Elliot by Dale Mayer

Author:Dale Mayer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Military, Romance
ISBN: 9781773361604
Publisher: Valley Publishing Ltd.
Published: 2019-09-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Sicily walked into the office that evening to find a note from Shane. She read his handwriting with one eyebrow raised.

Elliot needs to see you. When asked if there was one single thing he could do right now, he said, “Apologize to you.” He’s been having a particularly difficult time and not sleeping these last few days. If you can do anything to help him make peace with you, it needs to happen. No point in having him here, taking up space, if he is caught up in turmoil and not progressing. Particularly if his progress is related to one of the staff.

“That doesn’t sound good,” she mumbled to herself. She pulled out her phone. It was already past ten—too late to call Shane. She sent him a quick text instead. I’ll talk to Elliot.

His response was immediate. Good. Go easy on him. He fell asleep after I was there today. He was exhausted to the point of a physical breakdown. As far as I’m concerned, he needs to be knocked out for the next five days. He’s not doing well.

Worried and upset, Sicily put away her phone and set up the medications for her next rounds. She took care of everybody else first and then walked to Elliot’s room. The door was closed. She gave a small tap but got no response. She turned the handle and pushed the door open.

Elliot was curled on his side, facing the window.

“Elliot?”

He twisted slightly at the sound of her voice.

She walked in, quietly placed his medicine on the table. “How are you doing?”

“I’m fine.” But his voice was hesitant.

She waited a long moment. “Shane said you needed to speak with me about something?”

He gave a strangled laugh, followed by a heavy, sad sigh. “I need to apologize. It’s been eating away at me. Stopping what little actual sleep I’ve been getting.”

Ouch.

“I’m sorry,” he said abruptly. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. You went through a lot of work to set up the horseback riding, and I was pretty harsh in my refusal.”

“Care to explain?”

“No,” he snapped. “Not at all.”

“Do you think you are the only person who is afraid of horses?” she asked, taking a stab in the dark. “Everyone has fears to deal with, of one kind or another. If I’d known in the beginning, I wouldn’t have gone this far down this route.”

He glared at her but stayed quiet.

She groaned. “I get that pride is important. But …”

His glare deepened. Then his words rushed out. “It’s not so much about pride or ego as much as it’s about admitting to having a weakness.”

“I suppose, in the military, all weakness is frowned upon,” she guessed.

He stared at her for a long moment, then gave a clipped nod.

She didn’t know how to get through that wall. She’d seen aspects of this type of personality before. People came here with all kinds of issues. Showing weakness was one of them. Anything that pricked that pride and ego got a man’s back up against the wall.

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