Before he could speak, the swinging doors opened and the doctor strode through. “Mr. Sanders?”
Cole rose, and Erin stood too. “How’s my father?” he asked.
“He came through the surgery and is in recovery.”
Cole’s entire body nearly collapsed in relief. He hadn’t realized how much tension he’d been holding inside until the doctor had spoken. Erin eased beside him and shoved her smaller body beneath his arm, bolstering him physically as well as emotionally. Sensing his need, as usual.
He swallowed over the unexpected lump in his throat, a dual assault from the news of his father as well as Erin’s unconditional support.
“Thank you,” Cole said to the doctor.
The other man merely nodded. “He’ll be out of it for a while. You should go home and get some rest. Come back in a couple of hours, and you can see him for fifteen minutes the first time.”
Cole nodded.
“Make sure the nurses’ station has your cell number and go on. Leave here for a bit,” the doctor said, then strode off.
Erin turned to him, a huge smile on her face. “That’s great news!” She threw herself into his arms, treating him to a full-body hug. Her cheek touched his, her breasts pressed into his chest, and her lower body settled into the cradle of his hips.
But the overwhelming sense he got from her was emotion and elation.
“I knew you’d get your second chance with him,” she said.
Her words proved right. She was truly relieved Jed had survived the surgery, not just for Jed, but for him.
“It’s over,” she said softly, pushing herself off him. Without meeting his gaze, she brushed the wrinkles out of her clothes.
He felt a loss that was somehow more than physical and he watched her carefully. “Erin?”
“Hmm?”
“Something wrong?” he asked, going with his gut that this Erin was different from the one who’d held him close before and during his father’s surgery.
She shook her head. “Not a thing,” she said too brightly. “Let’s do what he said and go home for a little while. We can eat something, rest in a bed, and come back in a few hours.”
“Sure. There’s nothing more we can do here.”
“Good.” She picked up her purse and started for the door.
He called her name once more and she turned, her eyebrows raised.
He swallowed hard. “Thank you. For being here during all this.” He didn’t think he could have gotten through it without her.
She inclined her head. “You’re welcome.” Her tense smile did nothing to reassure him. “That’s what friends do for each other, right?”
Friends. The word left a foul taste in his mouth, as once again, his gut proved on target. With his father out of imminent danger, Erin was pulling away.
• • •
The sun still shone bright when Erin walked out of the hospital, Cole not far behind. She walked quickly, trying to outrun the emotional closeness of the last twenty-four hours. She felt too much and wanted way more than she’d ever get from Cole, and now that his father was out of surgery, it was time for a little self-protection to return.
She sprinted through the parking lot on another unseasonably cool day, trying to remember where they’d left the car so many hours before.
“Erin! Slow down,” Cole called out to her.
Knowing she couldn’t distance herself from the hurt or disappointment no matter how hard she tried, she slowed her steps and turned back to him just as the sound of a gunning car engine ripped through late-afternoon silence.
From the corner of her eye, she saw a dark sedan barreling toward her. Everything next happened in slow motion.