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“That’s good. I’m glad to hear it. I wanted to make sure you were okay. You didn’t answer my texts.”
“Sorry. I’ve been tired.”
“Right. Okay.” I hesitate, and the line sits silent, the faint buzz of the open call seeping from the phone. “We’re about to go to the airport for our flight home, so we’ll be back tomorrow. We’ll be there early in the morning.”
She doesn’t say anything, and I can’t help but fill the silence.
“I hope I’ll see you at the house. But if you’re still sick, I understand.”
“I don’t know, Noah. It may be time for me to move on.”
My stomach drops, and the pounding of my heart thuds so hard against my rib cage I think I might be sick.
“Please.” My voice cracks slightly, and I clear my throat, starting again. “Please don’t go. I love having you around. Your help has been nothing short of miraculous.”
“Noah—”
“I don’t know what Natasha said to you, but please know that she just wants to hurt you, hurt me. I’m…I’m so sorry you’ve had to deal with her because of me. You shouldn’t have to deal with her crap. That’s my fault.”
I hear sniffles over the line, but I have to get it out. I have to lay it all out there.
“I still need help with Elijah, work isn’t slowing down anytime soon, and there’s no one I would rather have there than you. You’ve made me find my feet as a dad again. I’m better with him because of you. You remind me how important the small moments are, and you’re not afraid to call my ass out when it’s necessary. That makes an incredible caregiver and support system. You’re the best person for the job, and I promise to do whatever I can to keep Natasha away from you. I have a feeling this will all come to a head sooner rather than later, anyway.”
The line goes silent again when I finally stop to take a breath. My heart echoes through my head as I wait for something, anything from Liv.
“I need some time. There’s…there’s something I need to think about. Can you please just give me that?”
There’s something I don’t recognize in her voice. Liv has always been energetic and strong and so incredibly sure of herself that it could make anyone envious, even me.
Right now, she doesn’t sound like that. Liv sounds…scared.
“Of course.”
“I need to go. My dad is asking for me.”
I try to say goodbye to her, but the line goes dead too fast, and I’m left holding the quiet phone to my ear.
“Dad, we should probably get going to the airport.”
A bit startled, I look up at Elijah, realizing I’m gripping the phone with white knuckles. I force myself to relax my hand and take a deep breath.
“All right, bud. Let’s go.”
Elijah smiles at me as I stand up and go to exit the hotel room with him.
“I can’t wait to tell Liv all about our trip.”
My heart pinches, but I can’t bring myself to say anything. So I just change the subject, and we get in the rental and drive to the airport.
Chapter 31
Olivia
As I hang up the phone, Noah’s words ringing in my ear, I begin to sob.
The tears fall hard and thick, and it’s many minutes before they finally stop. When they do, I have to drag myself up from the bathroom floor where I’d taken the call.
My ass bones ache, and I look terrible as I glance in the mirror. Splashing water on my face, the cool liquid feels wonderful against my hot cheeks, and I try to breathe around the hurt and panic.
