Page 129 of Fierce-Matt

She reached for her mother’s hand. “Oh, Mom. You are. Never think otherwise.”

The elevator doors opened. “I’m going to have to tell EJ. It’s the right thing to do.”

She knew that. “Why don’t you wait until you have more answers?”

“That was the plan. I’m hoping your father wakes up tomorrow. I don’t like this.”

“I know,” she said, squeezing her mother’s hand. “But he’s peaceful. I don’t think he’s in any pain.”

“No. He seems so relaxed in an eerie way.”

She snorted. “I thought the same thing. Take advantage of that and try to get a restful sleep. I know it’s asking a lot.”

“It is,” Amber said.

“Do you want me to stay with you at the house tonight?”

“No. Why don’t you stay with Matt? I can tell he doesn’t want to leave your side. You’ll both feel better about it.”

“I don’t know,” she said. The elevator stopped and they walked toward the cafeteria and food courts.

“What is there not to know? He cleared his schedule tomorrow and will be here with you. You can depend on him. I know it’s been hard in your life to depend on anyone, but you can.”

“I saw that,” she said.

“Treasure it. Your father has a lot of flaws, but he was dependable. He might not have been around enough in your life or EJ’s, but he was there for the important things.”

“I’ve been thinking of that lately.” Watching her father made her realize he was losing his independence and it was devastating. “Matt works a lot.”

“So do you,” her mother said. “Don’t put roadblocks up.”

Her shoulders dropped. “I’m not.”

“You are. Let me lecture you. It will take my mind off your father.”

“Nice way to make me feel guilty about arguing with you,” she said, scrunching up her nose.

“A parent learns the things that work the best with their children.”

Nothing worked with her brother.

“I’ll remember that if I have kids one day.”

“You will,” her mother said. “You’ve got a mothering nature even if you don’t think it.”

“Do you think?”

She’d never thought one way or another.

“Yes. You’re great with people. Anyone who works as a bartender is. You are approachable.”

“Because people think I’m silly or naïve.”

“No, Anya. You let that get in your head from when you were a kid. No one thinks that now.”

She pursed her lips. “Probably not. Some do at work.”

“People are going to take advantage of anyone they can if a door is opened for them to walk in and do it.”