Page 161 of Into the Woods

“Ready to go to the hospital?” He cocked a brow.

“Definitely. I need to see my family before I can sleep. They need to know everything that happened.”

His lips turned up. “Already taking me home to meet the family, huh?”

Bishop laughed. “I hope you can win them over, Court.”

“Doesn’t matter,” I said with a tiny shrug. “They can either accept him or not. It doesn’t change the fact that we’re together.”

“Damn right, baby,” he growled before kissing me hard.

CHAPTER 49

COURT

Becca and I left the hospital hours later, arriving back at the hotel as the sun was rising over Paris. I could make out the curve of the Eiffel Tower’s peak in the distance.

“I feel like I’ve been put through a blender at high speed,” Becca moaned, taking my hand and letting me pull her to her exhausted feet. I pushed her car door shut, and she leaned against it while eyeing the hotel.

“That was a lot,” I admitted. I hadn’t done much except stand by her side as she told her family everything that had happened during the past few weeks.

She’d glossed over parts of it for her grandparents’ and mother’s sakes, but she’d revealed enough that they were rocked. Dr. Whittier had also been made aware that her soon-to-be ex-husband was staring down the barrel of a lengthy prison sentence.

“At least Mémé and Papa insisted on a prenup when Mom married Dad,” Becca murmured.

I nodded. “And their divorce is almost finalized. She won’t have to worry about assets being frozen while shit gets worked out.”

Becca nodded, her hazel eyes exhausted. “Is it wrong that I never want to see my dad again?”

“I mean, I feel the same way,” I admitted with a smirk.

She lightly punched my chest. I caught her hand and dragged it to my lips, then kissed her knuckles.

She was quiet for a long moment, the sounds of the city filling the morning air. It was cold, but in a refreshing sort of way. Like starting over with a clean slate.

“I can carry you inside again,” I offered. She’d borrowed clothes from Maddie for the visit to the hospital but was still wearing my hoodie. I liked seeing her in my clothes.

She grinned at me. “I think I can handle walking inside. I just…”

“What?” I tipped my head to the side, moving closer to rest my hands on her hips.

“I don’t know what to do,” she admitted.

“About?” Everything in me went cold, wondering if she was going to pull away. If, now that the craziness of the past few weeks was over, she was rethinking us.

She hooked her fingers around my belt loops. “I came here with my mom to help her get a fresh start. I’ll feel bad if I leave and go back to California, but I don’t want to be away from you.”

Relief hit me in a dizzying wave. She wasn’t trying to end things; she was trying to find a way for us to be together.

Not realizing I’d been bracing for my worst fear only to have it vanish just as fast, she kept talking. “I miss being with you guys. I miss Maddie, but I also think I need to stay here for a while. Cami’s going to need a friend.”

Camille’s ankle had been broken in two places and required a plate and two screws to put it back together. That would be followed by a lengthy recovery and physical therapy. She wouldn’t be dancing for months, and that was if her ankle healed right.

“I mean, I’m sure we can make the long-distance thing work, but is it wrong that I just don’t want to?” Her nose scrunched up adorably as she peered up at me. “We’re finally in a good place, and I really hate the idea of not seeing you every day.”

My lips twitched as I tried to hide a smile.

“Oh, God. I’m being that girl, aren’t I? The needy, stage-five clinger who can’t get out of bed without texting her boyfriend.” She looked horrified.

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