“Neither have you.”
He smiled a little. “I slept in the car while Bran drove.”
Bran peeked into the room and clenched his teeth. He couldn’t see anything, but he imagined poor little Rose, blotchy and red, sleeping while an IV was taped to her, delivering fluids and medication. No little one should have to go through such a thing.
Tori sat down and peeled the top back on the tea. The scent of peppermint filled the air. “I don’t want to be out here too long. I keep thinking she has to know that we’re there. I’ve been singing to her.”
“Of course she knows you’re there.” Bran sat down next to Jeremy, and reached for the bag of sandwiches. “Here, you two. Seriously, eat something. And while you’re doing that, I’m going to book you a hotel room nearby. Even if you have to sleep in shifts, it’ll give you a base until she’s able to go home. You can get some good rest and have a hot shower.”
“Bran, you don’t have to do that.”
He leaned forward and met Jeremy’s eyes, and finally said something he should have said long ago. “When I needed you, you were there. Bullying me into eating and sleeping and showering. Sitting with me. This is a very small thing, Jer. Let me do it for you.”
Jeremy nodded. “Okay.”
“Do you need anything else? Is there anything I can do?”
“Not right now. Thank you, Bran.”
He excused himself and went to a nearby lounge to make accommodation arrangements, giving Jeremy and Tori time alone. His thumbs hovered over the keypad, knowing he should send the message and afraid to all the same. He hadn’t had contact with Jess since that day at the boathouse when they’d called it quits.
Still, she’d want to know.
Before he could reconsider, he typed rapidly.
Jess, just letting you know that Rose is in the hospital in Halifax with the measles. I’m here with Jeremy and Tori. Bran.
He sat back in the chair and replayed that morning in his mind. He’d been such an ass. Handled things all wrong just because seeing the pregnancy test box had scared him out of his wits. He’d known they had to break it off, but not like that. He’d wanted to explain that she deserved so much more. That she was wonderful and needed someone who could give her all of himself. Give her the family she wanted. And Lord, not ask her to take on so much baggage. Instead, he’d jumped down her throat and it had just been...awful.
He regretted that more than anything. That their beautiful friendship had ended with harsh words and hurt feelings. It seemed their relationship deserved a better ending.
His phone vibrated in his hand, and he looked at the screen. Jess had replied.
Oh, no! Is she okay? I’ll call Tori. She must be so distressed.
There was a pause, and then another quick message.
I appreciate you telling me, Bran.
He didn’t know what to say after that. Anything would either be too much or not enough. He tucked the phone back in his pocket and sat for a long time, replaying old thoughts in his head. Some made sense but others...others did not. What did that mean for his future? Could he truly go through life with a couple of friends and a laptop for company?
He’d missed her every single day.
Eventually he made his way back to the unit. Tori was leaned against Jeremy’s shoulder, her eyes closed and breathing deep.
“I’ll go so she can rest.”
“Stay a minute. She’ll sleep for a while now. The tea helped her relax.”
They kept their voices low, and Jeremy adjusted a little so that the angle of Tori’s neck was a little gentler. Then he looked up at Bran. “You and Jess. What happened?”
Bran swallowed. Thought about how happy he’d been just to see her impersonal text minutes earlier. “I wasn’t ready. And she had a pregnancy scare.”
“Oh, man. That sent you running for the hills, huh.”
“Considering the current situation, I’m not sure you want to talk about Owen.”
Jeremy nodded slowly, but then met Bran’s eyes. “I’m a wreck, it’s true. That little girl...and her mother...they changed my life. I can’t imagine...no, that’s not true. I can imagine, and it scares me to death. So I think I understand. Yours isn’t just imagination. You’ve lived through it and would rather do anything than go through it again.”