Chapter 22 Don''t Push Me Away


    "Where does it hurt?" Chase asked out of habit.


    #Finished


    Henry rested a hand on the desk and stared silently at Chase for a long while before speaking. "Why are you haunting me?"


    "Shouldn''t I be asking you that?" Chase shot back. "If you''re really that capable, then lock Wendy down. I don''t want to be dragged back by her again and again. But if you can''t even hold onto her, don''te trying to act tough with me."


    "You think I can''t?"


    Chase let out a sigh. "Are you sick or not? If not, get out. I have plenty of patients waiting."


    Henry stood, suddenly leaning in close. Chase instinctively stepped back.


    The look in Henry''s eyes was sharp-burning with something far darker than resentment.


    "You''re pushing me, Chase."


    "What, you gonna kill me now?"


    Even after Henry left, Chase was still rattled by that look. There was real hatred in


    his eyes, and it threw him off more than he wanted to admit.


    How did things spiral like this?


    He''d thought Wendy had spent all these years hung up on Henry. They were supposed to be in love. He''d filed for divorce, stepped aside, and expected things to fall into ce.


    He would move on and start a new life. Wendy and Henry would get back


    together after five years apart. A picture-perfect ending.


    She didn''t even want kids-Henry had brought a daughter with him. One and done.


    So how did ite to this?


    Chase rubbed at his temple and called in the next patient.


    Around nine, Wendy finally left the hospital. She looked worn out.


    ?am took one look at her and knew she hadn''t slept. The faint smell of disinfectant clung to her clothes. Sam assumed she''d gone to see Chase.


    “So?” Sam asked. "Did you talk to him?"


    Wendy raised her eyelidszily. "Joy had a fever. I stayed with her all night."


    Sam''s smile froze. Henry again.


    Chapter 22 Don''t Push Me Away


    Finished


    had only had a few sips before she was already thinking about Chase. Sam had practically pushed. her out the door.


    And everything else that happened... Well, that followed naturally. If Henry hadn''t called-


    Wendy pressed a hand to her forehead. She was exhausted.


    Sam picked up on it quickly.


    "I''m still vetting candidates for that nanny I mentioned. Once there''s someone looking after Henry and Joy full-time, you won''t have to constantly juggle both ends."


    Wendy looked up at Sam.


    Sam...st night, I-me and Chase..."


    Sam Yale didn''t press. She never did.


    "You''ve got two meetings this afternoon. Now that you''re in the office, stop overthinking and. focus on your work. You and the mister are in a standoff. Don''t push too hard. He''s a man-he''s allowed to have pride. If you force it, it''ll backfire." Wendy paused, then reached for the files.


    Afterst night, she was sure of one thing-Chase still had feelings for her. He just wouldn''t admit.


    1. i.


    He''d tried to leave the country twice and failed both times. He was starting to lose steam. If he couldn''t leave, then he might as well settle down and focus on work.


    His professor had scolded him for a solid ten minutes over the phone, saying Wendy had already wasted five years of his life-was she nning to keep holding him back?


    But the busier Chase was, the better he felt. The more his days were filled with work and cases, the more he felt like he was wing his way back to the surface. Like he could finally stop pacing around that tiny apartment, stuck.


    After his shift, he packed up to leave the hospital.


    He''d been thinking about it all day: if it really was impossible to go abroad, then he needed to find a real ce to live. The dorm was meant for fresh-out-of- school interns. It didn''t feel right to keep upying a spot.


    He''d set up a meeting with a rental agent over his lunch break-six o''clock sharp.


    He changed into casual clothes and checked the time. He was runningte. Hisst patient had taken a while, and now he was rushing to get out the door. So fast, he didn''t even watch his step.


    His foot caught on the edge of the stairs, and his whole body lurched forward-


    "What''s the rush?"


    Chapter 22 Don''t Push Me Away


    from running up.


    Posted


    "You" Chase steadied himself and instinctively held her arm. "What are you doing here?


    "Came to take you to dinner. Why are you in such a rush?


    Chase didn''t answer.


    After everything that happenedst night, he knew exactly where Wendy stood. Henry or not, she didn''t want to let him go.


    And what really tied his stomach in knots-was his own heart.


    He knew Wendy and Henry had been tangled up for years. And still, when she came around all jsweet and soft, he faltered.


    "Thanks. But I''ve got ns." Chase kept his tone calm as he gently let go of her arm and headed. toward his car.


    Send Gifts


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