Page 40 of Denying Davis
But I still woke up at the sound of my alarm, which rang at ten on the dot. I dragged myself to the shower in our small bathroom, turned on the water, and took the longest rinse. It felt…decadent. Then I pulled on a robe, shuffled to the kitchen, found the last of the coffee in the pantry, and turned on the coffee maker. We needed more than coffee, though. We still needed bread, eggs, milk, peanut butter, juice, and the protein drinks my mother downed to keep weight on her bones.
Add that to the list of ways I’m not handling the responsibilities. Perfect.
I found my phone on its charger and opened it, found the notes application, and typed a long list. But then a text message stopped me from typing the word “eggs.”
My heart jumped.Davis. Seeing him again after all this time still felt surreal if I was honest. Was it meant to be like he thought or only a matter of time? I was undecided, but one thing I knew was I had to be careful. Was he all I thought he’d grow up to be? Yes, and more. But I knew where my energy was needed, and if he was serious about wanting something with me, he’d wait.And if not…well, life went on.
But in a way, the text’s timing was perfect. The kiss hadn’t been very far from the forefront of my mind. It had mixed with the stress of our current situation, permeating the air and dancing around me. I’d loved that kiss. I’d loved feeling alive too, if only for a moment.
So, even though I wanted to deny my feelings for him, I had to admit I wanted more.
Davis:Hey, hate to bother you, but can I stop by the hospital in a few minutes?
I tapped out a reply.
Me:I’m not at the hospital right now. I’m at the apartment.
His answer came seconds later.
Davis:Do you mind if I stop by before you go?
Me:…
Davis:It’s important.
Important?I studied the phone, considering all the possibilities of that last sentence. I couldn’t come up with a decent explanation. I also knew I should say no. I needed to push him away. But I didn’t want to…
Me:Sure, come on over.
Davis:Be there in 15.
My stomach dropped.Great. No time at all, and my hair was still wet from the shower. I dashed into the bathroom and found my hairdryer underneath the sink.
Few memories in my life had given me the kind of anticipation I had driving from Aaron’s office to Samantha’s apartment. I knew I should have waited until the transaction was complete, but I had Aaron’s assurance the money was en route to the new account, and that was confirmation enough for me. $753,354.68, enough to take care of whatever bills her mother had and provide them with extra.
A good deed for a worthy person.
I grinned as I drove across the bridge from Palm Beach to West Palm. I couldn’t wait to see the look on her face. The documents were in a thin file folder on the passenger seat of my Mercedes.
This is the right thing to do.
I wouldn’t just tell Sam about the money and drive away. I wanted her to understand that I was all-in, and that this gesture was to help her feel less hopeless, to show her how much I cared. When I’d parked the car in the visitor lot of her apartment complex, I was more confident of my decision than ever.
I just needed to convince her that this would be the right step to take.
It will be, Davis. It will be. No one can resist this.
I grabbed the folder, got out of the car, dashed up to her apartment front door, and gave it three quick raps. She answered five seconds later.
“Hi,” I said, not bothering to wipe the goofy smile off my face. What was about to happen was going to be as much fun for me as it would be life-changing for her. “You look great.”
“Thanks.” She glanced down at her black skirt and white polo shirt emblazoned with the Royal Palm logo. “It’s…it’s just my uniform. No big deal.”
“But you wear it well.” I strode into the apartment, even though she hadn’t invited me inside. I was a man with a purpose, and one who was more than just being the heir to the Armstrong fortune.
“Come right in,” she said behind me as she closed the door.
“I’m sorry.” I looked back at her. “I’m just…I think—I know—I have a solution to your problems. At least, to your bills. And that’s half the battle.”
