Page 37 of Stuck with Mr. Grump

“I know and I appreciate it,” I returned. “I just want to know what flavor it is.”

The ice cream looked like it was chocolate and vanilla, but I couldn’t be sure. My mother stared at me like she was about to hit me or worse. And then Lucas spoke up.

“Come on, Emilia. Eat your ice cream,” he prompted with a small smile that reminded me of raccoons.

“But—”

“Emilia Rose Sutter, if you don’t finish that ice cream right now!” my mother yelled icily.

I knew what would come out of me refusing. She would never let it go and would torment me with my disobedience for days. I thought about the camping trip that was coming up soon. It was my chance to escape the house for at least a night. She would never give me permission to go if I refused to do this now. I had to be on my best behaviour if I wanted a break.

So, with shaky hands, I reached for the spoon and took a small bite of the ice cream. As soon as it touched my tongue, Iknew I was screwed. I gasped, clutching my throat as I felt the liquid slide downward.

“There’s bananas in it!” I screamed, my eyes growing wide.

My mom had stared at me in shock for a couple of moments. When my eyes met Lucas’s, he was hiding his smile, making it clear that he had done it intentionally. He wanted me dead.

“Mom…” I stammered, taking gasping breaths.

I could already feel my throat closing up. I slid out of the chair onto the floor and that finally prompted her into action. She rushed to my side, tapping my cheek.

“Emilia! Emmy, honey. Look at me. Lucas, call 911!” she shouted, her expression flashing with panic.

Lucas finally stood up, coming to stand beside us. “Are you sure she’s not being dramatic?”

I could feel the life slowly sliding out of me but I remember being shocked at his audacity. My mother was shocked, too. She gaped at him for a second before jumping to her feet to hunt down her phone. As soon as she left, Lucas was crouching down beside me, his face inches from mine.

“Why don’t you just die and save us all the misery, you little bitch?” he asked with a small sneer.

And then I passed out. When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed with my mom seated beside me.

“Hey, sweetie, how are you?” she questioned as I sat up.

“Where is he?” I burst out. My chest felt raw and my head was pounding.

“Who, honey? Lucas? He’s at home. He told me to apologize to you. He didn’t mean to add bananas to the ice cream.”

I stared at her in shock. “He… didn’t mean to almost kill me?” I screeched.

“Kill you?” Mom laughed. “Don’t be dramatic, Emilia. You had a small accident is all. It won’t happen again. Now come, you should rest some more.”

She fluffed my pillows before slowly guiding me back so I was lying down. My heart thundered in my chest out of fear. No one would believe me. My own mother didn’t believe me. But I wasn’t safe in that house. The only thing I saw when I opened my eyes was Lucas’s sinister smirk.

He’d wanted to kill me, but he had killed my mother first.

“Emilia!” a voice calls.

I feel a hand on my shoulder, shaking me out of my thoughts or out of the memory.

My eyes focus on Sterling Harrington’s stunningly green ones. They’re filled with worry right now, just like at the café. I swear I’ve taken years of the man’s life in only a couple of minutes. I pull myself together, trying to steady my breathing before offering him a small smile.

He exhales in relief. “Where did you go?” he questions softly.

I shake my head. “Nowhere. I was just… thinking about something.”

“Are you…” He pauses, glancing at me like he’s not sure what to say. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I assure him. “I just need to make sure Paige will be okay.”

---