Page 104 of After You

“It’s fine.” She was feeling better. Her grandma was out of surgery. Her dad seemed almost happy to be there with his mom. The acupuncture treatment had helped. And Hannah had realized something very important—she simply couldn’t be one more thing that Kyle had to worry about, take care of, and not quitefix.

As she’d told him when she’d first confessed about her neck, with other patients, he was able to go home at the end of the day and get away from it all. With her—he’d be living with the frustration of not being able to fix something that affected someone he cared about day in and dayout.

She zipped her suitcase. “So, I’m taking the rental. You can get anothercar?”

“I’m not worried,” he toldher.

That was vague. But whatever. She needed to get out of thistown.

“Call me when you get home,” Kade toldher.

She nodded, unable to speak suddenly. She’d call him when she got to Seattle. She was actually leaving home rightnow.

Crap.

Blinking against the tears, she pulled the bag off the bed. As she passed him, Kade pulled her in for a quick hug. “You don’t have to leave.”

“I don’t want to be one more thing for Kyle to worry about.”

Kade pulled back, but he kept his hand on her shoulder. “I’m only going to say all of this one time. This town is…special. And, while he may have an inflated ego and be a workaholic and take on more than he needs to, Kyle Ames is a good guy who I think really loves you, and who can handle what you throw at him. You surprised him with some stuff today. Give him a chance to process it. And then, if he can’t poke you with acupuncture needles—which is actually hilarious, by the way—I’ll just keep doingit.”

She frowned. “Yeah. I know youwill.”

“But you’ll have to stay here for that to happen.”

“Here?” She looked at him. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m staying.”

“For two more weeks.”

“I’m coming to Seattle in two weeks. For a few days. But I’m coming backhere.”

She blinked up at him. “You have to be kiddingme.”

He shrugged. “I like it here. This book is going great. And I have an idea for a sequel.”

Hannah rubbed her forehead. Kade was staying in Sapphire Falls? Really?

But yeah, probably. If the book turned out well, she could see him wanting tostay.

She was suddenly jealous of her best friend. He could just stay. Just like that. There was no reason for him not to. Nothing specific to go back to Seattle for. He could work here. He could livehere.

And so couldshe.

Except for the tiny issue of being a burden to the man she loved.

“Kyle will think I’m staying because ofhim.”

“Good. Because you should be staying because of him,” Kade said. “Jesus, you think you should stay because of me? Girl, you need to get your own life. I can’t be everything to you all thetime.”

That actually made her crack a smile. “I don’t want to be a problem.”

“So don’t be a problem.” Kade shrugged.

She rolled her eyes. “Thanks. Very helpful. I’ll just get over everything.”

“Good.”

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