Page 100 of I'll Be There
“Are you okay, sir?”
A nurse, dressed in a pair of maroon pants, a floral shirt, her hands in her pockets, had stopped in the hallway.
Not with his heart thundering, his pulse nearly deafening. He nodded. “Yep. Fine.”
Oh, and his voice sounded as if he’d dragged it over a shard of broken glass. Nice. He cleared his throat. “Just...”
She patted his arm. Glanced into the room, through the open door. “She’s awake. And those are pretty flowers.”
He had nothing, just stared at the flowers, then the form of the retreating woman.
How did he apologize for destroying another person’s life?
I think she still loves you.
Conner’s words, spoken to him yesterday afternoon when his little brother finally decided to show up for his party. Liza had changed out of her gown into a pair of white jeans and a T-shirt; Conner out of the monkey suit, into jeans and a Jude County Smoke Jumpers black tee.
He’d had a pretty good idea then what had taken them so long to get to the celebration. He just had to take in the firm grip Conner had on Liza’s hand, the way his brother nearly glowed, such a deep joy in his eyes.
That’s what love did. Healed. Nurtured.
Forgave.
Please.
Not that he should seriously hope that Blue still actually loved him. Maybe he’d dreamed the entire thing—after all, he’dlived a lie for most of their time together. She’d seen through him, however, so easily.
You’re not like them, Justin.
Her words lifted the truth, the hope out of the debris of his lies, the life he’d created—and hated—with the Sons of Freedom.
Given him the clarity, the strength to walk away from her, not contact her.
To keep her alive.
He drew in a breath. Considered the stupid flowers, his gaze going to the trash bin down the hall, near the reception desk.
Go, finish what you started.Conner had shaken his hand, met his eyes.I love you, bro. Thanks for coming to my wedding.
Justin took a breath, turned, and entered the room.
Blue sat in the bed, thinner than he remembered, dressed in a hospital gown, staring out the window. Short dark hair, high cheekbones, the slightest smattering of freckles on her nose—he’d liked to trace them when she’d lain in his arms, eyes closed.
Oh. Wow. He took a breath, and the action turned her attention to him.
“You colored your hair,” he said lamely.
Those beautiful blue-green eye widened.
“Before you say anything, please—hear me out.” He came a step closer. “I’m so sorry, Blue. I should have called you. Should have found you. Should have kept you safe, like I promised...” Oh, he’d promised, and he saw the truth of it in the hollowing of her face. Not knowing what to do, he set the flowers on the table. His hand shook and he fisted it. Swallowed.
“I thought by staying away I was keeping you safe. That somehow they wouldn’t find you if I didn’t contact you. Didn’t follow you.”
“Didn’t love me.” She coiled her hands into the covers, drew them up.
“Oh, Blue, no.” He came to her, kicking up a chair, sinking into it. “I never stopped loving you. Never stopped thinking about you.”
She closed her eyes, shook her head. “Conner said you were dead—but I knew...although, it gave me some reason why you never...why you left me.”
