Page 60 of More Than a Hero
There was a brief pause, and then she continued, "It was okay. She’s going to try me on a new medication, and we’ll see how it goes. No, I won’t have to have it at the hospital. I just have to give myself injections every other week."
Pete’s jaw tensed slightly at that. He hadn’t known that was even an option. Hearing her say it so casually made something tighten in his chest, but he forced himself to stay quiet and listen.
“Well, Pete is here with me?—”
Another pause, and then she laughed, the sound light and easy. “Okay, I’ll ask him and let you know.”
She muted the call and tilted her head up at him. “Mom wants us to come to dinner. My grandparents will be there.”
Pete hesitated, rubbing his thumb along the side of her arm. "I don’t want to take time away from your family." He hated the idea of not seeing her tonight, but he also understood how important family was to her. The last thing he wanted was to intrude.
Her lips curved into a soft smile, her eyes warm as she shook her head. "You won’t be taking time away from my family," she murmured, her voice gentle yet sure. "Because you’re coming with me."
He chuckled, tilting his head. "That sounded more like a declaration than an invitation."
"Take it however you want," she teased, stepping closer, her palms flattening against his chest.
Pete’s breath hitched at the warmth of her touch, the way she looked up at him with something unguarded in her eyes.
"Pete, you mean something to me," she admitted, her voice soft but steady. She nibbled on her bottom lip as if choosingher next words carefully. "I know we’ve only been dating a few weeks, but I’d really love for you to spend time with my family. If that doesn’t feel right to you, or if it seems rushed, or?—"
"I’d love to," he interrupted.
She blinked, her head jerking back slightly, surprise flickering across her face.
"Okay, now that sounds like a declaration," she said, laughing.
"Take it however you want to," he echoed with a grin, reaching up to tuck a stray piece of hair behind her ear.
Still smiling, she glanced back down at her phone and pressed a button. "Mom, we’re on our way. Do you want us to pick up Grammy Ellen?" Another short pause. "Great. See you soon."
As she ended the call, Pete felt something settle deep inside him—something steady, something sure. Tonight, he wasn’t just spending time with Angie. He was stepping into her world.
As Angie ended the call, she scrunched her nose in thought before pushing her glasses up onto her face. “I need to stop by Careway and pick up my Grammy Ellen.”
“I’ll follow you there,” Pete said, slipping his hands into his pockets. “That way, I can make sure everything goes okay. Then I’ll follow you to your parents’ place.”
Her lips curled into a smile. “Perfect.”
Before she could move, he bent down and brushed a light kiss against her lips. “Yeah, you are. Perfect.”
She let out a soft laugh, rolling her eyes in that way she always did when he caught her off guard with something sweet, but he didn’t miss the way her smile lingered.
He pulled open her car door, and once she was settled inside, he jogged around to his truck, falling in behind her as they made their way to Careway Assisted Living.
Once they arrived, Pete hesitated in the parking lot, unsure if he should follow her inside or wait in his vehicle. He knew Angie came here often, but this was different—this was family. He didn’t want to intrude.
Before he could second-guess further, Angie turned, caught his gaze, and waved him over with a small motion of her hand.
He climbed out and joined her as they walked through the entrance. The facility was warm and welcoming, the air carrying the faint scent of fresh flowers from a nearby arrangement. Of course, he’d been here when they met with the adoptive grandparents and the kids, but this was the first time he’d ventured deeper into the halls. The rest of the facility was just as inviting as the entrance, the walls adorned with framed paintings and the occasional bulletin board displaying upcoming activities.
At the end of the hall, they stopped at a door that was propped open. Angie knocked lightly against the frame. “Grammy Ellen? It’s Angie.”
A warm voice floated from inside. “Oh, how are you, sweetheart?”
Pete watched as an older woman slowly maneuvered her walker forward, her smile widening the second she spotted Angie. The love in her expression was unmistakable, and he understood the emotion behind it. After all, every time he saw Angie, he wanted to smile, too.
Angie stepped forward, bending to hug her grandmother before shifting to the side. “Grammy Ellen, I’d like you to meet a friend of mine. This is Peter Bolton.”
