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“I was just coming to check on him.”
He nodded to where Jack laid. “How is he?”
“I don’t know,” I confessed. “I’m not a doctor. I’m doing everything I can, but?—”
“Hey,” he said, pulling me into his arms. It felt nice to be comforted in this way. I was terrified that Jack wouldn’t wake up, that I’d let him down after he saved my son. “You need some sleep. You’ve been up all night.”
“Not yet. He’s still not out of the woods, and I need to spend some time with Parker. I’ve hardly seen him since?—”
“Rae’s been keeping him company. She’s been plying him with candy and fun movies, so he’s not in too bad of shape.”
That actually made me feel worse. Someone else was doing my job.
“I have to go to the station to check in, but I’ll be back later today.”
“Oh.” I brushed the hair out of my face, unsure of how I felt about that. I wanted Pete to stay, but I also didn’t want to lead him on. His life was here, and I was about to run.
“Don’t look so distraught,” he teased. “It’ll only be for a little while.”
“Pete, you know…I mean, I think you’re so great?—”
He held up his hand, stopping me from saying the one thing I really needed to say. “Skylar, it’s okay. I know.”
“You do?”
“I saw the way he looked at you. It’s the same way you looked at him.”
“I…don’t know what you’re talking about,” I mumbled, feeling my face flush with embarrassment.
“It’s the same way I imagine I would look at someone I was falling in love with.”
There was something about the way he was looking at me that made me feel like he was talking about me. But we barely knew each other. Much like I barely knew Jack.
“I don’t even know Jack.”
“I think you know him more than you want to admit. Something inside of you always knew he wasn’t the man he appeared to be. I think that’s why you trusted him. Probably the same reason I asked him to look after you.”
Pete smiled faintly, his hand coming up to cup my cheek. The trouble was, when Pete looked at me this way, I could almost imagine myself falling for him too.
“You’re one of a kind, Skylar. Any man would be foolish to walk away from you. But I can see that I’ve already lost this round. Just remember who you are. You’re not defined by who Parker’s father is. I’ve always seen that.”
His lips slid over mine in a warm caress, pulling me tight to his body. In a flash, it was over and he was stepping away from me, making me seriously question why I was allowing him to leave.
“I’ll see you later.”
I nodded, pressing my fingers to my lips.
“Wow.”
I spun, gasping as yet another person snuck up on me. I closed my eyes, telling myself I was fine as Rae walked into the kitchen. “You shouldn’t sneak up on people.”
“I was actually standing there the whole time. You need to be more aware of your surroundings.”
“Sorry, I’ve been a little preoccupied with death, running for my life, and…what was that other thing? Oh, yeah. My missing kid.”
Her lips twisted in a smile. “It’s okay. I get it. You’re conflicted.”
“I’m not conflicted,” I spluttered, not wanting another person to tell me how I feel.
