Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
“Mack, really?” Ben looks confused and it dawns on me that he has no idea about Nick and Aubrey. My hand hits my forehead and I feel my eyes go wide.
“I forgot to tell you!” I sit down at the end of his bed, and Ben moves into a cross-legged position. “So, Mack shows up at Christmas, which is when we find out that Nick and Aubrey are getting divorced and she’s going back to South Africa. She took Amelie with her and Mack was supposed to stay in Beaumont with Nick. Except, Nick went to Cape Town to make sure Aubrey found a place in a safe neighborhood and hasn’t come back yet. Believe me, it was a total shocker when Mack walked in.”
“Wow, I guess I missed a lot at Christmas.”
“Eh, you missed drama, which I guess you get with any big family function.”
“I missed meeting Oliver.”
I nod. “Yeah, but we can arrange a meeting when your chemo treatments are done.”
“You know, I never opened the presents you left at the house.”
“Where are they?”
“In the closet in the downstairs basement.”
“Where Brad’s sleeping?”
Ben nods and his eyes widen. I have a feeling he’s thinking the same thing I am. They’ve become Brad’s presents. Brad isn’t a bad guy, he’s just a guy who can’t help himself sometimes.
“Wanna take a wager on if they’re still there or not?” I joke.
Ben shakes his head. “Nope. I forgot all about them until now, but I should probably thank your parents for whatever they bought me.”
“Mom knows you’re thankful, Ben.”
“Still.”
I nod and smile softly. I don’t want to argue with him.
Finally, the nurse returns with Ben’s discharge papers. She reminds him to call or come in if his fever spikes or if he’s feeling any soreness in his arm, where his port is.
In the car, Ben stares out the window. We’re in traffic and moving at a snail’s pace. “What’s on your mind?”
“I feel bad.”
“About?”
“About asking you to take me to Beaumont after I fought with you about my care. Surely, this is the place to be.”
I reach across the console to hold his hand. “If Beaumont is where you need to be to heal, so be it. I talked to my dad, he’ll make sure the jet is available to fly the doctor in and out, and I’m confident the staff at Beaumont General can handle your case.”
“But they’re not the best.”
“No, they’re not, but we can bring the best to you. I’m not going to let anything happen to you, Ben.”
When we get home, I follow Ben into the house. When he gets to the top of the stairs that lead to the main floor of our home, he pauses. I sidestep around him and do the same thing. Our once spotless house is a complete and utter pigsty and there’s a woman straddling Brad.
“What in the fuck is going on?” Ben barks out. The woman startles, launches herself off Brad’s lap and tries to cover her chest before Ben and I get an eyeful. I feel bad for her. I bet she has no idea this isn’t Brad’s house.
“You’re back early,” Brad says meekly.
“We sit on that couch, Brad.”
He looks at the leather and shrugs. “It’s not like you and Elle don’t do shit on it.”
“It’s our Goddamn couch. We can do whatever the hell we want on it!” Ben replies tersely.
“What’s all this yelling?” Brenda asks as she comes up the stairs behind us. She doesn’t greet Ben or ask how he’s doing. She didn’t even come see him at the hospital even though Quinn offered to give her a ride when he picked up my car. The dramatic shit she pulled the night before was just for show.
“This . . .” Ben spreads his arms out. “Are you guys kidding me with this shit?”
“What?” Brenda asks as she shrugs. “It’s not like you don’t have a housekeeper.”
“That’s not how it works, Mom!” Ben pushes his hand over the hat he’s wearing. He’s taken to wearing one since he starting chemo in preparation for his falling out.
“Well, why not? Why shouldn’t we live in the lap of luxury? Why should we have to clean up and do housework when she can afford to pay for someone else to do it?” Brenda crosses her arms over her chest and waits for Ben to answer her. As much as I want to say something, I don’t. I can’t. It’s not my fight. Ben needs his family and I’ll bite my tongue to keep the peace.
“You’re right,” he says, looking at me.
“I am?” I ask and he nods.
He turns to his mom and shakes his head. “I want you gone. You too, Brad. You’re stressing me out and I don’t need the stress. I’m fucking sick and you think it’s okay to live like pigs.”