Not Pretending Anymore, Ward, Penelope [books that read to you TXT] 📗

Nodding my head toward the door, I whispered, “Let her sleep. We can talk outside.”

In the hall, I dragged a hand through my hair and stretched my arms over my head. “Her father passed out at a restaurant a few blocks away. She was up all night.”

Dr. Dick planted his hands on his hips. “I just heard. She should have called me.”

Considering the problem wasn’t her father’s vagina, I disagreed. “For what?”

Will’s jaw tightened. “Well, for one thing, I’m a doctor.”

I folded my arms across my chest. “You’re never going to believe this, but this big building? It’s filled with them.”

Will rolled his eyes. “I could have kept her company.”

“I had that covered. You weren’t needed.”

He sighed. “Listen, I’m not going to get into a pissing contest with you. Molly and I have a lot in common. There’s been something brewing between us for years. I realize it probably hurts your ego that we started dating after you started seeing her. But the truth is, she wouldn’t be dating me if you did it for her.”

My hands balled into fists. “Listen, asshole, I don’t like you. But that’s not important right now. What is important is Molly. She’s going through some tough shit. It’s not about who gets to hold her hand, but that someone does. So when she wakes up, don’t go giving her a hard time.”

The sound of the waiting room door creaking open caused both of us to change our focus. At the sight of a groggy Molly, Will immediately stepped around me. “Hey. Daisy told me you were here and what happened to your dad. I just sent a false labor home, so I figured I’d come find you.”

Molly glanced over at me, then back to Will. “His hemoglobin was three when they brought him in.”

Will frowned. “Who’s the attending?”

“Dr. Marks. I don’t know him that well. But he’s been very nice.”

“I golf with him occasionally. I assume they scanned him?”

Molly nodded. “His head because of the fall, and his chest.”

“Why don’t we go talk to Dr. Marks together and then take a walk over to diagnostic imaging? We can pull his scans up and see for ourselves where things stand.”

Molly’s shoulders relaxed. “That would be great, Will.”

While I was happy to hear Molly would have help getting information, I freaking hated the source of that help. But I did my best to hide it.

“Declan, I’m going to go see if we can get any new information, if you don’t mind?”

I shook my head. “Of course not. Do what you need to do. I’ll be right here.”

Will put his hand on Molly’s back, and I suddenly felt like the odd man out.

“Actually, Declan,” he said, “I got it from here. Thank you for keeping Molly company. I’m sure she’ll want to stick around for rounds soon. Since I’m off now, I can drop her at home afterward. You look like you could use some sleep.”

Molly looked over at me and frowned. “He’s right, Dec. Why don’t you go home? I’m going to be here a few more hours, at least, and you’ve been here all night with me.”

I didn’t want to leave, especially not with Dr. Dickalicious trying to pick her up like she was some sort of fumbled ball. But I also realized he could give her access to things I couldn’t. Not to mention, if I made a scene, the only one I’d hurt was Molly.

So I reluctantly nodded. “Okay. I’ll go. Call me if you need anything, Moll.”

She stepped forward and kissed my cheek. “Thanks for everything, Declan.”

My eyes caught with Dr. Dick’s, and his sparkled with victory. God, I don’t like this guy.

“Thanks, Declan.” He extended the hand that wasn’t wrapped around my girl’s back. “Take care.”

I watched as the two of them strode off together, an empty feeling churning in my stomach. At the double doors to the intensive care unit, Molly looked back and gave me a conciliatory smile. I waved and pretended everything was fine.

But it wasn’t.

After the doors closed, I realized what was fucking with my head more than anything. It wasn’t the fact that Dr. Dick had offered her help I couldn’t give. I cared about Molly enough to put her needs first and accept what was best for her. It also wasn’t the fact that he’d put his hand on her back as they walked down the hall. What freaked me the fuck out was that I’d been upset because he’d put his hand on my girl’s back.

My girl.

That’s how I’d thought of her.

But she wasn’t, was she?

Either way, I was leaving her in the hands of the guy who was supposed to get the girl all along.

CHAPTER 15

Molly

I’d missed my apartment so much.

After a few days, Dad had been released from the hospital, and I’d decided to take some time off from work and spent a week with him at his house. I knew if something happened to him, and I didn’t make more of an effort to spend time there, I’d regret it. So, I’d slept in the formerly forbidden pink bedroom.

Luckily, his condition had stabilized, and he was now back where he’d been before the fall happened. Today I was finally returning home after nearly seven days away, with the promise that I would spend the night at Dad’s again soon.

I hadn’t told Declan I was returning tonight. He was standing in the kitchen when I opened the door. I expected him to greet me with his usual cheery smile, especially given how long I’d been gone. But he didn’t even look up when I entered.

“Hey!” I said. “I wasn’t sure you’d be home.”

“Hey. Welcome back.” His smile seemed forced. “Yeah. I’m here. Wasn’t really feeling up to going out tonight.”

My stomach sank. “Is everything okay?”

He hesitated. “Yeah, everything is fine.”

I reached out to hug him, taking a deep breath of his delicious scent. The warmth of his arms felt so good, although his body was noticeably more rigid