Love in Country (De La Fuente Family #4)(32)

I can’t even get a greeting out before his words penetrate my frozen brain.

“Diego’s been stabbed but he’s going to be okay…I think…Just get to the hospital and calm Rae down. She’s hysterical and not helping anyone.”





16


SARAH


Hearing the front door opening and closing, I struggle into a sitting position on the bed and finally get to my feet, wondering why Aiden’s only coming home now when it’s so late. Where’s he been all this time? He’d disappeared to get out of my way, and since then I’ve been thinking about how ridiculous I’m being. I’m the one he asked to marry him, so why should I get worked up when another woman goes ring shopping with him?

Because it should have been me, that’s why.

There’s also the fact that there is still a small stab of jealousy were Rae is concerned, which is why it was so easy for me to get upset to begin with.

We do need to talk and although I’d rather not, we need to clear the air and then maybe I’ll be able to sleep…well, after I’ve taken another pain pill.

I’m halfway down the hall when I spot Aiden standing just inside the doorway with his cell to his ear.

“Tell Rae I’m on my way,” he says before he pockets his cell. As he turns to leave, he glances at me for a few seconds and then walks back out the door. Seconds later he peels down the road like a bat out of hell, all without one word said to me.

Leaning against the wall, I stand here numb wondering what the hell just happened, and what I’ve done to deserve that. He stared straight through me before he left.

Twenty minutes later someone is pounding on my front door.

Greg.

“What are you doing here?”

“Are you okay? Where’s Aiden?” he asks as he comes in, Matthew right behind him.

“I’m okay,” I whisper, feeling anything but.

“No, you’re not. Was Aiden here?”

“He came in and was on his phone. Minutes later he saw me standing in the hall and just left. He didn’t say anything. Not one word.” I finally give in to the tears and cry on Greg’s shoulder as he pats me on the back.

I flinch when my arm is nudged, and he asks, “When did you take pain meds?”

“When I left the hospital.”

Greg curses under his breath as he nods in the direction of the kitchen to Matthew. “She always leaves pills by the coffee machine.” Greg smiles as his gaze holds mine.

“Listen Sarah, I’m not sure what’s going on between you and Aiden, but that call he got…it was probably about Diego. He’s in the hospital.”

I gasp and grab onto his wrist. “What?”

“Something happened at the bar in town and Diego got in the way of a knife. He’s going to be okay, but I guess Aiden freaked.”

My tears won’t stop as I cry, “Why wouldn’t he tell me? Why would he just look through me and then leave without a word?”

Greg sighs. “I don’t know.”

My arm hurts like a bitch but I’m not just going to stand here and do nothing. I don’t want to confront Aiden at the hospital, but I need to put everything behind me to be there for him.

“Will you take me to the hospital?” I ask Greg.

But what if he didn’t tell me because he doesn’t want me with him?

I hesitate, then shove my feet into boots and let Greg and Matthew lead me to their truck.

Inside, I sit quietly while Greg drives, all the while my stomach is in knots wondering whether I’m doing the right thing. I mean, surely he’d have told me and asked me to go with him if he’d wanted me there, right?

Then I remember his last comment to the person on the phone. Aiden had told whoever it was to tell Rae he was on his way.

Fifteen minutes later Greg pulls up at the hospital.

“What’s with the frown?” Greg asks, lifting me from his truck.

“I think this is a bad idea.”

“No, it isn’t. He asked you to marry him, Sarah. He probably wasn’t thinking straight when he got the call about his brother…C’mon.” He takes my good arm and leads me across the parking lot and in through the main doors.

As we turn a corner toward the waiting room, my body freezes and my heart really does break when I spot Aiden running his hands through his hair seconds before Rae walks into his arms, offering the comfort that he should be taking from me.

I can’t get my feet to move as I watch him kiss the other woman on the top of her head.

Seeing the scene before me, I realize that he didn’t say anything to me because I’m not the one who he wants with him.

Backing up, Greg and Matthew look between us, and the anger Greg can’t hide is there on his face. “I’m sorry, Sarah. Let me get you out of here.”

He turns me to leave and I nearly walk into Mateo, his wife, and their sleeping daughter in the car seat.

“Sarah, it’s good to see you again.” Mateo frowns as Erin steps forward, and asks, “Is everything all right?” She glances behind us and back to me.

“I don’t know,” I admit.

Mateo smiles. “I believe congratulations are called for.”

I feel all the color leave my face as Greg slips his arm around me. I know everyone is now aware of Greg and Matthew, but it’s a shock to be congratulated for something that isn’t going to happen.