Page 65 of Unbreakable

“Well, I will see you at your first appointment in two weeks.” the doctor says before turning and leaving the room, Josh goes to follow after him, totally ignoring my pleas to stay and not leave me with the skeevy nurse.

“Later Jace.” he calls out as he pulls the door shut.

I look back at the nurse who is staring at me intently. She moves over to the table, bending down for a moment and writing on the papers on the clipboard, before turning back to me and placing the blood pressure cuff on my arm and begins to pump it up.

“I overheard your conversation, I’ll be more than happy to help you with any needs you may have.” she seductively says, taking her tongue and licking it slowly across her lips.

“That’s awfully sweet of you, but I got a girlfriend.”

“You mean that little girl that’s been coming here? I thought she was your sister. I saw her leave and she was holding that young blond’s hand, even saw them kissing as they were waiting for the elevator. Terrible that she would cheat on someone like you.” she spits out the venom she thinks will drive me to be with her, fat fucking chance.

“I know, I told her she could. We are both dating her. Are you about done? I’m anxious to get home to her.” She grunts in disapproval, and I give myself a mental high five. Thankfully I’m saved by the scrawny kid with the wheelchair at the door.

Arizona

I’m so excited Jace finally comes home from the hospital today. I was trying to get out of my shift tonight to be there, but Jade came down with the flu so we’re already down a girl. When I talked to Jace, he told me not to worry about it and to just come by when I got off tonight.

My heart starts to race the closer it gets to the end of my shift. Jace asked me to spend the night with him and I’m as nervous as a schoolgirl. I’ve just finished a set, so I head to the dressing room to take a quick break and check in with him.

Pulling my phone from the locker, I take a seat at my vanity as I see the icon showing I have six voicemails waiting and four unread text messages. I decide to get the voicemails out of the way, pressing in my passcode when it’s prompted.

The first one was Bash letting me know he just left Jace at home, one of the brothers was there with him, and where he was leaving the spare key, so Jace wouldn’t have to get up to unlock the door if he was there by himself.

The next one was Jace telling me how excited he was to see me tonight.

The next one was really weird and must have been a misdial. There was no one talking, just heavy breathing on the other end. After everything Ash went through, it kind of creeped me the fuck out. I looked to see what the number was, but it came up as private.

The last one has bile rising in my stomach. My father.

“You are getting close to the end of your time, and your future husband is becoming impatient. He wants you here so the two of you can finally meet face to face. Don’t screw this up for your mother or me, you are aware of what will happen to us if you do. It’s time to come home, Arianna, and put an end to this childishness.”

How can he always find a way to ruin any happiness in my life? It’s like he has me wired and when I’m happy, bam he pounces and finds a way to ruin it.

Taking a deep breath and pushing him out of my mind I move to the texts, knowing my father would never lower himself to send one.

Knox: Hey babe, just wanted you to know I miss you. Take care of Jace and I’ll see you tomorrow night.

Draco: Lil’ Witch make sure to get plenty of rest tonight.

Bash: Just makin’ sure you got the message about the house key. It’ll be under the frog he has sittin on the step.

Unknown: I grow weary of this game. It’s time for you to return. The end of the year is months away and there is no sense in prolonging. You will return now and start planning our wedding, which will happen on your birthday. Don’t make me have to come there and get you.

I drop the phone to the floor, not caring if it cracks.

I fight to hold back tears, my tough exterior always firmly locked in place starting to falter. I’m becoming so emotionally exhausted from keeping secrets from the guys and knowing my time is coming to an end.

What the hell am I going to do? I’m already growing so attached to these men, even Bash. Could I really just say screw it and stay here, let my dad clean up his own mess? With each passing day that thought is becoming better and better. He made his bed, let him lie in it and not me. He made this mess he’s in. Why am I paying for it by giving up my life?

“Arizona, Javier is calling for you. There’s a bachelor party that requested you for a private dance.” Candy, one of the new girls, calls out to me as she enters the room, her head down, working on tying the straps to her top in the back. Looking up she sees my solemn face, rushing over at once. “Are you okay? Did something happen to Jace?” she asks frantically.

“No, no. He’s okay. I just got some unwanted news from home. Are the bachelors wanting anything in particular?” I stand up, moving towards my locker to put my phone away.

“You’re going to love this. They want the catholic school girl. What is it with men and that fantasy?” she asks as she walks over to her locker and pulls out her next costume.

As luck would have it, that particular outfit is still here. While I change, I muster up a smile to put on my face.

I’m driving into the neighborhood Jace lives in and I swear I think the GPS took me to the wrong address, because these houses are so cute. They all look like little cottages out of a fairy tale with colorful shutters on the windows and white picket fences around them, hell, some even had lawn gnomes.

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