Page 46 of Blood
“Why didn’t you tell me? No, it doesn’t matter now.” He shakes off the question. “How bad is it? Whatever it is, we’ll fight it as a family.”
I stare at him blankly; my heart starts beating for the first time in minutes. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“The doctor, Kaleb. I mean, did you really think I wouldn’t notice? At first, I thought you used your company card to tell your mother and me without telling us, you know?”
No.
“But then the accounting team mentioned your cards were stolen. You used the company card because you had to. Would you have ever told us you’ve been seeing a doctor out of town?”
“What?”
“Dr. Brown. The bill came through.”
Oh!
I sigh in relief. “It was nothing, just a checkup.” I wave it off.
“A checkup out of town?” Dad sighs, blinking quickly.
Oh shit.
“Okay.” He nods, but he doesn’t believe me.
“Dad, I’m okay.”
He nods again.
Meeting his gaze, I promise, “I’m okay.”
Dad’s eyes soften, and he steps forward to cup my cheeks. “I’m sorry to pry. I just saw the nineteen grand charge and thought the worst.”
“Nineteen grand?” I practically shriek.
Fucking hell, no wonder he didn’t believe me. Probably thought I was dying.
Stepping back, he leans against his car.
“I was out of town and needed a consultation. There’s nothing to be worried about.” Not a complete lie. “Except maybe the price of medical care in this country,” I joke. Nineteen grand? Greedy little fucker.
I feel guilty keeping the truth to myself, but my birth mother isn’t someone I want to share with the Cromwells. I won’t let her ruin that part of my life.
“No medication?” he asks.
I shake my head.
“Nope, and no follow-up.”
“You look tired,” he observes.
“I am.” I sigh, leaning on his car beside him, shoulder to shoulder. Just thinking about the last two occasions I’ve spoken to Samantha deflates me.
She’s not going to make this easy for me.You wouldn’t enjoy it if she did.
“I could sleep for a week,” I mutter into my hands as I scrub my face. Digging the heel into my eyes, I sigh again.
I really am tired. Tired of running from what I feel, tired of fighting it, tired of not having what I want most in this world.
“So do it.”
