Page 138 of This Could Be Us

She directs the last of the question to Dr. Carolton.

“Oh, yes.” Dr. Carolton hangs Adam’s medical chart on the foot of his bed. “In cases like these, we like to take precaution and observe overnight in case of concussion, but from what we’re seeing, he should be fine.”

“Can I stay with him?” Tremaine’s voice breaks with relief, belying her placid demeanor.

“I think we can arrange that.” Dr. Carolton offers an understanding smile.

“Cool,” Adam says casually, but I’m sure he’s thrilled he doesn’t have to stay in the hospital alone.

“We’ll get a cot in here,” Dr. Carolton says before leaving with promises that a nurse will come through soon.

“Where’s Aaron?” Adam asks.

“Ms. Coleman picked him up from school.” Tremaine turns to me. “But with youandAdam not at the house by now, he might start to get anxious soon, Judah.”

I walk over to the hospital bed. “I’m gonna go home to check on your brother, okay?” I lean down to kiss Adam’s cheek.

“Okay.” Adam raises anxious eyes. “Make sure he knows I’ll be back tomorrow and that I’m okay.”

“I will.” I look to Tremaine. “Walk me out?”

She nods and turns to Adam, squeezing his shoulder. “I’ll be right back.”

As soon as we reach the hall and the door closes behind us, I stretch my arms out and Tremaine steps into them. “You okay?”

She allows herself to sag against me for a second, and I know that despite her apparent composure, she’s shaken. Hell, I’m shaken. It’s been a long time since we were in a hospital with Adam, and it never gets less terrifying.

“I’m fine.” I can almost see her mentally pulling the pieces of her composure back into place. “You’re the best dad. You know that?”

“Only if you admit you’re the best mom.” I pull away and give her hand a squeeze. “Tell Kent hello for me when you talk to him.”

“Will do, and don’t think you’ve gotten out of spilling all the tea about Ms. Charles,” she says, the first sign of teasing since all of this went down today. “You’ve been dodging my questions for weeks.”

I stiffen and force the sudden tension from my shoulders. “I’ve been busy is what I’ve been.”

“Well, now that the crisis is averted, you’ll have to tell me everything.”

I twist my lips into a rueful curve. “Oh, there’s not much to tell.”

“It didn’t work out?” Tremaine frowns, placing her hand on my arm to stop me from leaving.

I can’t bring myself to admit that. I’m not sure itwon’twork out. I know Soledad cares about me, and I know she wants something with me, but I’m not sure it’s the same thing I need from her. Until we’re on the same page, what do we have?

“Let’s just say it’s still beingworkedout,” I settle on. “When there’s something to spill, you’ll be the first to know.”

“She seems amazing. Don’t screw it up.”

“Yeah, I’ll try my best. I’ll call from the house so you can see Aaron before he goes to bed.”

“Thank you.”

I turn my phone back on as soon as I walk down the hall. I called Ms. Coleman to ask her to stay with Aaron at the house, then turned the phone off because I was getting so many calls from the office. As soon as it’s back on, sure enough, missed calls and text messages from CalPot flood my phone.

“They can wait till tomorrow,” I mutter, looking up to orient myself and find the elevators. When I round the corner, I come to a complete stop, jarred by the sight of the woman alone in the waiting room.

“Sol?”

She’s curled up in one of the pleather sofas, but she stands immediately and walks over to me, concern etched all over her face.

---