Page 133 of Bad Blood

“I’m having an issue with an ex.”

She scrunches her brow in confusion as she pulls out her phone. She’s only half-listening to me. “What’s that have to do with Liam?”

I’d like to know the answer to that too. There’s no telling what Dani would or wouldn’t do for revenge.

“I failed to mention that I have a stalker. There’s a restraining order, but she doesn’t seem to think it’s a big deal. She’s a loose cannon, and I have no idea what she’ll do next.”

“You thought . . . Oh, shit.” Her eyes grow wide. “You thought she did something to Liam?”

“It crossed my mind.”

“What are you doing about it?” She crosses the foyer and settles on the bottom step of the curved staircase, dropping her chin in her palm.

“Bree’s got it under control. It was all a misunderstanding.”

“One that warranted a restraining order?” Her eyebrows shoot up, and her voice takes on an edge.

I hold out my thumb and forefinger. “A little one.”

“You’re too much.” She shakes her head as a smile breaks out across her lips.

“I like the sound of that.” I puff out my chest, running a hand through my drenched hair.

“I didn’t mean it as a compliment,” she says, rolling her eyes.

And the twitchy sensation in my palm returns. It’s only a matter of time, Brighton, a matter of time.

“Do you think it’s safe for Liam to travel?” I sit beside her on the step and lean back. “He wants to plan our annual summer trip, and the idea of not getting to live a normal life is weighing on him.”

“Guess it depends on when and where.”

“When he finishes chemo, upstate.”

She tosses around the idea for a couple of seconds before she answers. “If today was your last day on earth, what would you want to do?”

“It’s not Liam’s last day, right?” I try to keep the concern out of my voice, and she laughs.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to phrase it like that. But do you get where he’s coming from?”

I don’t like where this conversation is going, and all I can think about is Liam’s health, but I humor her anyway. “I’d want to take you on a date.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“If today were my last day, blah, blah, blah—and being Liam’s doctor wasn’t an issue—I’d want to take you on a date.” I don’t care if she’s one hundred percent off-limits. I like to see her squirm.

“I’m being serious.”

“Me too.” I lean closer to her, and she stills, her eyes pinned to my face. My favorite shade of crimson spreads across her cheeks. “He shouldn’t go—to be on the safe side—right?”

“Guess we’d have to see how well he’s handling everything. He’ll probably be pretty sick when he’s done. If you guys planned it around how he’s doing, I don’t see why not.”

“I was hoping you’d say no.” I groan.

“It could be good for him. The more normal things stay, the more his outlook will remain positive, meaning we have a better chance of remission. Just a thought.”

“So, that’s a no.”

“Tell him whatever you want. I have work in,” Brighton glances at her watch, fighting a smile, “six hours. I’m on call all week, and I need sleep.” She doesn’t give me a chance to respond. She stands and stretches, leaning against the black banister.

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