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“Good news. What’s your plan?”
“You tell me.”
“Has Cope said anything more about feeding you reports on the trial?”
“We haven’t had a chance to talk this morning. Right after he got here, the doctor came in.”
“He’s there?”
“Out in the hallway, but yeah.”
“Roll with it, Ali.”
“Understood.” I set my phone down and rested my head against the pillow. I knew Jessica would be happy when I told her Cope was here. There was something else I hadn’t told her, and if I had, she would not have been the slightest bit pleased. She’d be furious to the point of pulling me off the assignment if she knew how hard I was falling for the man who had just rapped on the door, asking if he could come back in.
“The doctor said I can break you out of here.”
Before I could respond, the nurse from earlier returned. “The doctor had one more question before he signs off on letting you go home.” She looked between Cope and me. “I need you to assure me you’re not going to be there on your own. For an hour or two, it’s okay, but not longer than that. Do you have someone who?—”
“I’ll be with her.”
“What?” I gasped and then put my hand on my side, where a stabbing pain shot through me. “No, my friend…she’s in town…staying with me.”
“Okay, as long as there’s someone. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“Why did you say that?” I asked between shallow breaths.
“Because if you need someone with you, I can be that person.”
I shook my head. “You can’t. The trial.”
“I’ll figure something out.”
“Cope?”
When he took my hand in his, I couldn’t deny the zing of electricity that flowed through me, but what I had to say was important. “You’re a nice guy, but this—me—isn’t your responsibility. I honestly don’t know why you feel like it is. Whatever you think you need to atone for, you don’t. I’m a big girl and I’ll be fine.”
I held up one finger when my cell rang and I saw it was Chloe calling. “I thought you’d be asleep,” I answered.
“I would be, but there’s a problem, sweetie. I know I just got here, but one of my employees has appendicitis and has to have emergency surgery. I’m so sorry to do this, but I need to fly home as soon as I can catch a flight.”
“Don’t apologize, Des. Do what you need to do. I’ll be fine.”
“What’s wrong?” Cope asked when I ended the call.
I bit my bottom lip, wishing I didn’t have to tell him that my friend had to leave already. “Chloe owns a grooming and pet-sitting business. One of her employees has to have surgery, so she has to go home.”
He nodded in a way that made me wish I had anyone else I could call. I hated being pitied, and the look on his face was all about feeling sorry for me.
“Fuck,” I mumbled under my breath.
Cope pulled his hand away and stood so abruptly that it startled me. “Here’s the thing, Ali. If I’m so offensive to you, then sure, do this on your own.”
I was stunned, which quickly morphed into feeling like an absolute shit. “Wait,” I said when he put his hand on the doorknob. “I’m sorry.”
He didn’t walk out, but he didn’t speak or even look at me.
“I’m trying to let you off the hook, not insult you.”