Page 134 of Meet Me In The Dark
“What’s the point in being rich if I don’t workmyself into the ground, right?”
The edges of the blanket flap in the breeze as I pull it tighter around my shoulders. “Have you always been like that?”
“Like what?”
“All work, no downtime. No actual living.”
“Yes.”
“Because of your upbringing?”
His gaze remains fixed on the ocean. “When you grow up with nothing, you either accept that’s what your life will always be, or you fight like hell to make sure it’s not.”
The wind lifts his hair, and the moonlight highlights the lines of his face. He seems like a man who has carried his own future on his back for a long time.
“Well,” I say softly, “your mother is very proud of you. I knew from the minute she broke out the childhood stories.”
“Don’t start,” he warns, but there’s no bite in his tone.
“She promised to bring the photo album next time. I can’t wait.”
A quiet huff of laughter escapes him.
“I just wish I could do more for them.” His voice is laced with frustration, or maybe it’s guilt I’m hearing.
“Do more?”
“They still live in my old neighborhood. They won’t leave. Too many memories.”
“It must be nice to be tethered to a place like that. To a home that holds memories.”
“Your house doesn’t have memories?”
“I mean, my nanny was great.”
His brows pull together before I look away. “You’re not close with your parents?”
“We never had that type of relationship,” I tell him, feeling that familiar burn in my chest.
“Did they know you were in the hospital?”
“Yes.” My gaze flicks down to my feet. “But they’re busy.”
“Jesus Christ. What do they do for a living?”
If that piece of information frustrates him, he’s not going to like this next part.
“They’re doctors,” I finally say, not daring to look and see his reaction.
He sounds more than pissed off when he says, “In history?”
I can’t help but laugh. “No, like proper medical doctors. They even wear stethoscopes and everything.”
“Fucking hell, Celeste.”
“What?” I try to laugh it off. “The poor little rich girl didn’t get enough love?”
“Don’t do that.”
