Page 21 of The Moment He Couldn’t Walk Away

“Hey, JD.”

“I’m so sorry, Nina. I just heard about your mom,” he said.

“Who told you?” Because she’d told no one but Finch, and she was pretty sure he wouldn’t have spoken to anyone.

“Ally called me.”

Did Finch tell Ally, who then called JD? That thought made her feel a little warmer inside.

“I’m okay, JD.”

“No, you’re not, so don’t act tough. Your mother just died, and that hurts and will for a long time until the grief softens, so stop acting like you’re okay like you always do.”

She sniffed at his words because he was right. It felt like she had a deep cut inside her and someone was pouring lemon juice over it.

“Take a few days or however long you need. We can make things work and cover you. I’ve always wanted to do Dee Heckler’s eyebrows, and now I may get that chance.”

Nina snorted at his words. “I won’t need long. I just need to sort⁠—”

“Nina, shut up and do as I tell you. Take as long as you want.”

“Thanks, JD, but honestly I think I’m going to need the distraction of work.”

“Okay, but at least take a couple of days, and if you want help organizing anything, I’m good at that, too, so ask me.”

“I will.”

“Now my wife wants to talk to you, and as Connor only gave us a few hours’ sleep, and she doesn’t cope as well as I do with less than eight, maybe listen to what she has to say and don’t argue back.”

Nina couldn’t quite hear what Zoe said to him, and then she was on the phone.

“Nina, I’m so sorry about your mom. I can come over now if you want?”

“Thanks, Zoe, and honestly, I have to run some errands this morning, so I’m going to be busy. I have to get back to the home at some stage, too, and collect Mom’s things.”

“You can’t do that alone!”

Nina winced at the tone. “Okay, I won’t, then. I’ll take someone with me.”

“You’re lying to me, aren’t you, Nina? And after JD told you not to annoy me too.”

“Zoe—”

“It doesn’t make you weak to ask for help.”

“I know that, and I will if I need it. Now go and get some sleep, and thank you for the phone call.”

“I’m really sorry, Nina, I’ll hug you next time I see you,” Zoe said.

“I just got a hug….” Her words fell away as she realized what she was saying.

“From whom?”

“What?” Nina asked, wondering why she hadn’t kept her mouth shut, but then, if she was going to be off-balance, today would be the day.

“Who hugged you?” Zoe demanded.

“Gotta go. There’s another call coming through,” she lied. She cut the call before her friend could ask any more questions.