Page 138 of The Secret We Keep
Jake leans forward, my wingman coming into action. He and I both know Danny has never been in this situation. And while Jake is married and I have Morgan, Danny’s never had anybody stay longer than one night.
“Try not to obsess over her, alright?”
Danny stares at Jake. “That’s easy for you to say.” He points between the two of us. “You have a wife, and you have the girl next door pining over you.”
My stomach knots. “It’s not like that.”
He tuts. “It is. You just refuse to take it any further with her.”
My teeth grind.
“Why don’t you grab another round, Danny?” Jake interjects.
Danny downs the rest of his pint. “Yeah,” he agrees. “Same again?”
We both nod, but I don’t look up.
Once Danny’s heading to the bar, I sense Jake about to say something. We trained together. I know when he’s about to go into work mode. “I don’t need you to say anything.”
He sighs. “I was just going to say, I spoke to Catherine.”
I look up. “What did she tell you?” Because to say anything would be breaching patient confidentiality.
“She didn’t tell me anything, but I’m happy for you.”
I gaze at him hard. “Meaning?”
He sits straight in his chair, crossing his arms. “Meaning, I’m glad you finally spoke to someone. Even if it wasn’t me or Danny, I’m glad she could help.”
I blink, taking a sip of my pint. “Tom called.”
“Oh yeah?”
I run a hand through my hair. “I can go back to work when I’m ready.”
Taking a few seconds before he replies, Jake’s lips purse. “And does Morgan have anything to do with you not going back right away?”
Leaning forward, I rest my elbows on the table and link my fingers together. “It’s complicated.”
He doesn’t move. “Want to talk about it?”
I shake my head, pressing my thumbs into my eye sockets. Then I peer up at him. “I think I’m done with the city. My place is here.”
“And Morgan?”
My chin rests on my hands. “She needs me here.”
He mirrors the way I’m sitting. “Is she okay?”
“No, mate. She’s not.”
“I’m sorry,” he offers, face turning down. “What are you going to do?”
I stare past him. “Pray she gets better.”
His face drops so fast. “Better?” He checks my expression, and an ominous silence descends before Jake speaks again. “Jesus, Paddy. And if she doesn’t? Have you thought about what happens then?”
Every single day.
