Page 68 of Baby I'm Yours

A sweet girl…

I don’t think there’s anything “sweet” about a woman professing to love me and then keeping me in the dark about my mother’s life-threatening surgery, but Mom and I will have to agree to disagree about that one.

I have no idea how long Elaina’s known, but if she kept this from me even for a day, that was a day too many. Bare minimum, she should have come clean yesterday when we got the call to come to the hospital. But she just stood there beside me, pretending to be as shocked by Katie’s explanation as I was.

She’s a liar. A really good one.

And if she lied about this, who knows what else she’s lied about. I have no idea. All I know for sure is that I’m not interested in being deceived again.

“Yeah, she went home,” I say, forcing a smile that feels brittle on my face. “But I’ll call her as soon as we hear more from Dr. Garrett. I’m sure she’ll want to know that you’re awake and on the mend.”

And then I’ll tell her to pack her things and get the fuck out of my house,I add silently.

I’ll put her up in a hotel somewhere until I figure out the best way to remove her from the equation. I don’t want to upset Mom by ending our fake engagement so soon after her surgery, but there’s no longer any future for Elaina and myself outside of our original contract. She can continue to play the devoted fiancée once or twice a week, when we see my mother, if she wants, and we’ll peacefully end things as soon as Mom’s strong enough to handle learning that I’m single again.

A break-up is inevitable at this point. Now that she’s had this surgery, Mom might actually make a full recovery. In light of that, there’s no longer an “end date” in sight for my arrangement with Elaina, the way there was before.

The sooner she knows that, the better.

An hour later, after an encouraging meeting with Dr. Garrett, Linda turns on the television while she puts in an order for some broth from the cafeteria. While Mom watches a musical she’s seen at least a hundred times on the Classic Movies Channel, I pull out my phone, composing and deleting several messages to Elaina before settling on—Mom’s awake and doing well. I’ll be home for a shower and to grab some things for her soon. I’ll text you when I’m on my way.

Despite the fact that it’s barely six-thirty in the morning, her response is immediate—Thank God! Oh Hunter, that’s such amazing news! I’m so thrilled to hear it. Tell Margaret I’m sending all my good energy her way and can’t wait to visit later. Love you and see you soon.

A sour taste rising in my throat, I turn off my phone without responding. She really is good. Even better than I thought when I hired her to put her lying skills to work on my behalf.

And she’s clearly not feeling an ounce of remorse.

“Was that Elaina?” My mother’s voice pulls me from my thoughts.

“Yes, she’s so happy to hear you’re awake,” I say, forcing warmth into my tone. “I told her I’d be home in a little while to grab a shower and would fill her in on all the details. Though I’m not sure she’ll be able to make it back to the hospital with me today. She’s been a little under the weather and doesn’t want to risk giving you a cold while you’re still recovering.”

Mom’s brow furrows. “Of course. That’s all right. Tell her I hope she feels better soon.”

“I will,” I promise.

I’ll tell Elaina that my mother wishes her well, and then I’ll tell her goodbye.

Forever.

twenty

ELAINA

After a decent night’ssleep and the text from Hunter this morning, I’m feeling more hopeful about the future than I was last night.

Stupidly hopeful, it turns out…

I know something is wrong the moment Hunter steps off the elevator. His face is fixed in that expressionless mask I haven’t seen since the night he first pitched his fake fiancée plan to me in Sea Breeze—cool, distant, and completely closed off to the likes of me.

To the woman who lied to him…

He knows. I can’t shake the certainty that he knows. But still, I do my best to force a smile.

“Hey, welcome home,” I say, my voice wavering as I take a step toward him and he takes an answering step back. “How’s Margaret?” I squeak out, not knowing what else to say.

“Awake. Stable.” He moves past me without making eye contact, heading for the bedroom. “No thanks to you.”

My stomach drops.

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