“Checked out?” I repeated, barely believing what I was hearing.
“Yes, she left earlier today.”
I stood there, trying to process the news. How could she leave without saying anything? Why didn’t anyone tell me? I was so lost in thought, trying to make sense of it all. How could she just leave like that?
I quickly pulled my phone from my pocket and dialed Sydney’s number. She picked up on the third ring.
“What the hell happened? Why didn’t you tell me you were taking Nadine out of the hospital?”
I was furious that she made such a decision without informing me. Sydney knew how much I cared about Nadine, and how worried I was.
“Chill, big man,” Sydney replied calmly. “That wasn’t my decision. Ethan, she said she doesn’t want to see you.”
“She doesn’t want to see me?” I repeated, my anger quickly turning into confusion.
It felt like my heart stopped beating. I slowly pulled the phone away from my ear.
Maybe I hadn’t heard her right. I placed the phone back to my ear and asked again, “What did you say, Sydney?”
“I’m sorry, Ethan. It wasn’t my decision, he just wanted to leave, and right now, she’s locked up in her room. She doesn’t want to see anyone.”
“Including me?” she said, shocked that I wasn’t the only one she was shutting out.
“I’m sorry, Ethan. We’re both in the same situation,” I didn’t want to go against her wishes.
My heart ached for Nadine, for whatever she might be going through. Had she known about the pregnancy before she moved here, or did she find out after the hospital episode?
So many questions ran through my mind, but the only one who could answer them was Nadine, and now she had chosen to shut everyone out of her life.
I stood there, struggling to understand. Why would Nadine not want to see me?
“But why?” I asked, my voice trembling. “Did she say why?”
Sydney sighed on the other end of the line.
“She didn’t give me much of an explanation. She just seemed… determined. Like she needed space.”
“I’m coming right now,” I said before hanging up. I couldn’t just sit back and let her go through this alone. I needed to be there for her more than ever before.
I made my way out of the hospital. Once I got into my car, I rested my head on the steering wheel.
My heart felt heavy like it was dragging me down, and I couldn’t seem to function.
I hadn’t been to work, but I was grateful that Zoey and Mason had been able to cover for me.
The voice in my head told me to give her some space, but I shook my head. Hell no. I wasn’t about to back off.
I started the engine and drove out of the hospital compound. As I cruised around the city, I got lost in my thoughts.
But I was surprised when I looked up and realized I had parked right in front of Sydney’s house.
I sighed in relief, grateful that I had made it here in one piece without getting into an accident. My mind had been all over the place during the drive.
I sat in the car for a moment, trying to gather my thoughts. My heart was racing, but I knew I had to pull myself together before going inside.
I grabbed the flowers and teddy bear I had bought for Nadine, hoping she’d like them. “I hope she does,” I muttered to myself as I took a deep breath, got out of the car, and walked up to the door.
I rang the doorbell and waited for what felt like a long time. I was about to ring it again when the door finally opened.
“Ethan, you came,” Sydney said, standing in the doorway.
I looked at her, trying to gauge what she was thinking, but her expression gave nothing away.
“Yes, I needed to see her.”
Sydney shook her head slightly, and I couldn’t help but wonder why, but she stepped aside, allowing me to walk in.
“Where is she?”
“She’s upstairs in her room, but she isn’t talking to anyone.”
“Okay, show me her room,” I told her, determined to see Nadine.
Sydney hesitated, looking at me for a moment. “Are you sure it’s a good idea? She asked for space, and I’ve been giving it to her.”
“But for how long?” I asked, not ready to back down.
She shrugged, then sighed. “Okay, good luck with that,” she said, pointing towards Nadine’s room.
I didn’t waste another second. I ran up the stairs.
As I stood at Nadine’s door, my heart pounded in my chest. I took a deep breath, trying to calm down.
I raised my hand and knocked softly, hoping she would respond. But there was nothing-just silence. I knocked again, a bit harder this time, but still no answer.
“Nadine, please open up,” I called out, trying to keep my voice steady. “I got something you’d like.”
Still, there was only silence. Frustrated, I leaned my ear against the door, hoping to hear something, anything.
“Nadine, please don’t shut us out,” I pleaded, knocking one more time. “We care a lot about you.”
I waited, my patience thinning with each passing second. I couldn’t just stand here and do nothing. “I’m going to force the door open,” I warned, raising my leg, ready to kick it in.
But just as I was about to act, Sydney’s voice cut through the tension, stopping me.
“You wouldn’t do that,” Sydney said firmly, stepping closer and grabbing my hand to gently tug me away from the door.
Reluctantly, I followed her downstairs, my mind still racing. We both sank into the couch, each of us lost in our thoughts.
“You could use a drink, you know,” Sydney finally suggested, breaking the quiet.
“I need something strong,” I replied.
Sydney nodded and headed to the wine cellar. I sat there, numb, my thoughts spinning in circles.
When Sydney returned, I looked up and saw her holding a bottle. My eyebrows shot up in surprise as I read the label: Dark and Stormy.
“Have you lost your mind?” I asked, shocked. I couldn’t understand why she chose that drink, of all things.
“Are you drinking or not?” she shot back, “Gosh, heaven knows we both need this to numb the pain in our hearts.”
I hesitated, but she was right. We were both hurting and maybe this would help us get through it, even if just for a moment.
“Pour me a glass,” I said finally, accepting that this might be the only comfort we’d get tonight.
I looked up at her as she sat on the floor, uncapping the bottle. “Is it about Mason?”
She froze for a moment, the bottle in her hand hovering above the glass.