Page 40 of Unexpected Temptation

I text Lacey.You around for a quick chat?

Instead of texting me back, she calls me. “I’m sorry. I know you just got off shift,” I say, feeling guilty for bothering her.

“Hey, don’t worry about it,” Lacey says. “What’s up?”

“Just after you left, Mom had a really bad crying episode. She couldn’t stop for about ten minutes. I want to help her, but …” Not a home. Not yet. Oh, God. “The last time we were at the doctor’s, they mentioned this new medication, Nuedexta. I’m concerned about the side effects, though.”

“Yeah, many of my other patients use that,” Lacey mutters thoughtfully. “It’s a lot to think about. Nuedexta can help with those emotional ups and downs she’s been having, and it might make her feel a bit more comfortable.”

“I heard it can make her really drowsy or even psychotic. That sounds so scary.”

She pauses, and I know she’s giving it real thought. “It sounds worrying, but those side effects aren’t very common. The drowsiness can usually be managed by adjusting when and how much she takes. As for the psychotic symptoms, they’re rare, and we’ll be watching her closely for any signs.”

Still, even just watching for signs of Mom losing her mind freaks me out, but is this better? Letting her suffer? “I just don’t want her to be more uncomfortable or out of it. She’s already going through so much.”

“It’s a tough balance, but if you don’t want to do the other option …” She pauses, swallowing audibly. “Think about the good moments it could bring, where she’s not feeling as much emotional pain or discomfort. It could mean more peaceful times for both her and you.

“I just want to do what’s best for her, but it’s hard to know what that is sometimes.”

“You’re doing an incredible job, Maya. Don’t doubt that. Just being there for her is huge. You won’t believe some of the situations I see. I’m here to support you both. You’re not alone in this at all.”

“Thanks,” I murmur, giving the drug some real thought.

The symptoms put me off when the doctor first mentioned it, but Mom deserves it.

“Seriously,” I go on, realizing I probably sound ungrateful. “I think I might try it. I’ll call up the doctor and see how Mom feels. Who knows, it could be a new lease, right?”

“Maya,” Lacey says softly. “You know I can’t tell you anything like that.”

That’s right. We both know where this ends. There’s only one destination.

“Thanks for being so patient with me,” I tell Lacey. “I know it must be tough on you too.”

“I have to make myself cold. It’d wreck me if I let myself care too much, honestly. See you soon.”

“Bye, Lacey.”

Heading inside, I check on Mom, meticulously going over her equipment and her medications. Technically, I’m not supposed to be doing this. I’ve watched Lacey and learned the basics, enough to keep us ticking along. Mom doesn’t like it when I change her incontinence pads and urge her to use the metal urinal, but this is life. This is the blunt reality of what a dedicated daughter has to do.

“I love you, Mom,” I tell her once it’s all done.

She can barely whisper it back. Today is one of her bad days.

Grabbing a blanket, I decide to curl up on the armchair. Since Mom got sick, I’ve learned to sleep in some contortionist positions.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

TRISTAN

“Still no word?” Tank asks me over the sound of the spin bikes.

We’re both hitting them hard, Tank’s question punctuated by heavy breaths. I’m panting, my whole body burning, but I push harder. Tank doesn’t need me to tell himno. I would’ve told him if Raffie or Carlo had contacted me about the meet. Maybe Carlo sensed something was off after the fact.

“Damn, T,” Tank grunts, gasping as I push the pace.

“DOR anytime you want, motherfucker.”

DOR is Drop on Request, and no self-respecting Marine is ever going to let another jarhead say some shit like that to him and then quit. Tank grits his teeth, leaning into each stride and looking at my display. “One … forty… RPM …what!?”

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