Page 132 of Reconciling With the Rival

I softly knock on her door so I don’t scare her. “Alissa, what’s going on?”

She turns to face me, tears streaming down her face as her arms brace herself against her dresser. She’s shaking—like full body shaking.

“I-It’s my Dad.”

I rush her, knowing she might need some help staying on her feet. “What happened?” I ask as I throw my arms around her.

“He’s in the hospital. He had a stroke,” she sobs into my shoulder. “He might not make it this time.”

Oh, fuck. I hug her a little tighter before I pull back. “What can I do to help?” I don’t even wait for her to answer before I start packing her suitcases in a neater manner. Her brain is spiraling, and I know with news like this, all she can focus on is getting back to England.

So, I do what I know best—I make it easier for her.

“Do you have a flight yet?”

“N-No, all I did was call Leo. He’s picking me up.”

“Okay, well, get a flight for you guys and I’ll handle this, okay?” I look over at her, and it looks like she’s frozen in time. “One step at a time, Liss. Can you do that for me?”

She nods as she heads to the kitchen, her laptop still on the counter.

I grab some outfits I know she has worn before and throw them in. I find her passport and all the important documents she needs for the airport and place them on her dresser in a neat pile. Then, I pack the essentials and her favorite perfume. She didn't tell me how long she was going to be gone, so I pack enough for at least two weeks.

I throw her important stuff in her carry-on, and when I hear a few knocks on our door, I rush to open it, not wanting Alissa to worry. She told me Leo was coming to get her, but I can’t imagine he got here that fast. I left him at the restaurant with most of his drink left, so I assume he went to his place when she called him.

When I open the door and see him standing in front of me, still in the same clothes he wore to work, hair a mess, eyes red and puffy, all I want to do is make his pain go away.

I can’t, but I try anyway.

I throw my arms around him and try to take some of the weight off his shoulders. This was his biggest fear: his dad dying when he’s not there to help.

If I was him, I’d be going crazy. I bet he is; he’s just really good at hiding it.

But you can’t hide from someone who does the exact same thing, and I know nothing I do or say will help him.

His arms wrap around me, and I feel him cry into my shoulder. Gone is the man from a few hours ago who was so sure of himself, so confident.

In his place is a helpless man who doesn't want to fly back home only for his father to have passed and he wasn't there to say goodbye.

My heart aches for the Zimmerman family. I know I can only help them so much, but I wish I could do more.

Leo and I detach, and I let him fully into our place. “Alissa is in the kitchen.”

He nods before following me in, shutting the door behind him. His sister looks up when we enter; she takes one look at her brother and starts to cry. He passes by me and goes right to Alissa, and I stand here feeling helpless.

Two people I care about are going through something I can’t fix. I can’t make it better, and it’s killing me.

The sounds of their tears are all I can hear, that and sniffling, as I try to busy my hands with something.

“I haven't even booked tickets yet,” Alissa says into her brother's chest. “Leo, I can’t believe this is happening. Do you think he’s—”

“Don't go there,” I tell them. “You’ll drive yourself crazy. Just trust they’re doing everything they can. And when you get there, you’ll know more.”

“She’s right, Liss,” Leo says, his voice tight with emotion. “Let me get the tickets.”

“What else can I do to help?” I ask them. “I can water the plants while you’re gone, and Leo, if you need anything done at your place, I can—”

“Come with us,” Alissa says to me, and I swear I misheard her.

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