Chapter 64

Pearl woke up to find herself still on the couch and no Rhys in sight. She mustered up the energy to go see Dylan at the hospital.

"Hey. How are you today?" She asked when she came into his room. "I'm good. I feel really good. Doc is discharging me Sunday. We set up an appointment with a specialist back home on Monday. So I'll be watched closely. Can you get flights set up for us?" He asked. "Of course I will. What time are they thinking Sunday?"

"I'd make sure the flight is in the evening. Never know around here." He said shrugging.

"How are you Pearl?" He asked, and Pearl could see in his eyes that he knew something was wrong.

"I'm ok. I'm fine. Will be fine. I'm just so glad you're doing so well."

"Stop bullshitting me Pearl. I took a bullet for you, the least you can do is not lie to me." He said, grabbing her hand and sitting her down on his bed.

"There have been some dramas in my life but I don't want to burden you with any of that right now." She said, putting her head down.

"He was here." Dylan said. Pearl looked up at him.

"David?" She asked.

"No. Rhys. He came here yesterday after you left. He told me everything. Asked for my advice. He was hurting and needed to know if I thought myself, or him or David was best for you. He wanted to understand you."

"He shouldn't have done that! You are healing!"

"Relax, I asked him to talk to me. Practically had to pry it out of him. He initially just came to make amends. And one other thing..."Dylan trailed off.

"What other thing?" Pearl asked.

"He paid my hospital bill. He did it before he came in and I had no way to stop him. He told me it was done. He figured I didn't have health insurance working at the brewery. He paid it, he said, for saving your life. And because he thinks I'm a 'good dude' and your best friend." Dylan chuckled. "Am I? Your best friend?" He asked

"Yes. Yes you are." Pearl said.

"Well, good. Then I guess I gave him the right advice." Dylan smiled and put his arm around her.

"What did you tell him?"

"I told him not to give up and that I think he really cares about you. Will take good care of you. That you are a good person. A loving person. And someone I'm proud to know and trust. And that David sounds like a dick."

"So you and I..." Pearl started

"It isn't our time, you need to do what's best for you. I'm not it right now. I'm not saying the future couldn't change but I know I have learning to do. And I love you. You being my friend and in my life will always be the most important thing. I'll never leave you and I'll always be in your life"

Pearl could feel the tears falling down her cheek.

"I love you, too" she said, hugging him.

Sunday came quickly. She had spent the remainder of the week with Dylan at the hospital during the day and waiting on Rhys at night. He never came. Her heart was broken and she knew it was probably over. She was going home with no job, no man in her life and a healing friend. Jason had messaged her the day before and said he was still waiting for an answer from the team. He said that usually isn't a good sign but he was hopeful still. She picked Dylan up from the hospital and they took a cab to the airport. She made sure to clean Rhys' apartment when she left and wrote a long letter to him that she left on the counter, tucked into the book he gave her from the day they met, which she carried with her on the trip.

"Goodbye New York." She said as they plane took off. "Yes! Goodbye! What a trip!" Dylan said as he raised his hands and waved.

The guys were waiting for them at the airport. Dylan needed a wheelchair still because long distance walking was still difficult for him. They rolled him up to John's van and helped him in. Blake was going to stay with him for a few weeks to help him with things until he got a little stronger.

She said goodbye and kissed him. Telling him she'd check on him in a day or two. She made it home and was never happier to see her own bed. She dumped everything from her suitcase into the washer and laid on her bed, closing her eyes and thinking of Rhys.