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Too many patients to see, too many charts to finish, not enough time to do it all, Carri could only imagine. “Hopefully not until tomorrow morning. I know you were hoping to take him home tomorrow first thing, but after this, he’ll need to be rechecked.”
    â€œI understand,” she whispered as the nurse nodded briskly and took off for another room. “Damn it.”
    â€œPlaces to go?” Josh asked mildly.
    He could always do that. Say something in the most mild of tones, but make it sound completely condescending or insulting. Or maybe that was just the internal filter she played all his comments through.
    â€œI could ask the same of you. Why don’t you go play a game of pickup or something,” she retorted. She walked carefully into her father’s room, but he was out cold. She could have marched through the hall blaring a fog horn and he wouldn’t have stirred. Picking up her purse from the table with the flowers, she tossed it over her shoulder and headed out with a mental promise to come back in the morning before breakfast.
    â€œHey, hey, hold on.” Josh caught her arm as she speed-walked to the lobby. “I’m sorry. Not sure why I’m griping at you right now. I know this sucks.”
    He stuck his hands in his pockets and she watched him for a moment. For once, he seemed genuinely sorry. “Okay.”
    â€œSo, are you staying with your parents?” he asked as she kept walking. His long legs kept up with hers easily. “Or did you get a hotel?”
    â€œMom and Dad’s house. Just easier, since I didn’t know how long I’d be here.”
And also I can’t afford to waste a dime thanks to the unplanned vacation.
“You don’t live with your mom, right? You’re in an apartment?”
    â€œEconomy style, yeah. Rented furniture, the whole nine yards. A lot of guys live there, so it’s not bad. Few guys with their wives, too. They’re all one-bedroom units, though, so no families. At least none that I know of.” He ducked his head down a little as they passed two women in the parking lot giving him the side eye. Carri wondered if they were giving him a second glance because they followed football, or because he was a good-looking guy.
    Not that she wanted to admit it. Because, well, it was Josh. She’d never give his ego the satisfaction.
    Carri froze halfway across the parking lot. “Mom drove me this morning. I . . . don’t have a car. I’m an idiot.”
    â€œThis way.” Josh turned her shoulders and started walking back the opposite direction. When he stopped in front of a boring sedan, she blinked.
    â€œThis is you?”
    â€œHey, it’s a good car. Lots of safety features.” When she raised her brows at him over the top of the car, he shrugged. “Fine. My mom upgraded and gave me her old wheels.”
    It definitely had a more “Gail” feel than a “Josh” vibe. Naturally, he didn’t open her door for her, so she climbed in herself. They were way past all that. As he backed out, she looked around. “You keep it in better shape than you used to keep your car in high school.”
    â€œMy mom would slaughter me if she found fast-food wrappers in her baby. She still loves this car, which is why I took it, even though she knew it was time to upgrade.”
    For all his faults, Carri admitted silently—and he had a few—Josh had always been a fantastic son.
    And that was where the positives ended.
    ***
    The morning after seeing Carri again for the first time in years, Josh found himself back in the Bobcats HQ office. This time with Coach Barnes and Trey, whose ankle was in a thick Aircast. He kept it propped up on a second chair and seemed to be without pain, but Josh winced anyway as he sat down beside him. “Hey, dude. Nice accessory.”
    â€œYeah, well . . .” Trey shrugged. “Apparently I’m a