Page 152 of Josephine and Clay

I close the door behind me, slowly. “Tessa invited me for dinner.”

His gaze flicks toward the hall. “Course she did.”

The bitterness in his voice makes me pause. “Is that a problem?”

“Nope.”

I grip the strap of my purse. “You seem upset.”

He laughs under his breath, but there’s no humor in it. “Do I?”

“Yes.”

“Good observation, Doc.”

I inhale carefully. “I can leave if this is a bad time.”

“Then why come up here?”

Because I’m pregnant. Because you deserve to know. Because I'm terrified. Because every time I think I understand you, you turn into someone else.

Tell him.

The words sit right behind my teeth.

Now. Before I lose my nerve again.

I open my mouth…

And Clay laughs bitterly under his breath, dragging one hand through his hair.

“Did they send you up here?” he asks. “If you’ve come to talk to me about taking my meds, I don’t want to hear it.”

Ah. That explains the rapid decline.

“I wanted to check on you,” I say.

His mouth tightens. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“Do that.”

I stare at him. “Do what?”

“Come in here looking at me like I’m some busted animal you’re trying to decide whether to put down or patch up.”

“I…” Why won’t the words just come?

“I’m already drowning here, Josie.” His voice roughens. “Everybody wants something from me lately. Everybody needs something.”

The words hit so hard I actually take a step back. “That's not what I’m doing.”

“No?” He gestures toward himself. “Leg broken, mood ugly, whole damn family hovering outside the door. Must be a real interesting case study.”

My face warms. “That’s unfair.”

“Probably.”