Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 134212 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 671(@200wpm)___ 537(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134212 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 671(@200wpm)___ 537(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
Her hasty move brings something back to me. The call I took from someone chasing Lo for unpaid bills. Now isn’t the best time, but I need to lessen her worry as much as possible. “Lo, when I brought your phone to you at the hospital, I took a call from someone.”
She looks up through her lashes at me. “You did?” She knows where this is leading, her discomfort obvious. The last thing I want to do is make her feel uncomfortable. I take her hand and kneel in front of her on the couch. “How much do you owe?”
She pulls her hand out of mine and looks away. “Nothing. I owe nothing.”
“Lo . . .”
“Luke, please don’t. I already feel like a failure. Please don’t highlight my shortcomings.”
If there were any words that could stir the anger within me, she just said them. I snatch her hands back and lock down so she can’t escape. “Use the money I gave you for Billy’s operation to pay them off.” She shakes her head, and I nod mine. “This isn’t up for discussion. You will do it. Is there enough?”
“More than enough,” she splutters. “But that’s not the point, Luke. I’ve been a burden on you since the day I met you. I’m not your responsibility. I was going to transfer it all back to you, but . . . what with . . .” She swallows, breathing in deeply, her beautiful silver eyes glazing again. “I just hadn’t got around to asking for your bank details.”
My anger increasing, I lift on my knees and grab her cheeks, getting my face close to hers so she can see just how serious I am. “You have never been a burden. Don’t ever say that to me again.”
“What are you still doing here with me?” she asks over a sob. “Why are you voluntarily putting yourself through my hell?”
“Because I’m hoping your journey through hell will be a lot less painful with me by your side,” I say quietly. “I’m not looking for anything else but your happiness, Lo. For your peace. Whether that is with me in your life or not isn’t at the forefront of my mind. I just need your peace.”
“You’re mad.”
“Probably,” I say. “But love makes you mad, right?”
Her palms wrap around my wrists where I’m holding her face, pulling them down. And she tries so hard to smile at me, but she doesn’t say anything. I wouldn’t want or expect her to. Besides, I just . . . know. I run a thumb under each of her eyes, wishing the brightness back. The glimmer I saw when she laughed at me. The moments of fleeting happiness.
The front door closing in the distance attracts both of our attention, and I sigh, pulling Lo up from the couch. “It’s probably Todd or Tia. I’ll understand if you want to escape upstairs.”
“No, I can’t hide forever. And I’d like to meet your daughter. I mean, if she wants to.”
I see a wealth of doubt pass over her. “I’m sure she’d love to,” I say to ease her. “You’ll get to meet her new boyfriend too.”
“Oh?”
The displeasure that I feel, and that no doubt Lo can see, isn’t stoppable. “He’s asked me for her hand in marriage.”
Lo’s face lights up. It’s comparable only to a long-lost sun breaking through the dense, bleak clouds. “That’s wonderful.”
“Is it? They’ve known each other a few weeks and . . .” I trail off when I notice the sarcastic look Lo’s quickly sporting. “Point taken,” I mutter indignantly. She’s right. I’m a hypocritical idiot.
We head for the kitchen, which is alive with happy chit-chat. “Hey,” I say, cutting that conversation dead in its tracks. Tia and The River are obviously awkward. I try to give a look to suggest they should act normal. They don’t catch it.
“We’ll leave you alone.” Tia knocks The River’s elbow.
“No.” I direct Lo to a stool and sit her down. “I’d like you to meet Lo. Lo, this is my long-lost daughter, Tia, and her friend, Trent.”
“Boyfriend,” Tia corrects, ignoring the roll of my eyes as she approaches Lo. My daughter’s smile is sympathetic, and I mentally yell at her to rein it in. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
I slump where I stand, throwing Lo an apologetic smile. I can’t chastise Tia for it, though. That’s what people do when someone loses a loved one. They offer their condolences.
“Yes, me too.” Trent raises a hand in awkward acknowledgment. “That’s rough, man.”
Oh, Jesus. “Drink, anyone?”
Lo slips down from the stool and backs away. My heart sinks. “Actually, I think I might lie down, if you don’t mind. It was lovely to meet you both.”
“Of course.” Tia’s face takes on another level of sympathy. “I understand.”
Lo smiles, so forced, and disappears out of the kitchen. “Tia,” I hiss, so bloody annoyed.