Chapter 21 Don’t Push Me
In the end, Wendy threw the coat over Chase and dragged him along.
Finished
He followed her sluggishly, and from a distance they could already hear the crying. Wendy rushed ahead.
A few children were sitting quietly with their parents in the ER waiting room. Only Joy was still wailing, tears streaming as Henry tried to comfort her. When he saw Wendy, it was like spotting a lifeline. But the second he noticed Chase behind her, his expression changed.
Only for a second–then Henry smoothed it over and gave Wendy an apologetic look.
“Sorry, Wendy. I didn’t mean to bother you again.”
Wendy took Joy into her arms, and the little girl immediately quieted down. She nestled against her, but then peeked out at Chase and glared at him like he was the villain who’d stolen her favorite toy.
“I was just around,” Wendy said, holding Joy gently. “Why is she still sick? Maybe she should get a full checkup tomorrow.”
Henry jumped in. “No! I mean–there’s no need.”
Realizing how fast he’d cut in, he added, “She just got scared the other night when someone broke in. The doctor said too many tests might stress her body even more.”
Joy clung tighter to Wendy’s arm and whined, “Pretty lady, if you come see me more, I’ll get better real fast. I miss you so much. Did I make you mad that day when I called you Mommy?”
Her voice was hoarse from crying, and that soft little tone was hard for anyone to resist.
Chase might’ve fallen for it too–if he hadn’t caught the quick look Henry exchanged with her. “No, sweetie, I’m not mad,” Wendy said, smiling. “I’ve just been busy with work.”
Joy turned to glare at Chase again. “Why are you with the man who hurt my dad? You forgot already? He gave Daddy a big boo–boo!”
That threw Chase off for a second.
The whole injury incident had never really been addressed. Online outrage about Wendy’s supposed cheating had drowned it out. She’d been too busy with damage control to care about anything else.
Stella still tried to pin it on him, calling it assault. Chase shut her up with one line. Pull the surveillance footage.
Henry, for his part, played both sides. He told Wendy it was an accident, told Stella he probably deserved it. A humble act–conveniently vague.
Chapter 21 Don’t Push Me.
Finished
“Mr. Goodman, I hope I’m not intruding. You and Wendy–still at the hospital this late?” Henry’s tone was gentle, but Chase could hear the subtext.
Wendy said nothing. If not for that phone call, she might’ve coaxed Chase into coming home.
She hadn’t missed that brication in his eyes just now. After five years together, she knew
exactly how soft–hearted he could be. All it took was a little pout and he’d give in.
Was this a competition?
Chase had no interest in fighting Henry for anything. Let them be in love. Let them play house. He wasn’t going to make it easy, though–not when Henry kept dragging him into their drama and playing the victim in front of Wendy.
So Chase smiled.
“Yeah, she didn’t want to sleep alone, so she came looking for me.”
Henry’s face darkened, brows twitching upward.
Wendy shot him a warning glare. “Don’t talk like that in front of a kid.”
Chase raised a brow. “What, am I wrong? If it weren’t for that call, you would’ve eaten me alive back there. Didn’t you say you weren’t letting go?”
“Chase!”
Wendy instantly realized what he was doing–he was pushing Henry’s buttons on purpose.
“Fine. My bad,” Chase said with a shrug. “You two enjoy. I’m going back to bed. Got work in the morning.”
He turned and walked off.
Wendy immediately handed Joy back to Henry and chased after him, pulling him aside.
Her tone was colder now. “Did you really have to say that in front of Henry and Joy?”
“Did I lie?” Chase asked with a tilt of his head. “Actually, I’m curious–if that phone call hadn’t come through, what were you planning to do? You really missed me that much? Or did you just want someone to hold onto for the night?”
His sharp tongue cut deep. Wendy couldn’t take it.
Sam had been right earlier–she needed to figure out what she actually wanted. Or who.
If Chase was so set on leaving, maybe she really should make a decision. No point keeping him. tethered.
But until she figured it out, she wasn’t letting him go.
“Go back to bed.” Wendy said, turning to leave. “I’m checking Joy in for overnight observation.
Chapter 21 Don’t Push Me
Finished
The next morning. Chase put on his lab coat and went straight to his office.
He wasn’t an intern anymore–no more trial period. He skipped straight to attending physician. A line of patients were already waiting outside.
He had no intention of wasting time on Henry,
But the first patient to walk through the door… was the last person he wanted to see.
Chase looked down at the name on the chart and felt a splitting headache coming on.
