Page 64 of Lost on Ice
Still, when he moves to stand next to Abbie, I can’t help but clench my teeth in irritation.
“Heyyy, there’s Lilah!” Westbrook exclaims.
To my immense satisfaction, Lilah doesn’t respond and instead buries her face against my shoulder. Abbie frowns for a moment but then quickly tries to laugh it off.
“Why are you being shy, sweetie?” she asks.
Lilah just shakes her head without looking up. I have to admit, I kinda love this. Looks like me and her both get the same weird vibes from this guy.
Abbie rubs her hand over Lilah’s back. “Why don’t you go ask Mrs. Parks for a piece of candy?”
Lilah looks up and beams, nodding. “Candy!”
I put her down and she runs to the reception desk, where the part-time receptionist I just hired, Mrs. Parks, is sitting with a bright smile and her glasses perched on her nose. Since Lilah is distracted, I turn my attention back to Abbie and this doctor.
Westbrook gives me a polite but tight smile. “Are you Lilah’s dad?”
Motherfucker, pretending he doesn’t remember me. Abbie looks shocked by his question and opens her mouth for a moment, as if to say something, but then Mrs. Parks suddenly calls out, “Miss Wixx, could you show me how to input for Medicare again? I’m still a bit confused.”
Abbie immediately replies, “Sure thing, Mrs. Parker! Just a second.” She looks between me and Westbrook, doing a bad job of hiding her relief. “Sorry. I need to go help her.”
Before either of us can say a word, she dashes toward the reception desk. Westbrook and I stand awkwardly together for a moment.
“Well, it’s good to meet you,” Westbrook finally says, his voice tight. “I should get back to it.”
“Yeah, nice to meet you too,” I reply through gritted teeth. Sure, act like we’ve never met before, asshole. Wouldn’t be the first doctor I know with a conveniently bad memory.
He turns and walks back through the door to the exam rooms. Once he’s gone, Lilah hurries back toward me clutching a sucker in one hand.
“Jake, look!”
I chuckle. “Ohhhh, cherry. That’s my favorite.”
Abbie makes her way back over as well and smiles down at Lilah, reaching down for her free hand. “All right, sweetie. We need to let Jake get going.”
Lilah throws her arms around my leg, squeezing like her life depends on it. “I love you, Yake! Bye!”
“Love you too, princess.” The words are out of my mouth before I realize what I’m saying.
Abbie looks as shocked as I feel when what I’ve said fully registers. My heart starts racing a million miles an hour, and I realize that I meant it. I really do love Lilah.
I have no fucking idea what to do with this revelation.
“Uh, I’ll see you guys later,” I quickly say. “Wish me luck tonight.”
“Good luck,” Abbie murmurs.
I turn and make my way toward the clinic’s main doors but stop and glance over my shoulder to find Abbie still staring at me. For a moment, I don’t want to go. Tonight is the first night she’ll really be alone since everything happened with her stalker at the apartment. I remind myself that we have the camera and reinforced locks, and the security company will call the police if they see anyone try to break in or if the camera becomes disconnected.
It’s only a couple of hours. Everything will be okay.
Still, next time, it would put my mind at ease if she just came with me.
“You, uh, wouldn’t want to come to one of my games sometime, would you?” I ask, trying not to sound super lame as I talk to her across the room.
She hesitates for a moment and nervously licks her lips.
“Yes,” she finally replies. “I’d like that.”
