Submerged(Bound Together Book 1)(92)

 

I can’t seem to get the words out to answer his question so I just nod enthusiastically.

 

“He meant every bit of it. Carly, he’s been a mess these last few days. The thought of losing you and maybe even Natalia weighed him down like never before. I don’t want to plead his case because that’s something for you two to talk about, but he hasn’t been the same. Years ago, he took an oath and for the first time in his life, he was torn between doing his job and doing what was right by you. He made the only decision he felt that he could, and I’m sure it was the hardest thing he’s ever done. But don’t take that one act as anything less than what it was: his need to do the right thing in the big picture. It killed him to have to lie to you about it, but it killed him more when you walked away.”

 

“I know that he did what he had to do.”

 

“He did. The only thing that kept him going, that kept him from giving up and quitting, was knowing that he was doing something worthwhile. When he found out Roman was your father, it twisted his mind into a damn pretzel. I’ve never seen him like that. He knew he would ultimately be hurting you, but he couldn’t quit. He couldn’t stop. He had put in two years on that job with thousands of other man hours devoted to it.”

 

“I understand all of that. I’m not angry with him anymore, Luke. I think I stopped being angry the moment I stepped inside of my apartment and he drove away. I just had to take a few days to get things figured out for myself. But do you know what the first thing I realized was?” Luke doesn’t answer, just shakes his head from side to side.

 

“I realized that I was in love with him with everything I have and that letting him walk away would be the biggest mistake of my life.”

 

“Well, I’m glad to know you are both on the same page then. Make sure you tell him that as soon as he wakes up,” Luke suggests with a bright smile.

 

“I will. Promise.”

 

We’re pulling apart from our brief hug when Dr. Sanders steps back out and runs through Blake’s assessment. Hopefully, tomorrow he’ll be discharged home where he can work on recovering from his gunshot wound.

 

Inside the room, the lights are dim as Blake sleeps soundly in bed. Luke and I make small talk for about an hour before a knock sounds at the door. I recognize the man and woman instantly as Blake’s parents. I met them briefly yesterday, but I was so out of it with worry that I didn’t make for good company.

 

“Come on in,” Luke says, getting up from his chair. The woman has short pristine brown hair, cut in the perfect bob. Her blue eyes sparkle like diamonds in the sky, and she’s only as big as a minute. The man next to her is well over six feet tall like the boys. His striking green eyes are friendly and his hair is a dark salt and pepper color. For as put together as they both appear, you can still see the exhaustion in their faces and the worry in their smiles.

 

“How is he?” Blake’s mom asks to Luke while giving him a warm hug.

 

“He’s good. He woke up about an hour ago for a little bit. The doc says he’ll probably sleep most of the rest of the day while his body recovers from the gunshot and surgery.”

 

“Oh, thank God he’s going to be alright,” she says while wiping a stray tear from her cheek.

 

“I’m sorry, we’re being rude,” Mr. Thomas says as he walks over to where I stand next to Blake’s bed. “I know we met yesterday, but it wasn’t under the best of circumstances. I’m Blake’s father, Dan. And that’s my wife, Janice.”

 

“Yes, I remember. It’s very nice to meet you both again,” I reply as I shake both of their hands. I try to school my features as much as possible so that they can’t see how nervous I really am. I’ve never been in this type of relationship before. I’ve never really met the parents. Especially someone I’m linked so closely with, as sharing a child. That alone makes me want to run from the room screaming. Of course, I won’t. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to.

 

Janice looks me over several times, taking in my rumpled clothes that I slept in last night. I’m sure my hair is a fright and what’s left of my makeup is smeared all over the undersides of my eyes. With the chaos and emotions of the emergency room and waiting room yesterday, I’m sure I’m making a wonderful impression on Blake’s family.

 

“So, it’s my understanding that my son is the father of your child,” Janice says cooly.

 

“Mom,” Luke states, the warning very clear.