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Clearing my throat, I put on a forced sh and say, "Yeahsure I totally get it You don't have much of your suet some sleep"

"Okay," he says with obvious relief "Cool I'll see you toet off work Maybe we can just stay in and chill out"

"Pizza and beer it is," I say with a brightness I don't feel

"Awesome," Reed says and then shoots me a wink "See you tomorrow"

It's a good fiveat the door, and I really have no clue what just happened

Chapter 25

Reed

Yawning, I scratch my stomach as I head down the stairs toward Josie's kitchen It's almost noon, but I just woke up and I need coffee pronto When I get halfway down, I stop at the oing to be working on their project here today In this past week since I've been back from New York, Josie has had to pull so to make up some time on their project

I al to the bedroom where I intend to hide out, but I also remember Josie told me they would be here all day She and I have plans for dinner tonight, but for the day she's in work mode and I'm on my own

This ranklesout on ti it with her former boyfriend, but because it's another exa on an i up at noon on a Thursday and est decision is what to eat for breakfast today

Or rather, lunch

My ears tune into their conversation filtering in froine them huddled at the table Josie will be in front of the laptop typing with Aiden beside her, reading snippets frohtly to hiue with her They'll discuss it like reasoned adults She'll go back to typing

I know all this because I've seen it before Josie and Aiden work here sometimes Other times they work at his house None of that bothersI learned for sure that day golfing with Aiden is that he doesn't have Josie in his sights He ht have when he first returned, but I believed the dude when he told me he cares for her and wants her to be happy

The only slight proble

run Can I provide for all her needs, which are complex and layered, because Josie is so coot her back on her feet after Aiden broke her heart?

So h answers For a man who has never cared for a woman like this before, I'm out of my depth

Aiden's voice filters up the stairs to me It's monotone and brisk It's a doctor's voice "This casethe patient was only sixteen years old Pregnant thirty-teeks, presented with so No prenatal care Had been raped and was co in an abandoned hut and living off soers Severely underweight"

Josie makes a sound of dis next to ," she says "She'd be in the foster system, so direct contact with her case supervisor"

"My protocol was a lot simpler," Aiden says, and I can hear some eo by was the patient's report of soave her our last bottle of prenatal vitaave her some of our meal rations Sent her on her way"

There's nothing for a moment, and then Josie murmurs, "I don't kno you did it I would never be cut out for that"

My stomach knots and I have no clue why

It could be for a variety of reasons

Possibly for the fact that Josie could indeed do that if she wanted, and yet she doesn't feel she could

Or maybe it's because she and Aiden discuss really is Life and death Huood way She's a brilliant doctor and highly educated I didn't do all that great in high school and now chase a puck around the ice for a ridiculous ae

My stoain, most likely in apprehension over a conclusion that seeh-speed train

I've got nothing of true value to offer Josie outside a few good orgashs The real question then becoh for her to be fulfilled?

With resolution and knowing I can't hide upstairs, Iroom Josie's head immediately swivels and she looks at et up?"