not really her boyfriend, are you?”
Not what I’d expected.
When I stayed silent, he closed his eyes on a heavy sigh. “Didn’t think so. Seemed too convenient.”
“If it makes any difference, this is my fourth day as her fake boyfriend, and it’s been the best four days of my life.”
Eyes still closed, he laughed.
Frank Hartley—the alcoholic father who’d driven his pregnant teenage daughter away—was laughing at me.
My jaw tightened. “She’s special.”
“Damn right she is.” His eyes flew open, and he stared me down. “She’s the best thing I ever did. Worthless as I am, at least I’m leaving something good behind.”
I stared back without flinching. “No offense, but do you really have the right to take credit for how amazing she is?”
His eyes flashed murder. Jamie said he wasn’t violent, but I could feel rage rolling off him. If illness hadn’t robbed his strength, he’d probably try to kill me.
“You’re brave.” He groaned, pain evident. “She needs someone brave. Someone like you. Don’t let her run from you.”
Frank was full of surprises. He and Jamie were both complicated, with striking similarities.
“That might be easier said than done. I’m at the worst point in my life and finding her has been the best damn thing. She’s given me reason to look toward the future. I don’t want to give that up, but she might not give me a choice. Your daughter’s stubborn.”
Silence stretched between us before I realized he’d fallen asleep again. My confession had fallen on deaf ears.
Maybe that was good. I needed to tell his daughter everything on my mind. Needed to honor our deal and stop fucking pretending.
But my timing was shit.
Her son was coming. With his father.
Jamie claimed she was done with Dylan, but with him reasserting himself, would she second-guess? Hunter’s wellbeing was her driving force. If she thought Dylan was best for Hunter, would she take him back?
I needed to know. Needed to take the chance.
But first, I had to meet her son. I had no shot if he didn’t approve.
Frank startled awake, seeming confused to see me. “You’re still here?”
“You were only out a few minutes.”
“Shit. Stop wasting time I don’t have. Go tell her how you feel, jackass.”
“What if she runs?”
“Then you better promise to chase her.”
So I made a promise to a dying man. For the first time in five months, I had more than Day Zero on my horizon. I had a goal beyond surviving each day.
I had a plan.