Prologue Dakota

PROLOGUE: DAKOTA

Six Months Ago

From where I was sitting at the nurses’ station I could just see him as he sat next to his mom’s bed. He had been there, on his own, every day, never leaving. Even after visiting hours were over, he slept in the waiting room. Alone. Always alone.

It wasn’t the first time Jaylin Parks had been here, sitting vigil for his mother as she battled her many addictions, but this would likely be the last. The prognosis wasn’t good. The doctors didn’t believe Lydia would survive the night, and Jay was by himself, as usual.

It didn’t sit right with me, and that was my excuse for spending all my breaks, and sometimes my days off, with Jay. Nobody deserved to be alone, dealing with this.

Of course, that excuse was just bullshit. Sure, Jay shouldn’t be dealing with this by himself, but he was far from the only family member who was in this situation, and yet he was the only one I was buying sandwiches and coffee for, and wrapping blankets around when he fell asleep in the chair.

I couldn’t even say why I was so drawn to him. He wasn’t my typical type. He had tattoos that went from his neck, down his arms, and even onto his hands. His clothes were worn and faded, and were a little loose on his tall, thin body. His hazel eyes had flecks of gold in them, and from the second those big sad eyes met mine, I was a goner.

I fell for this sad, beautiful man and immediately wanted to wrap him in my arms and never let him go. Jesus, I was pathetic.

It was nearing my break time, so I purposely ignored the stares from my coworkers as I walked into Lydia Parks’s room to check on Jay.

“Hey, are you hungry? I was going to stop at the sandwich place down the road.” Jay looked up when I spoke, looking lost and exhausted. My stomach dropped. This man needed a hug, but I had a feeling it wouldn’t bewelcome.

“Huh?” he asked, clearly not hearing me.

I smiled at him, “I’m just going to grab a sandwich next door. Do you want one?”

I asked like I had every day this week. And just like every other day, Jay shook his head. “No thanks. I’m good.” We both knew I’d get him one anyway, and he’d act surprised and then eat the whole thing—and half of mine.

“Alright. Mind if I bring it back here and keep you company?” I replied, following my usual script. I acted like he was doing me a favor, and he let me.

Jay smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Sure.” Don’t know what I would do if he ever said no.

Every time, that one damn word lit me up. What was it about him that I was so fucking attracted to? He looked away again, and I took that as my sign to leave. I walked back out of Lydia’s room to the glare of Sam, another nurse on duty. I acted like I didn’t notice. She’d had a stick up her ass all week when it came to Jay. Sam judged him and his mom on sight and took it as a personal offense that I had an interest in him. She was always a judgmental asshole.

She scoffed loudly when I walked by. If she was trying to get a rise out of me, it wasn’t going to work. I honestly didn’t give a crap what she thought. I was completely enthralled by Jay Parks, and someone like her wasn’t going to change that.

“Time of death, 6:52 p.m.”

Fuck. I turned away from the doctors as they began to take the tubes away and unhook Lydia Parks from the medical devices that were keeping her alive. Jay was pacing right outside his mother’s room where he was pushed out when she started to code.

I was going to have to tell him. Technically that wasn’t my job, but I knew I had to be the one to do it. He shouldn’t hear it from anyone else.

One look at my face and Jay knew. I was usually better at hiding under my professional mask, but there was nothing professional about my feelings for Jay and I couldn’t get it together fast enough.

A sound that was something between a sob and a whimper escaped his lips. He looked so lost and hopeless, I wanted to sweep him in my arms and protect him from everything that was about to come next. But Dr. Kiley was standing next to me, and I actually loved my job and needed it to pay my bills, so I had to keep some semblance of control, at least until we were alone.

“She’s dead, isn’t she?” Jay was looking at me, completely ignoring the doctor, but Dr. Kiley answered anyway.

“Yes, Mr. Parks. I’m sorry for your loss.”

The doctor kept talking, but Jay didn’t seem to hear any of it. He never even looked at the doctor, his eyes never leaving mine. I kept his gaze, praying it was enough, hoping he understood that I had no intention of letting him go or do this alone.

Once Dr. Kiley finished his speech, he cleared his throat. “I’ll give you some time alone with your mom.”

Dr. Kiley left us, but I didn’t move. I wasn’t going anywhere, not unless Jay told me to. In fact, if I had my way, I’d never leave him alone again.