Page 231 of Branded
“No.” Still whispering. “My best friend was hurting for years, I missed it, and now she’s gone on and gotten healthy all on her own.” Her lids slid open. “And I’m so damned proud of her for it.”
Shit.
Now I was going to cry.
“Haze,” I murmured.
“I love you.”
Yup. Definitely going to cry. Mush paired with pregnancy hormones?
Total sob fest.
But hell, it was worth it, especially when I was able to wrap my arms around Hazel and hug her tightly…or as tightly as my giant belly allowed.
Eventually, though, I knew I needed to get to Raph.
“I’ve got to buy a train ticket, honey,” I whispered long moments later.
“Right,” Hazel said. “Load your butt into my car.” She stood up, reached for my bag. “You can buy one while I drive you to the station.”
The lights were on in my castle.
The door was unlocked.
There were plush rugs on the floor.
And the kitchen sink was filled with dishes, there were crumbs on the carpet of the living room, and a glass was leaving a ring on her coffee table.
It was home. Finally.
And…it was perfect.
Thirty-Three
Raph
It was late, and we’d barely made it to our hotel rooms. All I wanted to do was call Beth, make sure she was good, and then go to bed.
But as I laid out my toiletries in the bedroom, my cell glued to my ear, ringing through on Beth’s number—and then her voicemail—worry began growing in my stomach.
Truthfully, it didn’t take much.
That worry had been souring my gut for weeks now.
Beth seemed okay, but as more time went on and she didn’t share, the knots in my belly tightened and grew, twisting and sitting heavy. She’d seemed okay before. Seemed free and loose and happy—all of what she was exhibiting now—and then I’d had to drive her to the hospital in the midst of a panic attack, talking about demons and ultimately needing sedation.
She’d shared.
Some.
I knew about her mom and her marriages, about the abuse and the money in her trust fund. I knew why she’d gone into the work she did—charities for women and children who were in need or in abusive relationships.
But she hadn’t given me all of it.
And I was trying to be patient.
But it was fucking killing me.
