Page 93 of Bound to You

“Graham!” His wife scolds under her breath.

“What? Who knows what she’s doing over here? How she’s making money, it’s not like she’s been in contact with us.”

Isla lifts her chin in defiance. “I’m painting,” she snaps back.

That’s my girl.

“That’s lovely honey,” her mother Emily says, going for the good cop angle. “But it’s not a career.”

“You know, I’m getting really tired of hearing that.”

“Why? Because it bursts your little pretend bubble you’ve got going on here?” Graham's temper flares. “News flash, Isla, this isn’t your home, these people aren’t your family, and painting is not a career you can sustain. You need to come home and make up with Brandon. He can give you a good life, Isla. You’d only have to work for a couple more years at that.”

Isla flinches with every snap of Graham's voice, and I’m getting really tired of hearing him talk to my girl like that in my house. I don’t care who he is to her.

“Mom,” her eyes quickly flood with unshed tears. “I think my artwork would sell. I’m really good.” I hate that she has to convince them. But I love that she’s sticking up for herself.

“I’m sure your art is good honey, but you still need to come home, this isn’t the place for you.”

“I think you should go see for yourself,” I interrupt, my voice harsher than I anticipated. “I’m going to organize a room for the two of you. I think you should stay a while, give your daughter a chance to show you the life she’s living here.”

I get up from my seat and make my way over to Isla before planting a kiss on her lips. A generous one. I don’t give a fuck that her parents are watching.

My hands cup the sides of her face as I press a kiss to her forehead. “I’m going to give you guys some space okay, I need to meet Stefan, but if you need me, call me. I’ll come right away.” She nods before I do as I said and leave her with her parents.

It takes all of me to get in that elevator and leave them alone, but I know that Isla needs to talk to them and if I don’t have everything perfect for tonight Isla will just feel worse, she needs a win and that’s what I’ll give her.

chapter thirty-nine

ISLA

“Shit!”I mutter as my earring falls onto the carpet from my hand. I bend down, searching for the sparkle in the beige carpet.

“Hey.” May wanders into my room.

My eyes water as I struggle to find my earring. I let out a shaky breath.

“Hey,” she says again, concern in her voice as she kneels to the floor next to me. “What’s going on?”

“I can’t find my fucking earring.” I throw my hands up.

She surveys the ground for less than five seconds before she spots my earring and softly puts it in my open palm.

“Thank you,” I say, a tear escaping from my eyes.

“What’s wrong sunshine?” She pulls me into her arms, both of us in our fancy dresses in a heap on the floor.

How can I explain to her what I don’t even know myself? I feel like my head is a blur. I can’t distinguish how I feel about anything. I just feel overwhelmed.

“Everything’s falling apart.” More tears fall down my face.

“How? What do you mean?”

“My parents are here.”

She pulls away from me. “Oh shit. Did Miles know about this?”

“I don’t know.” I hadn’t even thought about it. My brother is still here in Ruby Cove. I asked him to stay for the fundraiser. I wonder if they’ve seen him. Who am I kidding? Of course they have. They probably had breakfast with him before they came to blow up my morning. More like blow up my life.

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