He turned into the hospital parking lot, the light shining against his lined face and salt-and-pepper whiskers. “You aren’t free when you’re trapped inside guilt and lies.”
He pulled up in a parking space and put a hand on her arm before she got out. “And I’ll bet Pete understands that better than anyone.”
She met his eyes in the glow of the dome light and saw compassion.
He gave her arm a squeeze.
He was probably—no, most assuredly right. If anyone understood being trapped by actions beyond your control, or even questionable choices, it would be Pete.
“I care. If you want to talk. About . . . anything.”
Jess slid out and waited for Chet. They headed inside, and her gaze caught on the media vans parked near the entrance.
Oh no. It was déjà vu as she spotted Pete holding court in the middle of a media circus in the ER waiting room. At least three local news channels and Tallie stood closest to him, her arm touching the small of his muscled back as she leaned in to get his statement. Jess knew she was staring, rooted to the spot as Tallie smiled up at Pete, as he grinned down at her.
She recognized that grin, charming and sweet.
Admittedly, he looked every inch a hero, his long golden blond hair tied back, those baby blue eyes, the slightest hitch of a smile against his golden whiskers. He still wore his blue fleece jacket but now stood with his hands in the pockets, as if to say, Aw, shucks, of course I saved those kids, ma’am. It’s just what I do.
Jess froze, not sure what to do, where to flee, because Chet was hobbling in behind her and she couldn’t retreat.
Then Pete looked up past the cameras, past the mics and through the clutter of worried parents, and his gaze landed right on her.
Her world imploded.
“Jess—finally! Come here and tell everyone how you thought of the commune.” Pete actually turned to Tallie. “She’s the one who really saved them—she’s the one who figured it out.”
Every camera turned to Jess.
Oh.
Tallie slipped off the stool, headed her direction, and right behind her, Pete.
His eyes were shining as if he had just given her the best birthday present ever, maybe invited the Property Brothers over to remodel her home.
A camera was in her face, a microphone shoved into her airspace, and her feet were moving before she realized it.
“Jess!”
She pushed through the cameras, the reporters, parents, members of the youth group—even her own teammates. She spied Gage and Miles standing not far away, talking with Kacey.
“Jess.” Pete had her by the arm now, and she turned, stared at him.
She couldn’t breathe.
“What’s the matter?”
“It’s nothing.” Oh no, please. Not right here.
Especially with Tallie advancing on them, still holding her mic. Seriously?
Jess yanked her arm away from Pete’s grip. Shook her head. “I can’t—I can’t do this, Pete.”
“What?”
“I’m not a hero! I don’t want to be.” She cut her voice low. “Trust me, you’re hero enough for both of us.”
He stared at her, his mouth closing, and for a second, hurt flashed across his face.
Oh. Everything inside her wanted to cry at his expression, because she hadn’t meant it quite that way. But she couldn’t tell him that it had nothing to do with him and everything to do with her and the fact that splashing her name across the news would destroy the fragile life she’d built in Mercy Falls.
She turned and practically fled down the hallway.
She crashed through to the lobby of the hospital, away from the ER, and simply stood there, breathing hard.
What had she just done? But she couldn’t be in front of all those cameras. She didn’t know how far the news might reach, but if it got picked up nationally . . .
Naked. Her life dismantled, again.
Footsteps behind her, and she whirled around, expecting Pete.
Not Pete.
Ty came through the doors, his eyes darkened with concern.
“Ty . . .”
“I saw what happened out there,” he said quietly. “Are you okay?”
She wanted to say yes. That seeing everything she’d built here explode in her hands hadn’t dismantled her. Hadn’t threatened to send her to her knees.
But that’s exactly what it did. She pressed her hands to her mouth, her eyes suddenly awash with heat and tears, her legs shaking. A terrible moan emerged from her mouth.
Ty caught her. Simply stepped up and put his arms around her. Strong, and capable, and no, they’d never been anything more than friends, but he’d been her only friend for a while, and he knew what this meant.
What it all meant.
“Oh, Ty, what have I done?” She put her arms around him and held on, weeping. Sure, she could admit that it was probably fatigue as much as embarrassment, but for a second, she just didn’t care.