Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 103356 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103356 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
“The way to make it up to me is to tell me the truth.”
She nodded, sniffling. “All right, but not here. Not now.”
“Yeah. Not here. But soon.” He didn’t want her disappearing on him again.
“Either of you know why the receptionist keeps glaring at Lilac?” Opal asked. “She looks like she’s sucking on a lemon.”
Opal didn’t seem to have an indoor voice. Everything boomed through the room, and he glanced up to see Hannah giving him a mortified look.
He sighed. “That’s my fault. That’s Raid’s fiancée, Hannah. I’ll talk to her. Stay here.” Getting up, he moved to the desk to speak to Hannah.
Lilac glanced over at Opal as Tanner moved to talk to Hannah. “Do you think Ryleigh is okay?”
“I don’t know.” Opal chewed her lip, looking worried for the first time. Lilac knew she wore a mask around other people. But never around her or Ryleigh. “Linc was really upset that we hadn’t taken her to the doctor already.”
Guilt had her stomach rolling. God, she should have insisted Ryleigh go to the doctor. What was she thinking?
“Yesterday, she didn’t seem this bad.”
“I know. Her breathing started to go funny this morning. At least Kye is okay. We’ve kept him away from her. Sorry to call you. Do you think you’ll get fired?” Opal gave her a concerned look.
“Probably.” She wouldn’t blame Peggy for firing her. Especially after that mess with the guys at that booth. “I’m the worst employee.”
“I heard there were some issues last night at Dirty Delights,” Opal said. “Linc mentioned it when I first saw him this morning. You never said a thing.”
“I haven’t seen you today.”
“Sure. That’s the reason.” Opal nodded over at Tanner. “What’s going on with the cowboy?”
“What do you mean?”
Opal leaned forward. “Why is he here? Are you back with him?”
“No!” she said sharply.
Tanner glanced over. He raised an eyebrow, and she nodded back at him to let him know she was all right.
“Hmm, yeah, you two don’t act like a couple at all,” Opal said dryly.
“We’re not together. He was at the diner when you called and offered me a ride.”
And they’d kissed. But she wasn’t going to tell Opal that.
Linc opened the door and stepped through, a pale Ryleigh in his arms.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” She stood, holding Kye close.
“Ryleigh is very sick,” Linc said. “I’m taking her home with me. Can you bring Kye out to his car seat?”
“Um, yes. I need to settle the bill first.”
“Already taken care of,” Tanner said, walking over to them.
Wait. It was?
Shoot. She needed to talk to him about that.
Linc nodded at him briefly before carrying Ryleigh out. What was wrong with her, though? What was going on?
“Linc? What is it? What’s wrong?” she asked as they headed to his truck.
Linc glanced down at her, his face grim. “Why didn’t you take her to the doctor earlier?”
She jolted back, feeling as though she’d been slapped.
“Hey!” Tanner growled. “Don’t speak to her like that.”
It was true, though. Ryleigh often got sick, though, and Lilac hadn’t realized that she was feeling this bad.
Was that the real reason she hadn’t taken her to the doctor, though? Or was it because she was worried about the paper trail and money?
Had she risked her best friend’s health?
Guilt made her feel nauseous, and she was barely aware of the argument going on around her.
“Look! The fact is that Ryleigh is this close to ending up in the hospital because she didn’t receive early care. And that’s on you.” Linc glared down at her.
She stumbled back, nearly falling. Shit. She was still holding the baby!
“Fuck you, Linc!” Tanner snapped. “Ryleigh is an adult. She can make decisions about her own health. Lilac is not to blame for her being sick.”
But she was . . . she totally was.
Why couldn’t she get anything right? What if Ryleigh got worse?
Oh God.
She couldn’t breathe.
Do not panic. You need to keep it together.
“You don’t know jackshit about what Lilac has done for us, Deputy Dickhead,” Opal snapped at him as Ryleigh let out a small moan.
How she was sleeping through this, Lilac had no idea.
“No, because the three of you are extremely secretive. If you’d asked for help, then this might have been avoided. I need to get Ryleigh back to my place. I’ll be taking care of her from now on.” Linc grimaced as he glanced at Kye. “Kye too.”
“No, you can’t take Kye,” Lilac said, stepping back.
“Give him to me.”
No. If Ryleigh couldn’t look after Kye, then she’d want Opal and Lilac to. “No. We’ll look after him.”
“And how can I trust you to do that?” Linc asked quietly.
But she felt like he’d punched her in the gut. Her breathing grew ragged.
“Because we’ve looked after him since he was born,” Opal said sharply. “You better rein yourself in, boy. Before I do it for you.”