Chapter 25 #2
She shook her head vigorously and backed away from him. "I'm sorry, Gabe. I can’t do this." Tears filled her eyes as she bolted to the door.
For the second time in a matter of minutes, Gabe's stomach plummeted—this time through the floor. His heart followed, leaving a gaping hole in his chest.
"Paige, wait." He stood dumbfounded, trying to figure out what he'd done wrong. He thought he'd handled the whole thing quite well, so he couldn't understand why she'd walked out on him.
Heat filled his face as he looked around the room, spotting the sympathetic faces. There were fewer witnesses to his humiliation this time than when Harper left him at the altar, but that didn't mean it hurt any less.
"Why are you just standing there?" Gladys jerked him from his stupor. "Go after her. You can't work out whatever is wrong if you don't talk to her."
He nodded repeatedly as his feet pulled him toward the door. He shot Luke a desperate look before walking out.
"I got this, man." The younger man waved. "Go after her."
"Thanks." Gabe raced down the short hall to the exit, desperate to catch Paige before she drove away.
Bright sunlight blinded Paige when she stepped outside. Her eyes watered, creating more tears that blurred her vision. She shaded her eyes and hurried to her car.
"Paige, wait!"
She turned to see Gabe coming out the door, shading his own eyes. Part of her wished she'd been able to walk fast enough to get away, the other part was glad he'd come after her.
He jogged over to her. "Talk to me, please."
“I’m sorry.” She swiped at her eyes. “I just…” She fanned herself and sucked in a deep breath as she tried to make sense of the overwhelming emotions swirling around inside her. Emotions that tightened her chest and made her feel like she might vomit.
Humiliation for being caught in their lies and the gossip that could trigger. Fear that Gabe might really lose his job. And dread that something would ruin this amazing thing she’d found with Gabe.
"Mi amor." He pulled her into his arms, wrapping her in his calming warmth. "I'm sorry for whatever I said or did that upset you, but I can't fix it if I don't know what's wrong."
She chuckled. "Spoken like a man who has spent his life surrounded by women."
He pulled back and wiped a tear from her cheek. "I learned a long time ago that an apology goes a long way, even if I don't know what I'm apologizing for."
“I just felt so overwhelmed by everything. Everyone was staring at me like a bug under a microscope. And I panicked.” She pushed away from him and fanned herself again.
“I’m sorry I forgot to tell you last night that Mom told Evelyn about our engagement.
She knew Mom gave me the ring Saturday night and wanted to know how we reacted.
” He shook his head. “I’m sorry it all came out like that.
I had hoped to keep it under wraps until I’d spoken with your dad and Dr. Stoker. ”
"Eight months, Gabe." She lifted her chin and looked him in the eye.
"That's how long Phillip kept his relationship with me hidden.
I was his dirty little secret." She sucked in a deep breath.
“I don't want the community I grew up in finding out through the rumor mill that I've been secretly seeing my physical therapist. I can't bear to hear the criticism and see the judgment on their faces. " Tears flooded her eyes again.
"I don't want that kind of gossip either. I promise I’m going to make it right.”
“I know. I just freaked out at hearing you ask everyone to continue to keep this a secret.” She jerked a hand toward the hospital. "I'm caught up in living a lie all over again, and I’m afraid somebody will let something slip, and it's all going to blow up in our faces."
"Me too."
“Do you really think you will lose your job over this? I mean, we’ve always known that was a possibility, but hearing Evelyn point out that you could lose your license, it hit me at how dire the consequences could be for you.”
He let out a heavy sigh as he raked his fingers through his hair.
“In the beginning, I tried to distance myself from you during PT, because I knew exactly what the risks were for getting involved with a patient. When you agreed to be my fake girlfriend, I tried to tell myself I wasn’t crossing any boundaries, because there wasn’t an emotional attachment.
But then I made the mistake of holding your hand and kissing you.
I fell for you so fast after that.” He put his hands on her shoulders.
“I never should have lied to my mom in the first place, but I don't regret it, Paige.
If I hadn't been so intent on making her happy, I would have kept my emotions locked up.
I never would have let my guard down and let myself fall in love with you. "
Tears sprang to Paige’s eyes. “Falling in love shouldn’t cost you your job and your reputation.”
"God willing, it won’t.” He locked gazes with her. “I meant what I said to Evelyn. I don't want to lose my job, but if I need to give it up to have you in my life, I will."
She was touched that Gabe would give up his dream for her. But he shouldn't have to make that kind of sacrifice. She dug in her purse for his grandmother's ring.
"I think we should break off our engagement until we no longer have to keep secrets. Maybe you'll be less likely to lose your job if we aren't involved in any kind of relationship."
His face fell when she held the ring out to him. "Paige, no. I've already requested a meeting with Dr. Stoker tomorrow morning." He shifted from one foot to the other. "And I’m hoping to catch your dad after work today."
Poor guy. Talking to her dad about this whole thing would be doubly difficult.
She pressed the ring into his palm. "I still think it's best if we aren't involved until after everything is cleared up." Which would hopefully only be twenty-four hours. With her heart feeling like it might split in two, she walked the short distance to her car and opened the door.
He followed her. “It won’t change anything. The damage is done. I’m going to tell them the truth; that I’ve fallen in love with one of my patients.”
Fresh tears welled up in her eyes. “Good, but I still think it best we take a step back. Just until we can move forward without pretenses and secrets.” She put a hand on his arm. “It might help if I talk to my dad before you do.”
“No.” He squared his shoulders. “It was my lies that got us into this whole mess in the first place. I need to face the music.”
“Call me tonight?” When he nodded, she turned to climb into her car then remembered one other thing. “By the way, I called the office in Pasco this morning. Dr. Stoker’s schedule is booked solid for the next two weeks. Looks like I’m stuck with Toa.”
When they talked on the phone last night about her driving to Pasco for PT, Gabe said he’d make sure Dr. Stoker fit her into his schedule, but that might be easier said than done.
“We’ll figure it out.” He stepped close and took her into his arms again. “Don’t give up on me, Paige. I’m going to do everything I can to fix this.”
“I’m not giving up on you. On us.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head against his shoulder. “But I am going pray really hard that this doesn’t cost you your job.”
“I’d appreciate that.”