Page 121 of Mad Love

I watched the cars back out of the garage and waited until they disappeared around a bend in the snow-covered drive before closing the garage doors and trudging back inside with a sigh. It would take them nearly twelve hours to drive to Henderson, a few hours to handle Gary and whatever men he was using for security, and then another twelve hours back.

It was going to be a long couple of days.

I kicked off my shoes in the mudroom and decided to make breakfast for the rest of us instead of crawling back into bed and cuddling Ryan’s pillow to inhale his scent.

Staying busy would be better.

Chase ambled into the kitchen about twenty minutes later, looking sleepy in a t-shirt and pair of flannel pajama bottoms. He blinked in surprise at seeing me juggling a skillet full of cheesy scrambled eggs and the waffle iron. “You cook.”

“I do,” I confirmed. “Hungry?”

“Yes, thank you. Can I help?” He hesitated, looking nervous that I might take him up on the offer.

I snorted a laugh. “Can you help?”

“I can keep you company,” he countered.

“Deal.” I pointed at a seat across from me at the island. “Pull up a chair.”

“Have you thought about what comes next?” he asked, already going for the heavy questions before I’d finished my first cup of coffee.

“Meaning?” I didn’t turn around as I worked on the eggs.

He cleared his throat. “Well, once Gary is taken care of, you’re free. Granted, you had Tyler donate all that money, but you’re still the sole heir to a lot of lucrative companies. You could do whatever you want. Go wherever you like.”

I slowly set down the spatula and turned to face him. “Who says I’m not exactly where I want to be?”

Chase frowned. “I just meant—”

“I know what you meant.” I held his gaze. “Chase, I appreciate you wanting to look out for me and be my friend, but if you are my friend, you have to accept that Ryan is a big part of my life. I love him. I’m not walking away from him now, and especially not when we finally have a chance to have our happily ever after. Get on board, or get out of the way.”

He opened his mouth to say something, but then wisely closed it.

I flashed him a smile as he conceded my point. Or, at least, accepted it. Ryan wasn’t going anywhere. And if he did? I was the barnacle attached to his ass for the rest of his life. Gary annulling our marriage didn’t change the fact that he was mine in every single way.

Once I’d plated the eggs, I turned off the stove and checked the last of the waffles. “I’ll get Bex and Tyler so we can eat.” I’d turned on my heel to do so when Bex literally slid into the kitchen with wide eyes.

“Where is C—where is everyone?” she demanded, her gaze pinging around the room like they were hiding in the cabinets.

“They left,” I said slowly, looking at her disheveled hair and pale face. “What’s wrong?”

She clutched her cell phone to her chest. “It’s my mom. She… She was in a really bad car accident. I need to get back to Los Angeles.”

“Oh, God.” I quickly wrapped my arms around her, hugging her hard.

Chase stood up. “They took both cars.”

“What? No,” Bex cried, pulling away from me. “I need to get to her. My dad called and said I… Dammit.” Tears spilled over, and she swiped furiously at her eyes.

“Let me make a few calls,” Chase offered, his tone soothing. “I can have a car here to get you within the hour, and you’re welcome to my plane.”

Bex’s shoulders sagged. “Really?”

Chase nodded. “Of course.” He patted her back as he walked out of the room, pulling out his phone.

“Okay,” I started, not sure what to say or do. “What do you need, babe?”

She pressed her lips into a flat line. “I just… I need to get home, Maddie.”

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