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“Not really, sir.”
His gaze takes on a faraway look. If I had to guess, he just transported himself back to my childhood. “I left my position at Hopkins so I could be near her. I assumed, wrongly, I could swoop in and Corinna’s and my friendship would naturally lead to ... well, let’s just say I thought I could play my mind games, as you’ve eloquently called them.”
“When that didn’t work out ...” My voice trails off.
“I made myself believe I could make things work with her sister and almost ruined your other aunt’s life in the process.”
Since the family opinion is exactly the same, I don’t reply. I’m barely able to process what my chief has admitted to—loving one sister while being engaged to another. Some might call it heartless. I just think it’s horribly sad so many years later because for my aunts, they ended up with their true loves.
“I know what my reputation is—was—around this hospital before I met my wife, Gore. I admit there was a lot of truth to it. Then again, I was just trying to find my third—and last—chance.” He lets out a rough breath. “Do you know you’re only the second person I’ve shared that with?”
“Your wife?” I guess. My jaw drops again when he shakes his head in denial.
“Not the details. She knew I fell in love once before her.” His eyes bore into mine. “And she knows I was engaged once before. She also is well aware it was wholly my fault for how poorly it ended.”
I want to ask him so badly who the other person who knows is. Moser must be able to read it on my face before he admits, “Alice.”
My eyes bug out, not expecting that.
He grumbles, “What? You think I don’t need someone to talk to? Why do you think I send my patients to her before surgery?”
“She must have a field day with you.” The words fly out of my mouth before I can stop them.
His lips twitch. “She ... appreciates me.”
“I’m sure she does.”
“Why do you think I approve her chocolate budget each month? If I’m going to sit in her office and subject myself to her intrusive questions, I want there to be some decent choices, for fuck’s sake.”
“On behalf of every person who has sat on that couch and endured her particular mind games, thank you.”
He reaches down and squeezes the opposite shoulder to where I was shot. “You, Laura, have thanked me any number of times without knowing it.”
I want to laugh it off. I really do. But instead, my lips admit something entirely different. “It hurts so badly.”
“Your shoulder? Still?” He frowns immediately, a surgeon through and through.
I shake my head vehemently.
“Ah.” Moser moves away from the desk and sits in the chair next to me. “Your heart.”
I can’t stop the trail of hot tears from pouring down my cheeks. “I thought I was improving until...”
“Until the Tiberi crime family decided to take further revenge by holding you and Bailey Payne hostage bringing you back to the ER almost the same way you left it.”
I sigh in relief. “You get it.”
“More than you know. Let me ask you a question.”
“Shh-go ahead.” I almost said shoot. I’m not so certain I can be cavalier about my words again. Certainly not about three little words, eight letters, that together once held together pieces of my now broken heart.
“Before that night, were you ready to return?”
I nod before admitting, “I wasn’t afraid of the ghosts any longer.”
“I should have known it was something like that.”
“Known what?”