Running To Him - Forbidden Hearts Series Book 6

30| Ditto

When I walked into Jamie's loft and noticed she was gone, my panic sesh lasted about a minute. Even though she clearly flew the coop, all of her stuff was still in her room. If I was a religious person, I would have dropped to my knees right then to thank God that she was still in this city—that she didn't take off to some other godforsaken country without telling me or anyone else.

My relief didn't last long, though. Once Harper told me that today was Cherise's birthday, and we'd established that Jamie was indeed not here, her best friend wouldn't let me off the phone until I promised to locate her and let them know she was all right.

I made that promise and was going to stick to it. Jamie's trust came first, of course, but if I didn't let them know she was safe and sound once I found her, they made it clear that they were dead set on boarding a plane and coming over here themselves. I knew for a fact that that was the last thing Jamie wanted or needed right now.

Then I went and found her at that bar. The first place I checked was the park. I knew she most likely wanted some alone time so that was my first guess. When I didn't find her there, I figured she was going to look for a place to get drunk. And I was right.

When I stepped into that bar and saw her sitting there, I could feel the guilt and sorrow rolling off of her in waves and it nearly broke me. I was fortunate that I still had both of my parents. Jamie lost her last one. I couldn't even imagine what she was going through.

And when Jamie told me she needed me—I mean really needed me—I wanted nothing more than to hold her and siphon all of that pain she was feeling into myself. But I knew that was impossible. Then she asked me to take her home and here we were, sitting in the living room of the warehouse we shared while the woman I loved broke down right in front of me.

Tears rolled down her cheeks, and it took all of my energy not to reach out and wipe them away. "None of us had any idea that my mom got tested. She was the only one, Ollie. A zero mismatch. It was her."

"Jamie..."

"I knew it was going to happen," she rasped. "They told us the risks. And when they said she was a match I knew. I begged her not to do it." She turned to me, eyes red-rimmed and filled with pain. "Am I a terrible person, Ollie? I told her not to even though that baby needed it." She ran her hands through her hair. "God, how could I do that?"

"No," I said firmly. "You are the farthest thing from a bad person." I cupped her face in my hands and wiped away her tears with my thumbs. "Jamie, you were scared for your mom. You never wished harm for that baby. There's nothing wrong with wanting your parent to live."

When she closed her eyes tight and started to cry harder, I pulled her close and held her against my chest. "Sh, baby, it's okay."

I stroked her hair as she wept in my arms. It took everything I had to keep my emotions in check. She needed me in this moment, and I was going to be there for her. For whatever she needed. Christ. Poor Cherise. She was such a brave woman; I could tell the instant I met her. She saved the life of Ryan and Danielle's baby. It was a tragedy that she lost her own in the process. 

Who knew how much time had passed before Jamie's crying slowed and she started to relax against me. I tried to think of something else I could say or do to make her feel better, but I knew nothing would be enough.

"The night I called you from the hospital," she murmured. "Do you remember?"

"Yes." Of course, I remembered. As soon as I heard Jamie's voice on the other end of that call, I knew something terrible had happened. It was the one time I really couldn't stand Simone even though it wasn't her fault.