Page 67 of Severed Rivalry
“Why are you awake so late?”
“Oh, that? Renée got me onto this game. Ridiculous really, but super addictive.”
To my surprise, he offers the name.
“How did you know?”
“She asked me to send her photos of Liam and Ayla but wouldn’t give me her number. Annoying, but smart.”
“That sounds like her. She’s all about the game and can I just say I’m secretly pleased she didn’t give out her number?”
“She put each of us through our paces. You’re raising a firecracker.”
“That I am. A firecracker who has a phone addiction.”
“Don’t we all?”
“Yeah. And, lately, it’s been worse.”
I can hear the smile in his voice when he offers. “Same here. It’s my connection to you when I can’t hold you. And I really wish I could hold you.”
“If you start that, you can’t stop, you know?”
“Counting on that, Angel. Now get some sleep. I’ll do the same and try not to spend too much time thinking about your feet.”
“Do the feet really do it for you?” I stare down at my own and wiggle my toes.
“Youdo it for me. They’re simply attached.”
“Goodnight, Ci.”
His voice is warm and husky and does something to my insides. “Goodnight, Angel”
We disconnect, and I stare at the phone wondering if I can puzzle out what my life has become since I saw Cian a week ago last night.
Rollercoasteris accurate. But the highs are all about him. The lows, while terrifying, were made easier by him, or his sister and brother. Something dawns on me that I failed to recognize last night. Sherman, the attorney, said I’m “one of them.”
They knew nothing other than I needed them or needed them to save Renée, and Liam headed straight over. Ayla did too. Her husband called his attorney, dispatching him to get me, and then ordered pizza to my house. Cian made sure my daughter knew who was coming by sending pictures so she was prepared.
The man claimed me, rallied the troops, and made me safe. His family dropped everything in my time of need.
Even before he told me, he was loving me.
Even before he told me, he was showing me.
My heart has been his since I was nineteen years old. He says I’ve had his since then too. Maybe this isn’t the universe conspiring or warning, maybe this is what happens when hearts that belong together, but have been separated, collide.
20
the pause
Cian
The following Saturday morning, I head home. It doesn’t make much sense seeing as I have surgery on Tuesday that will require an overnight and still won’t be able to drive. But it’s time.
Ayla and Christian are at their home in Aspen.
Eleanor needs to be back in her routine. And I need to get back to real life.
