After Rogan had drawn his finger over her cheek, Jordan had decided to keep her distance. She had told the nurses to keep him away, or she pretended to be asleep when he came into her room. The reality of her disability was too raw now, and the idea of dealing with his feelings as well was too much.

“Don’t look so worried,” Avery said.

“I don’t want to deal with him now,” Jordan said honestly.

“Why not?”

“It’s hard to explain.”

“Is this about you two sleeping together last year?”

“You knew?” Jordan asked.

“I figured it out. And you can’t run from your past. Face it.”

She gripped her cane. “Right.”

Avery got out of the car. “Hey, Dr. Malone!”

Jordan listened as her sister chatted and walked away from the car. Reaching for the door handle, she opened it, got out, and used her cane as she worked her way toward her house.

Rogan’s steady footsteps moved toward her. “You’re a hard lady to find.”

“What can I say?” She grinned. “I keep busy.”

He didn’t touch her, but she could feel that he wanted to embrace her. Her sense of spatial awareness, or whatever it was, was sharpening. “I’ve been worried about you.”

“I’m figuring it out, just like I always do.”

“Headed inside,” Avery said. She hurried ahead, but neither of them moved.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” he said.

“I know.”

“Why?”

“I have a lot to figure out.”

“I can help you.”

“You really can’t,” she said. “I have to do this on my own.”

A heaviness lingered between them. “I’d like to take you out to dinner. We could drive to Fredericksburg like we used to.”

It had been over a year since they had made that drive. “I don’t think so.”

“We’re friends. Friends help each other.” He leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. It would be so easy to lean into his embrace, ask him to hold her and just take care of everything that was so terrifying right now.

However, as much as she wanted her old life back, getting back with him would be backtracking. He wanted more than she could ever give, and to lean on him now would give him hope for something that would never happen.

Her body remained rigid as her fingers curled at her side. “Thanks, Rogan. Really.”

“You don’t have to do this alone.” His voice was deep, soothing.

“I’m not alone. I have Avery.”

“Can she handle this?”

“She’s stronger than she was. She’s different.”

“I hope you’re right, Jordan.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Thursday, April 22

5:30 p.m.