Page 53 of The Hero + Vegas = No Regrets

She nods. “Okay. You’re right. I should be there.”

“Good. I’ll go tell them we’re leaving.”

“Oh, I don’t want to pull you away from celebrating with your sisters. You stay. I can?—”

“You’re my wife, Sophia. I’m coming with you.”

She doesn’t argue.

SEVENTEEN

Worth

I click Sophia’s lap belt into place and take the seat opposite her on the plane. She’s barely spoken since we left the restaurant. I can see her mind whirring, the pain in her eyes. I want to make it better.

But how?

“This is all so expensive, Worth. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”

“No repayment required. There’s no way you could get to Cincinnati quickly on Thanksgiving without flying private. I’m only happy I could help.”

“I still don’t know if I can see him.”

I want to reach for her hand, but I don’t want to make her feel any kind of obligation to return my affection. Not now, when she’s confessed to feeling like she’s in my debt.

“You don’t have to see him if you don’t want to. But you can be there for your brothers and your mom.”

“Yeah. Maybe. I just don’t want him to die.”

My insides clench. Fuck, I wish I had the power to make time stand still. I can’t bear the thought of her hurting as much as she is.

“He’s in good hands,” I say. “The best.”

“If he’s going to die, I want to have said my piece to him first.”

I leave space for her to tell me what exactly her piece would be, but she doesn’t. She just stares at her lap.

A member of the crew comes over and offers us something to drink. “Coffee,” I say. “For two. And something sweet to eat.”

Sophia offers me a small smile. “Thank you. I didn’t know I wanted exactly that until you said something.”

“You have two brothers, right?” I ask. I want to keep her out of her own head and distract her. I don’t want her to torture herself.

She snaps her eyes up to mine and nods. “Yes. Noah and Oliver.”

“Who’s the oldest?” I’m asking inane questions, but anything to keep her mind off what might be happening in Cincinnati. I hope we make it there in time for her to see her father. We don’t know yet how serious this heart attack was, though I’m sure the doctors are doing everything they can. At least he’s in a hospital.

“Noah,” she replies. “He’s… astute. You know?” She glances up at me and then away.

I nod, even though I don’t know what exactly she’s trying to say. “Sensible?” I ask.

“Yeah,” she says, looking out the windows on the opposite side of the plane as we taxi to the runway. “He’s more reserved than Oliver. Oliver—well, you can tell everything he’s thinking just by looking at him.”

I smile at her, trying to encourage her to say more.

“Sounds like the three of you are close,” I say.

She frowns. “I don’t know,” she says, her gaze finally catching on mine. “I’m not sure of anything anymore.”

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