Page 21 of Cursed to Be Mine
“And what did you tell her?”
“That I understood her decision. I can’t imagine what she’s going through, but if Gen was that sick…” I wipe up the water ring. My eyes find her again. She’s standing awkwardly by the car, shifting from foot to foot. “I told her sometimes death is the right choice.”
Benjamin’s silence hangs heavy in my ear, so I shift the phone to my other. It doesn’t make him talk.
“So can you fix it?” I ask, walking back to the kitchen.
His sigh comes with a look of disappointment I can see as good as if he were really here. “I’ll talk to Mrs. Keller and see if she’s willing to be interviewed. Will you be willing to sponsor a day out for them? Maybe to Disney World or –”
“Of course,” I say immediately, tossing the wet paper into the kitchen bin. “Anything.”
“I’ll sort it then. But be careful what you say this close to elec–”
“I know,” I cut in. “I’m sorry. Thank you for dealing with this, Benjamin.”
Hanging up, I slide my phone into my bag. Fucking vultures, twisting everything I do and say. I was just trying to comfort a mother stuck between two hard choices.
Closing my eyes, I push thoughts of work away, then grab two beers from the fridge and force a smile. Scarlett looks over as I slide the door back, then hurriedly comes towards me.
Or rather, the house.
Off to hide upstairs in her room.
As she starts to pass me, I say softly, “Go have a shower. You stink of grease. And we’re going out tonight.”
She opens her mouth to protest, but I cut her off, not in the mood for her defiance. I gave her one rule when she came home for the summer: no food in this house was for her unless it was a fucking salad.
“Don’t backtalk me,” I hiss as I smile at Khalid. “You’re coming.”
“Fine,” she mumbles as she steps past me.
“And shut the door all the way!” I say before she even has the chance to leave it open. Satisfied at the click, I turn my attention to my hot half-naked neighbor. “Thanks for the favor,” I purr as I walk towards him, holding out a beer.
“The pleasure is mine.” His words are soft, yet loud in their heat. My pussy pulsing, I walk all the way to my car.
He takes the cold bottle from my hand, twists off the lid, and takes a sip, his throat working beautifully inthe sun. I want to run my lips across his pulse, carry on down to the hard slab of his abs.
Further.
“Why don’t we enjoy these inside?” I breathe.
“Don’t you want me to finish your car?” he asks. “If I leave the suds on, you’ll have streaks.”
I smile as I wave a hand dismissively. “I’ll get Paul to arrive earlier tomorrow to finish it,” I say, guessing at the name of my driver, assuming he won’t know either way.
Khalid stares at me for a second. “Do you mean Phil? The bald guy who drives you?”
I laugh, the heat of a curse burning my cheeks. “Yeah, of course. It’s been a long day.” I dig out my phone and hold it up. “And it’s still going. Some jackass is posting an unflattering photo of me tomorrow in the papers, saying I hate sick kids. It’s like they don’t know I have a daughter.”
“Sheisrarely with you.”
Because her image isn’t pretty enough for Benjamin’s taste, but I don’t tell him that. “Yeah. It’s a fight getting her to go anywhere these days.”
He takes another sip as his eyes flick up to her bedroom.
“She just stays in there all day.” I shake my head and finally twist the lid off my bottle. “Do you haveanykids?”
Ever married before? Anyone still in the picture?
