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I really needed to leave so that I could get my shit together because hell, I was bordering on psycho territory. Any more of this and surely Connor could have me admitted, right?

I hurried about in the bathroom, brushing my teeth, and using the toilet, before stepping back into Vaughan’s bedroom. He sat on the edge of the bed, and his head was rested in his hands until he heard the bathroom door open.

His eyes surveyed me from head to toe, and whatever he saw must not have pleased him because his brows dipped low, his frown making him look rugged. But again, he didn’t call me on it. He simply rose to his feet — thank God he was dressed - and said, “I called you a cab.”

My entire body sagged with relief because the thought of asking Aiden to take me home was mortifying, and asking Vaughan would only have made me feel more contrition. I’d used him enough, I wouldn’t subject the poor guy to another car ride with me. It would be the second time in twenty-four hours that he’d rescued me. I was a little tired of being rescued. I wasn’t helpless.

Vaughan frowned again. “I know you’re not helpless.”

“Huh?”

“You just said you’re not helpless.”

Shit. I didn’t mean to say that out a loud. “Sorry, I was talking to myself. I appreciate you calling me a cab.”

“I’d rather take you home myself, but after the way you darted out of bed I figured you wouldn’t be comfortable with that.”

He’d been awake the whole time?

Great. Now he thought he made me uncomfortable, when it was actually the opposite. And that’s what frightened me. Confused me.

“Thank you,” I croaked out. “I didn’t want to trouble you for a ride.”

Vaughan’s expression told me he called bullshit but he nodded, and opened his bedroom door, gesturing for me to walk out. He followed me, and when we walked into the living room, the house was quiet. It wasn’t exactly early, but we were obviously very much alone. “I wasn’t sure how you were going to feel when you woke up so I had Staci and Aiden take Daniel out for a while.”

He was too considerate, and his expression was impassive, his green eyes giving me no indication of how he was feeling or what he was thinking. A few minutes later, a car horn sounded outside, and I shifted on my feet, needing to leave for my own sanity but not really wanting to.

“Thank you.” I shuffled awkwardly on my feet. “For fetching me yesterday, and letting me stay here.” And for the amazing sex. Of course I flushed when that thought popped up, but if Vaughan noticed, he was too polite to bring it up. Polite Vaughan was irritating. Which made no sense. When the car horn blared a second time I took it as my cue and spun on my heel, all but running out the front door. I climbed into the cab, and after five minutes of trying to decide where I wanted to go I gave the driver my Dad’s address. The short drive didn’t allow much time to think, and when the cab stopped outside my Dad’s house my palms started sweating. I paid the driver with change left in my jean pockets and walked across the lawn until my feet thudded on the porch steps. The door was open before I hit the top step and if I weren’t still angry with my Dad I would run straight into his arms. But like an obstinate child I stood still until he held the door open.

Without being prompted I started looking around and spotted a few stray items lying around that could only belong to a woman.

Some peach lipstick. My Mom’s favorite was red.

A silky summer scarf. My Mom hated scarves unless they were made of wool.

And pearl earrings. My Mom only wore diamonds.

“She’s not here,” murmured my Dad. He had his hands tucked into the pockets of his athletic pants, his face marred by a mighty frown. It looked like he hadn’t slept at all, and somehow it looked as if his hair had greyed a little more in the hours since I’d seen him last.

“How long have you been seeing her?” My throat felt tight just talking about her.

My Dad sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. “I met her at the hospital the night of your accident. She’s a pediatric nurse who works with Natalie in the N.I.C.U.”

I thought back to all the times I did the Kangaroo Care with Natalie. It was always just the two of us, and the only other person I ever came into contact with was Alex.

“So you’ve been seeing her since April?” We were already nearing the end of July.

“We became friends, Kenzi. It only became serious a month later.”

“You’ve been dating this woman for going on three months and you didn’t once think to tell me?”

I thought walking in on them had hurt but finding out I’d been kept in the dark for three months was so much worse.

“I didn’t know how, sweetheart.”

I wasn’t ready for an excuse. “Does everyone else know?”

My Dad hesitated, and the knot in my stomach grew so big I thought I was going to be sick.