Page 54 of Eat You Alive (Court Legacy 4)

“Okay.”

He continued to write, but eventually, he stopped, smiled. “I think we’re all good for today.”

“Great.” I got up, and the man’s hand came out. I shook it.

“It’s always great seeing you, and remember to get that blood work taken care of. I’ll have my nurse call you with the results.”

“Does it have to be today?” I shrugged, casual about it. “I just got classes and stuff, so…”

He lifted a hand. “Understandable. Take care of it when you can. Just don’t forget?”

I tapped my head, making him smile again. He gave me another shake before I headed out, and I didn’t breathe until I made it to my truck.

My hands on the steering wheel, I just stared into open air.

Fuck.

I unstrapped myself, needing a moment. Any doctor’s appointments came with a fair bit of anxiety, but this one in particular was fucking my shit up. I hated the doctor. Especially after last year.

Get your shit together.

I eased out a breath, taking my phone out. I checked for messages but ended up just looking at one.

Fawn:I’m staying with Heath. He’s offering his couch, so I’m taking it. I think you know why.

It was an old message, and one I felt like I’d looked at a million times since she sent it two days ago.

I wished I could only be mad at her.

I couldn’t, though. More relieved she’d left than angry. It meant I didn’t have to do this shit with her anymore.

Why did you sleep with her?

Because I was stupid. Because I was fucked up, and if she knew how fucked up, she never would have agreed to the fake arrangement in the first place. That night with her single-handedly blew up everything. A nuclear explosion could have only been worse.

And I couldn’t even fix it.

In good faith, I couldn’t. Yeah, I could go over to that fucker Heath’s place. I could drag her back, make her honor our deal. I could use blackmail, and I had before.

I ran my hand against my steering wheel, my stomach tighter than at my goddamn appointment. I scrubbed my face before I belted myself, but a tap hit my window.

A smile graced the other side.

My mother, Brielle, placed her arms on my ride, her hair up, her grin wide. I put down the window, and her head cocked. “Hey, critter.”

My eyes lifted at the nickname, but a noticeable ease hit my stomach after she said it. Perhaps, it was the familiarity of it since she used to call me that as a kid.

Or maybe it was just her.

I was surprised to see my mom, and once I got out, she hugged me right away. She squeezed me, smelling familiar too. Like home.

My stomach loosened more.

“What are you doing here?” I asked her, trying to man the hell up. Puffing up, I was acting like I wasn’t completely fucking grateful to see my mom right now in the middle of a fucking breakdown.

Mom shouldered her bag, a petite woman. At least when it came to the Bigfoots in her family. She was actually normal-sized, and even my sister was taller than her. “Was on campus for a bit visiting some former colleagues.”

Mom used to work as a professor at Pembroke before she became mayor of our city, Maywood Heights.

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