She sighed in annoyance. “He doesn’t treat you right.”

“You’re blowing this out of proportion.” I kept my voice low so she wouldn’t raise hers.

“No, I’m not. I absolutely hate you and think you’re the most annoying person in the world, but you deserve the best, Alaska.”

“That’s a paradox…”

“I’m serious. I don’t like Jace anymore.”

That might be a problem. “Payton, calm down.”

“You have to admit that your relationship hasn’t been the same for months.”

No, it hadn’t. He was always too tired to come over. He didn’t always answer my phone calls. And when we were together, I felt like his mind was elsewhere.

I glanced at the guys. Rick was leaning close to Jace, talking in a low voice. Jace had one hand in his pocket and seemed bored. But Rick scowled, like something was on his mind.

Payton studied them. “Something isn’t right.”

“I’ll talk to him, okay?”

She bit her lip then looked out the window. “We don’t have a dad, and we pretty much don’t have a mom. This guy isn’t just going to be your family, but mine too. You need someone that’s going to take care of you, someone who is going to respect you. I don’t think it’s Jace.”

I didn’t have a response to that. I glanced back over and saw Jace talking to the waitress. She placed a beer on the counter then gave him a sultry smile. I wasn’t stupid. I knew my boyfriend was hot, and other girls were going to think the same thing. But I didn’t care if girls looked at him or hit on him. I only care what he did.

Jace smiled back then looked down at her chest. They exchanged a few words before she looked away. Once her back was turned, Jace blatantly stared at her ass. When he started to turn back to our table, I quickly averted my gaze and acted like I didn’t catch him.

Obvious disapproval was on my sister’s face.

“I. Don’t. Like. Him.”

I went to the hospital carrying a plate of tacos and rice. My nana loved home cooked food, and she despised that crap they fed her at the hospital. I was her savior.

Her face lit up the moment I walked inside. “My beautiful granddaughter.” She was always so thrilled to see me. I was just here yesterday, but she acted like it had been an eternity.

“Hey Nana.” I set the food down on the table and rolled it closer to her. “I hope you like tacos.”

“I like anything you make, dear.”

I adjusted her pillows and made sure she was comfortable. “How was your day?”

She opened the plate and began eating. “The same. How was yours?”

“It was okay.” Jace came to my mind.

She eyed me while she took a bite. “It doesn’t sound like it was okay.”

I didn’t have a father growing up, and my mom was never really there. My nana raised me, being the solid figure I needed. She knew when I was hiding something. “I’ve just been having some problems with Jace…”

“What happened?”

I shrugged. “I guess I’ve been in denial for a while, but it seems like something is off. Even when we’re together, he seems like he’s somewhere else. His eyes are always hollow. And when we went out to lunch today, he kept checking out the waitress. It was like he couldn’t help himself.” I felt stupid just for saying it out loud. “I know guys check out other girls but this was different…it was like he didn’t even care I was there.”

She finished half her food then covered it with foil. “Maybe he didn’t think you noticed.”

“But how could I not? Payton called him out on it.”

She smiled at the mention of my sister. “Leave it to her to set the record straight.”

She couldn’t keep her mouth shut, that was for sure.

“Call me old-fashioned, but I think a guy should respect his woman by not letting his eyes wander, at least in her presence.”

“You don’t like him either?”

“I didn’t say that,” she said quickly. “But I don’t approve of his behavior. If he has an exceptional beauty sitting next to him, why should he care?”

When I was with Jace, I was ignorant to the world around me. I never noticed other men. Even when we weren’t together, I didn’t notice. “Maybe he isn’t in love with me anymore…” I hated to imagine the possibility, but things had been different lately.

“I wouldn’t jump to conclusions,” she said calmly. “The best thing you can do is talk to him and see how he feels. For all you know, maybe you’re dead wrong. Maybe you haven’t been giving him the attention he needs so he’s looking for it elsewhere.”

I guess that was possible. “But I always give him attention.”

She shrugged. “Like I said, talk to him.”

I looked out her open door and saw the nurses at their stations. The constant buzz of my nana’s monitor came into my ear. It was dark outside and visiting hours were almost over. “Is there anything I can get you?”

“Actually…” She turned to her nightstand and grabbed a large book. “Read to me. You have such a beautiful voice.”

I smiled. “Of course.”

She pulled the blanket over her chest and got comfortable. I turned off all the lights except for one so she could relax. Then I started to read.

She stared at my face while I read through each line. Then she closed them, breathing deeply. When I was younger, I had a lisp, so my nana made me read so I could get rid of it. Like she assumed, it worked. But now she still wanted me to read to her. It was a nighttime routine we shared.

An hour later, I heard her familiar snoring. I smiled then put the book down. I was sad my grandmother had been here for so long, but the doctors said she would be okay. I just had to be patient and wait for her to be released.

When visiting hours ended, I kissed her on the forehead then went home. I felt a little better about Jace even though nothing had been solved. But my nana was a natural therapist. She made me feel better even though nothing had changed.

CHAPTER FIVE

Ash

I had the same patient for the quarter, and I was getting really sick of her. Every time I walked in there, she asked me to read to her.

I was a fucking doctor, not a babysitter.

I checked her vitals when I walked inside. “Hello, Mrs. Pateo.”

“Patelo,” she mumbled.

Whatever. It sounded the same to me. “How are you feeling today?”

“Fine.” She seemed down.

I spotted the empty plate next to her. There were bits of rice and tortilla scattered everywhere. “Is this from the cafeteria?” I asked even though I knew it wasn’t.

She didn’t hide it. “My granddaughter brought it to me.”

“You know you’re on a strict diet. When you’re sedentary, it’s important to eat what I prescribe you.”

“Well, I can only eat horseshit for so long.” She lay her head back on the pillow.

I tried not to laugh at her words. The food in the cafeteria really did taste like shit. “Even so, it’s important you follow my regiment.”

“You aren’t even a real doctor,” she argued.

I held my tongue. “For all intents and purposes, I am.” I pulled the blanket back and examined her leg. There was still some intense swelling going on. I tried to elevate her leg above her chest but that didn’t help much. Then I used my stethoscope to listen to her heart and lungs. Everything sounded the same. “How was your visit with your granddaughter?”

“Good. She’s having boy trouble.” She sighed deeply. “I don’t understand why because she’s so beautiful. I know men kiss the ground she walks on just for a conversation.”

I doubt she was that pretty. Family members tended to have an unrealistic image of each other. “I’m sure she’ll figure it out.”

“I hope so.”

I finished my examination then dictated my notes on the chart. I ordered an MRI just to take a look at her leg. “Is there anything else you need before I go?”

She better not ask me to read to her.

She picked up the book from the nightstand. “You have a nice voice. I’d like to hear you read.”