Page 23 of Burning for the Billionaire 8

I grit my teeth. Not because she’s coming home but because if I wasn’t so useless, she’d do her regular shift at the café. She’d probably hang out with Ashley, which she hasn’t done since I’ve been home. I feel like I’m ruining my girlfriend’s life. “Yeah. Okay.”

Grace scowls, probably from the lack of enthusiasm in my voice, but she doesn’t say anything. I suspect that if she didn’t feel sorry for me, she’d rip me a new one. Wheeling around, she simply marches back up the stairs.

Ember, lying on the rug in the middle of the living room lifts her head to stare at me.

“I know, I’m being a dick,” I grumble.

Feeling discouraged from taking that walk, I ease back into the recliner. I’ve been an absolute horror to deal with mostly because I’m worried.

What if Grace is turned off—from me? Us? We haven’t even slept in the same bed for weeks because she’s so afraid of jarring my injuries. What if she wakes up one day and decides that I’m taking too long to recover and I’m of no use to her?

On the other hand, I hate the thought that I’m holding her back from living her normal life. I mean, what twenty-three-year-old enjoys being stuck at home, helping to care for her temporarily handicapped, miserable-as-all-hell boyfriend?

I’ve never felt these levels of vulnerability and insecurity. OfFear. I hate it, and in response, I find myself lashing out at the person who’s always here—Grace. I’ve even been starting to wonder if she’ll be better off without me. But at the same time, I don’t want to lose her. The doctor says I’m lucky not to have many lasting effects from my head injury, but I think she’s wrong.

I’m confusedas fuck.

***

“Get out, Rebecca,”I growl. I can’t believe she’s here right now, demanding money. The private nurse just left let her in—though of course, she wouldn’t know Rebecca isn’t welcome here.

“Oh, come on, Rowan. You’ve recovered enough to talk business. At least I waited until long after you left the hospital. It’s only right for you to give me what’s mine.”

I stare at her in utter disbelief. “You’re not entitled to anything.”

Stifling a groan, I massage my forehead. I’ve had a hellish couple of months. I’ve endured pain, and worse, anxiety about my relationship with Grace. I’ve been struggling to get through day after day.

It helps that Grace is the total opposite of me. She’s always able to see the bright side and somehow manages to lighten the dark cloud I feel has been hovering over us since I got home.

However, things took a bad turn two nights ago when I overheard Grace on the phone telling her friend she doesn’t want to leave me. Had it been in the context of her wanting our relationship to last, I would have been ecstatic. However, she was talking about canceling her trip to New York.

I felt awful. I still do. Compounded with my unease about burdening her with the slow pace of my recovery, I’m at my breaking point. She can’t put her life on hold for me.

Then, Rebecca showed up to worsen my mood.

“I’m not giving you shit,” I tell her. “Especially after those slanderous interviews.”

She huffs. “I was trying to get your attention.

“All you did was piss me off.”

Funny thing is, I had been warming up to give her a nice sum just to get her to disappear. I know she’s desperate for money because my investigator discovered her husband got himself into deep shit with insurance fraud and without James, I doubt she can survive.

The old goat is facing jail time and I’m so satisfied—it’s long overdue. Maybe with my stepfather out of the picture, Rebecca will open her eyes and free herself from the abusive prick. Grace must have rubbed off on me because I can’t believe I feel sorry for my mother. But right now, my irritation overrides my sympathy.

“I swear, if you don’t get out of my sight, I’ll—”

“Rebecca, what are you doing here?” Grace steps into the living room and glances worriedly at me sitting up in a recliner. Ember is hot on her heels, looking extra clean and trim after their trip to the groomer today.

The women glare at each other, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen Grace look so fierce. Her lips twist into a devious smile, which has me confused.

“Ember.”

The dog stands at attention.

“Get her, girl.” Grace points at Rebecca.

On cue, Ember growls threateningly at my mother, who gasps and backs away.

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