Page 74 of The Grumpy Billionaire
“Okay… so you’ve commandeered my car. Talk.”
TWENTY-FIVE
The Real Deal
Mara
“Let’s go home first,” Reid said, pulling out of the parking lot.
“Whose home?”
Low-grade panic set in at the thought of being alone with Reid in his condo again only one night after I’d lost control of myself and made out with him.
“Mine. I wouldn’t mind seeing your mother and brothers again, but not tonight.”
“We can go to my house. They’re not there. Take me home, and then I’ll callyoua cab. Or you can walk next door to your mom’s place.”
He laughed. “We’ll see.”
Forty minutes later, we’d made our way from downtown Providence to Eastport Bay, and Reid pulled my car into the circular driveway in front of my family’s home, or at least what was left of my family. I unlocked the door, and he followed me inside.
He helped me out of my coat, hanging it on a hook in the mudroom as if he were here every day. Well, he used to be, and it hadn’t been that long ago.
Nothing much had changed in the house since the days when we’d hang out in the living room watching TV, waiting for my parents to go to bed. Then we’d make out on the couch, taking things as far as two teenagers dared with strict Catholic parents right upstairs—
Okay, not helpful. Let’s keep our little trips down memory lane G-rated, shall we?
Reid walked into the living room and looked around, touching a small end table as he passed.
“Wow. It looks the same. I don’t know why I didn’t expect it to. It’s just… weird.”
I entered the dim room and clicked on another lamp. I knew exactly what he meant. It was strange for me, too, to see him here after all these years.
In one way it seemed natural and right, and in another—well, I just hadn’t expected it to happen—not tonight, not ever.
“So, where’s your family?” Reid asked, sitting down on the sofa in the same corner he used to prefer.
“Um, the boys are away at… ranch camp. And mom is…”
It was a simple question, but answering seemed impossible. I was mortified to feel tears forming behind my eyelids.
Surrounded by the busyness of the restaurant and Bruce’s inane chatter, the reality of what had happened today had been easier to put out of my mind.
Here in this large, quiet house, where my mom and brothersshouldbe, my emotions felt as fragile as snowflakes.
Suddenly, I was glad not to be here alone.
“She’s sick, Reid,” I finally said. I sat down next to him.
The confusion on his face turned to concern as he processed. He sat forward, placing a warm hand on my forearm.
“Cancer?”
“No. Nothing like that. I guess we’re lucky compared with that. She has depression. But it’s pretty bad. It’s been going on for a while. I checked her into a place today. She has to stay there a week.”
Now the tears were getting the better of me. I reached up and swiped at my eyes, turning my face away from Reid in embarrassment.
“Hey,” he said softly. “It’s going to be okay.” He slipped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me against his solid side.
