Page 105 of Hard to Judge

“Oh no.” I groan.

Arlo sets me on my feet. I run to the entryway table and snatch my cell. Sure enough, it’s the hospital.

“What’s that?” Hota’s voice is laced with concern.

“It’s my ring for the hospital.” I turn to him with apologies on my tongue.

“Hey.” He holds up his hand. “It’s okay. There are plenty of other games. Don’t think you’re getting out of it for long.”

I beam at him, and Arlo does too. He doesn’t quite make eye contact with Arlo, though.

“I’ll be just a minute.” I excuse myself down the hallway, hoping they figure things out while I’m gone, if not during the call, then while I’m dealing with my patient.

I’m on the phone for close to fifteen minutes, confirming medical information, scheduling evaluations, and organizing an examination room for my visit.

When I get back to the living room, Arlo is sitting on the sofa reclined back, but not in peace. No, he looks like someone stole his soul. Hota is nowhere in sight.

“What happened?” I whisper.

He jerks upright as though he’d been caught doing something he wasn’t supposed to be. I sit on his lap and pull him in for a long hug.

“Do you have to go in?” Arlo’s voice sounds thinner than usual.

My heart twists, not only for my patient who’s having a crisis but also for my men. “Afraid so.”

He nods. “Hota said he was going to catch up on work if you were going into the hospital. I thought we could drop you off and go on a date, but…”

“Did you ask him to go on a date with you?” I nudge.

“I was about to, but he didn’t give me a chance.” He sighs. “The second you were headed down the hall, he said he had to make a call and started heading toward his home office. Before he was completely out of the room, he added the work stuff and then vanished.”

“I think you should come clean with him. Tell him about the house, your dreams. You know what happened when I tried to surprise him with my newest tattoo.” One he hasn’t seen yet. “Maybe he’s not into surprises. Maybe he doesn’t need grand gestures.” I twine my fingers with his, hating that I have to leave.

“What if he says no?” Arlo’s voice is barely audible.

“Has he ever told you no?”

He stares at me in answer, looking lost.

“Go talk to him.” I kiss his lips, then his forehead. “I’m so sorry I have to leave.”

“Don’t be.” His lips graze my knuckles. “I’m a big boy. I can handle one night without you.”

“Can you now?” I smirk.

“Only if I have to.” He smiles and waves me off, but the grin doesn’t reach his eyes.

After thirty minutes of waiting for Hota to come out of his office, I’m convinced he’s not going to until it’s bedtime. I can either go back to work or man the hell up.

When I stand from the sofa, I’m not sure what I’m going to do. Thank goodness my feet know better than me. They stop outside Hota’s office.

I lift my hand to knock on the door, then think better of it. He never knocks on my office door, so I open it.

He’s leaning over his desk, looking about as dejected as I felt on the sofa. His laptop is open. His gaze may be on it, but his thoughts are a million miles away. His fingers hover over the keys, doing nothing.

I need him to let me in, to tell me what’s plaguing him, so I can fix it. Then again, isn’t that what he needs? Me to let him in?

“Concentrating really hard over there.”

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