SOPHIA
Gunner offers to go get us food and I thank him for giving me some alone time with Dad. His eyes follow Gunner out of the room and he sighs. “Sophie, please be careful with them.”
“Your best friends?”
“Yes.” He nods. “I know you’re grown and smart and more capable than I like to admit, but guys are guys, no matter the age and I don’t want you taken advantage of.”
I smile and brush his hair away from his face. “I can handle them just fine. It’s you that needs to do what you’re told.”
He chuckles. “I promise, baby. I’m going to focus on getting better. You’re going to have a lot on your plate at work, but if it gets to be too much-”
“I’ll take it up with the other four partners.” I point at him. “No work talk. None. When you get out of here, you’re going to take a full week off and relax. We can go to the park; you can show me your favorite places in New York and we can even take those Holiday photos you like so much.”
He chuckles and kisses my forehead. “I did something right with you along the way.”
“Yeah. You made me stubborn.” I laugh.
Laughing is easier than crying. I can do that when I’m alone. Right now, I just need a plan to fix this. I already talked to the doctor, and he’s doing what he can, but the infection is bad. Really bad. They’re worried about his heart, especially because he has a thin aorta or something.
I hold Dad’s hand tightly and remind myself he needs to see me fine. It’s better for me to be a hard ass right now than being all kinds of weepy. Dad asks me about Italy, and I show him pictures. He smiles and lets me tell him stories of the wedding, Roman’s grandmother, how beautiful the vineyards were, and the beach.
More than once, I have to mentally kick myself because I almost give away the little layer of romance on the trip as well. Then, before I know it, a nurse comes in with Gunner at her heels. I can tell he’s asking for more time, but she shushes him and then looks at my Dad and me.
I’m on his bed, leaning towards him, showing him a picture I took in the city. She softens a little. “I’m very sorry, but visiting hours are over.”
“There’s no way for me to stay longer?” I ask, just to make sure.
“No. I don’t need you staring at me, waiting for me to get better. You’re just going to drive yourself insane.” Dad pats my knee. “Go home with Gunner and visit me tomorrow.”
I nod and squeeze his hand. I’m afraid to hug him, afraid it will hurt him somehow. The nurse walks us to the elevator, shooting Gunner frustrated looks. I know she doesn’t trust us to actually leave.
But we leave through the main doors, and I turn back to look at the hospital. Gunner rubs my hips. “It’ll be alright, sweets. I think you put the fear of God in him.”
“I stole his phone.” I lift it to show it to him. “No work.”
He chuckles and kisses my cheek. “You’re a hell of a woman.”
The ride home is quiet. Gunner rubs my knee, but I just keep thinking about Dad, about the work I’ll need to focus on when we get back to the office, and on where we’re going to go from here. It’ll be fine as long as I do everything right.
“Get over here.” Gunner drags me towards him, testing the limits of the seat belt. He kisses my shoulder softly. “Talk to me, sweets. What’s going on in your pretty head?”
“So if each of you works a little on Dad’s clients, I should be able to take care of some of the basics of your jobs as well. Nothing crazy, but responding to emails, scheduling meetings, all of that. That falls under the job title. I can work from home one day a week to help Holden with any questions he has and make sure that everything is going well – plus I can visit my dad on those days and schedule that time for work and-”
Gunner turns and kisses me. “Slow down.”
“I have to do something.”
“You are doing plenty.” He assures me. His hand softens on my chin. “I promise, Sophie, with our team, you’re going to do well. Tomorrow will be the last day you’ll have to babysit Neal. According to our reports, he’s been doing a lot more work. Let him know you’re proud of him, and if he keeps it up … I don’t know, he’ll get more PTO or something.”
“Okay.”
“And I’m going to talk to the guys about replacing Sasha since she’s more interested in gossip than work.”
“Okay.” I nod again.
“We’re a team.” Gunner’s eyes search mine. His voice drops, and he lets his forehead press to mine as he inhales. “We’re going to do this together, and if you ever feel alone, just grab one of us.”
“You managed to get through that without flirting.”
“I know. It’s shocking.” He smiles and gently kisses my nose. “Let the doctors do their job, but don’t stop living, okay?”
“Okay.”
I feel like I’m on repeat. Once we get home, Gunner keeps me close, like he’s worried I’m going to pass out or faint or something. I don’t blame him. I feel half awake like I’m in the twilight zone or something.
The guys are home, but the house is so silent. I tighten my hold on Gunner’s shirt. He kisses the top of my head. He leaves me on the couch with Holden. “I’m getting you real food. Hospital kitchen was closed.”
“Okay.”