Page 66 of Aching for His Discretion

“Of course, my love… now no more crying. You’ll do that when I’m hugging you, and we can do it together,”she joked over the phone, and I giggled as I bid her goodbye.

Knowing that I still had a good amount of clothes at my childhood home, I packed some of my flashcards, books, laptop, and tablet, as well as a few essentials, before grabbing my kitty in his carrier and leaving my apartment.

Some hours had gone by, and I found myself back in Illinois. I felt jet lag for sure, but it left my body as I spotted my mama and papa standing by the waiting area, looking slightly stressed.

I approached them as tears filled my eyes. My mother looked over at me and gasped as she came over and pulled me into a hug.

I laid my head on her shoulder as she shushed me softly, and I felt my father grab my things out of my hands as he comforted me as well.

“You’re okay, baby… You’re okay. Everything is going to be all right,” my mother whispered in my ear, and I nodded as I continued sobbing, pulling her closer, missing the feeling of being home.

Knocking on my parents’ door, I waited patiently as Grayson stretched by my feet. It was around two AM, and I felt physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted.

After arriving home, I had taken a much-needed shower and was dressed in an oversized sweatshirt and a pair of boyshorts. I tried to sleep but found myself feeling restless as I tossed and turned in bed.

The door opened, and my father cooed softly as he brought me into his embrace. My mother came over to us and smiled though I could see the tears in her eyes as she most likely was worried about my well-being all night. I felt horrible about dumping my emotions onto them, but they welcomed me with open arms.

“You’re exhausted, sweetheart. I think you should get some rest, hmm?” my father suggested, and I simply wrapped my arms around him tighter. My mother chuckled as she pushed a piece of hair behind my ear.

“Don’t tell me the big girl wants to sleep in her parents’ room tonight?” she asked jokingly, and I shrugged.

“…Grayson gave me the suggestion.”

“Of course he did.” My father chuckled and let me go as I entered their room and lay in the middle of their king-sized bed. Grayson cuddled up by my feet, and I could faintly hear myparents laughing as I began to drift off, finally feeling able to fall asleep.

Two days passed, and I had less than a day before I needed to go home for my next rotation. Currently, I was sitting in the family room with my books and flashcards sprawled out everywhere as I prepared for my psychiatry rotation.

My father had brought me some breakfast a few hours ago, and slightly cringed at the amount of studying I was doing on my break.

He didn’t pry for reasoning as to why I was so upset, and my mother did her best to do the same. However, she was insistent that I knew that I could tell her anything and that she wouldn’t judge.

Of course, I didn’t tell her about what Levi had done… but I told her about him, how much he meant to me and how we got into a huge argument.

She was surprised to hear I had met someone and hadn’t told her, but she was supportive and nonjudgmental. Even reasoned that my brothers had been so angry lately because I was seeing Levi.

Nonetheless, Grayson and I found the stay quite pleasant, and I was so happy to be back home, even if it was just for a little. My brothers were thankfully out of town, and my mother continued wholeheartedly to express how angry she was at them for hurting me. I knew she only wanted for us to get along, but… it was difficult getting through to them.

Hearing the doorbell, I placed my book down and stood as I smoothed out my maxi grey bodycon dress and slipped on my fluffy white slippers.

“I got it, Mama!” I yelled to my mother in the kitchen as I pushed a piece of my hair behind my ear. However, as I went over to the door, I was stopped in my tracks as I caught sight of a very expensive white Audi through the window, parked in myparents’ driveway. I quickly sped over to the door, and the air was practically knocked out of my lungs after I opened it.

The man, standing with his back to me, turned around in his white button-down and grey dress pants, holding a humungous bouquet of red roses.

He practically brought me to my knees as his teeth shined through his smile.

“Hello, Tesoro mio.”

Chapter twenty-eight

Teegan

Pushing him back slightly, I closed the door behind me and looked up at him in a panic.

“Levi. What are you doing here?” I asked, and he tilted his head to the side as he sighed.

“I’m here to apologize, Tesoro. I should have never lied to you or hurt you… I’m sorry,” he said, and I narrowed my eyes at him. Part of me was still adjusting to the fact that he was even here in the first place.

“Levi. You cannot kidnap someone I know, kill my neighbor, drop a dying man off where I work, and manhandle me to stay with you!” I whispered.

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