Page 111 of His North Star
The first time we met. Playing tag. Stealing cookies from his kitchen. Sneaking out to meet up with Ty’s rugby friends at night. Cooking together. Unlimited inside jokes. Movie nights. This man was my life. If only he’d stay awake long enough for me to tell him.
“Hey, Charlie,” I said, walking into the hospital waiting room after showering at home. I’d only been gone for an hour.
He stood, meeting me halfway across the room. “Hi.”
“Are your parents with him, or can I go in?”
So far, Gregory and Denise had been cordial but kept their distance from one another as much as possible.
“No, they ran to get breakfast.” He paused and scratched his brow. “Um, Ty’s ex-girlfriend is here.”
“Lys?” I asked, confused. “How did she hear about Ty’s accident?”
“Yeah,” he confirmed. “Said she heard about what happened from one of Ty’s buddies. I guess he goes to her gym or something.”
“Ah, I see.” That was sweet of her to stop by, but would it be awkward seeing her again, knowing that because of me she didn’t get her happily ever after? “Thanks, Charlie. I’m going to head back.” I stopped at the nurse’s station, saying my name and who I was there to visit.
A nurse walked past as I said the room number. “I’m heading there now. Follow me.”
“Thank you.” I trailed behind her.
She flashed her badge against the metal box beside the door. “You’re the fiancée?”
I’d never seen this nurse before. “Yes. How do you know me?”
She smiled at me like my love life made her giddy. “Everyone’s been talking about you two.”
Dang it. “Oh.” Did Ty know I lied? What about Lys? I didn’t want her to find out like this.
Opening Ty’s door, the nurse announced in a sing-song voice, “Your fiancée is here.” She waved her hand in a rolling motion as if I were royalty.
There went any hope of keeping that secret. I cringed. Heat crept into my cheeks. Ty had slept the entire time I was with him the past two days. He still didn’t know that I wanted a future with him.
Ty’s brows creased in confusion. Lys’s stare was a mixture of hurt and disbelief.
“Hi,” I said brightly, walking over to Ty and slipping my hand into his. I widened my eyes and slightly gestured to the nurse, who stood at the computer, with a tilt of my head. Please let him understand the signal I was sending. We had to keep up appearances until the nurse left. Then we could explain to Lys. “How are you feeling?” I asked.
He frowned. His eyes darted back and forth between me, the nurse, and Lys. “Right as rain.” His words were slower than normal. Gravelly.
“Hi, Lys,” I said, turning my attention to her shocked face.
“Hi,” she mumbled. “How long have you two been together?” She pointed an accusing finger between Ty and me.
The lie burned the back of my throat. “Very recently.”
She blinked away the tears pooling in her eyes. “I’m a fool. I always knew there was something more going on between you two.”
Ty groaned. His fingers squeezed mine. Harder than I expected for one so injured.Ouch!That hurt.
“No,” I rushed. I bet the nurse was loving this. More gossip to spread around. “I promise you, this is all new. Ty never cheated on you with me. When he was with you, he cared about you.”
She sniffled. “Whether you got together recently or back then, it doesn’t really matter. The signs were there.”
“Lys,” Ty croaked, “she’s right.”
She addressed Ty. “She’s the woman you said you loved when you broke up with me. Of course. I’m such an idiot.”
“I’m so sorry, Lys,” I said. “I’m sorry you were caught up in our drama. If we’d been honest with one another years ago, you wouldn’t have been hurt.”
