Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
NATE
The sound of explosions still echoes in my head, even as my feet pound against the asphalt. Sweat stings my eyes, but I push harder, trying to outrun the memories. Outrun the blood.
The late morning heat presses against me like a second skin, and my lungs burn, but I can’t stop. Won’t stop. The evergreen trees blur as I pick up my pace, yet I can’t shake the images no matter how fast I go.
Screams. Sirens. Too late.
The park’s entrance comes into view as I round the street corner and slow down. The area’s busier than usual. Saturday mornings are supposed to be quiet, with just the occasional jogger or dog walker. But not today.
A crowd has gathered near a table, their chatter blending with the squeals of kids at the playground. My gaze shifts automatically, searching for her before I can stop myself.
And there she is.
Mackenzie.
Standing off to the side, clutching a paper in her hands, she looks so damn beautiful it knocks the wind out of me. Her auburn hair falls loosely around her shoulders, catching the light breeze. But it’s not her hair or her heart-shaped face that catches my attention this time. It’s her tight and worried expression.
I shouldn’t stop. I should stay the course, finish my run, and head back to The Cabins.
Instead, I slow to a jog. Then to a walk.
Her green eyes lift, locking onto mine. For a split second, her face softens as a small smile breaks through her worry. But it’s fleeting. I can see the panic hidden behind it, like she’s bracing for something.
I tell myself to turn around. She doesn’t need me. She hasn’t called since she apologized, and I’ve done a damn good job of staying away. Besides, what reason do I have to linger in Naperville?
But I know the answer.
I’m at her mercy.
My legs move before I can talk myself out of it and carry me to where she stands. Her boys are a few feet away, talking to another kid. I take a moment to look at them before turning back to her. Her smile is still there, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.
I want to fix whatever has her stressed. The all-too-familiar urge to pull her into my arms tugs at me, but I push back the desire. If our circumstances were different, nothing would hold me back. I draw up short on that thought.
Nothing would hold me back?
I don’t do relationships. What the hell am I thinking? The attraction is real. I can’t deny this feeling between us. But that doesn’t change my circumstances.
“Mackenzie,” I say, my voice rougher than I intended. “Everything okay?”
She shakes her head, forcing a laugh. “It’s nothing.”
But there’s a slight tremble to her hands as she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, and those green eyes—God, those eyes tell a different story.
“Mackenzie,” I say again, softer this time. “What’s wrong?”
Her boys save her from answering right away. Liam and Nick bound over, their faces lit with excitement .
“Hey, Nate,” Liam says as both boys bounce on their feet.
“Hey, boys.” I give them high fives. “What’s going on?” while stealing glances at their mom. Her feeble attempt to appear relaxed fails miserably.
“Mom’s signing me up for soccer!” Liam beams.
“That’s great,” I say while stealing glances at their mom. Those glossy, pink lips flatten to a thin line. Ah, I think I found the source of her stress.
I flash the boys my smile. “Bet you’re ready to start.”
“Yeah! Can’t wait. I already met someone on my team.” He points to the boy he was talking to earlier. The boy wears a T-shirt with Mark’s Reality sprawled across the front. My stomach twists. If that shirt is what I think it is, it means one thing: Mark’s kid is on Liam’s team.
Nick tugs at Mackenzie’s hand. “Mommy, you promised I could go down the slide!”
“Liam, can you take your brother to the fenced-in part?”
“Sure. Come on, Nick. I’ll race you.” Liam swats Nick’s arm in a playful challenge, and they take off.
“Stay on the smaller slides,” Mackenzie calls after them.
“Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.”
I chuckle as the boys disappear into the crowd. “I take it you don’t share their enthusiasm?”
She sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose. “It’s not that. I just…” She hesitates as she chews her bottom lip.
“You’re worried about the schedule,” I say, finishing for her.
Her shoulders slump. “It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? I feel bad complaining, but Liam has practice three times a week and games on Saturdays. One of the practices overlaps with my clinical, and I can’t ask Sandy to run him everywhere. How am I supposed to study, make it to my clinical, and keep up with Nick?”
Her voice cracks on the last word, and I feel that familiar tug in my chest. The one that makes me want to fix everything for her.
And my reasoning for staying now has a purpose. This woman will be my downfall, but for some reason, it’s one downhill trip I don’t mind taking.
“And you said your mom doesn’t come home for another few weeks?”
“Oh, there’s been a change of plans. They’ll be back next week.”
As fast as it came, that small pocket of hope deflated. I force a smile. “You’ll get some help then, right?”
“Not really.” Her face scrunches as if she’s in pain. “My stepdad broke his hip. They’ll be back, but Mom won’t be free. She’ll have to take care of Stan. It’s good that my brother came home when he did, so he’ll be able to help them since he’s staying there.” Under her breath, she adds, “If he doesn’t bail.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I say, my stomach tightening with an old, familiar knot. “Did they pin the hip, or was it more invasive?”
Her brow furrows, curiosity flickering behind her eyes. “That’s… specific. Most people just ask if he had surgery. But yeah, they pinned it.”
I nod, forcing my hand to stay at my side instead of brushing my wrist like I usually do during rounds. “Good. Make sure he doesn’t slack on his therapy when he’s home. The last thing you want is him throwing an embolism.”
Her eyebrows rise. “You sound like you’ve done this before.”
I give her a tight smile. This charade is getting old. “You could say I’ve seen my share of cases. How’s Stan doing otherwise?”
“I think okay. Stan seemed in good spirits the last time I talked to him. My mother, though. She’s a basket case.”
“I bet. You know, I’m here to help.” I don’t know how long I can go without telling her the truth.
She hesitates, which is a pattern with her. At first, I took her denial personally, but I believe it’s more her nature than anything to do with me. There are two types of people in this world—givers and takers. Mackenzie is a giver. She hates asking for help.
“I can’t ask you to do that.”
“Mackenzie, you’re not asking. I’m offering.”
“Why?”
The question catches me off guard. Why? Because I can’t stop myself. Because I’m falling for her, even though I shouldn’t.
“Why not?” I shrug. “I’m not working right now. Besides, it’ll keep me busy.”
She studies me for a long moment as if trying to figure me out. Finally, she nods, the corners of her mouth lifting in a small, grateful smile. “You’re a godsend, you know that?”
If only she knew.
Her ringless finger catches my attention when she scratches her forehead and makes my stomach tighten. She’s not wearing her wedding band anymore.
I try to focus on the conversation, but my mind keeps circling back to that empty space on her hand. Has she moved on?
I step back, needing to put some distance between us. “Well, I better get going. I’ll see you tomorrow morning?”
Her smile deepens. “I’ll be there waiting.”
I twist around and jog toward The Cabins, my mind spinning. Staying was never the plan. Neither was falling for a woman who makes me want to rewrite every plan I’ve ever had.