AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I—I think I’ll go lie down for a while,” her father says, and he struggles to get up.
“Can I help?” I step forward, but he shakes his head.
“No, thanks. I’ll get there.”
I move away again and watch him stand, waiting while he gains his balance, and then takes his walking stick, gingerly putting his weight on one foot, and then the other, limping from the room.
Once he’s gone, I turn back to Livia again. She’s looking at me now, with her head tilted slightly to one side.
“Dad doesn’t normally let people see him do that,” she says.
“Do what?”
“Struggle. He hates the fact that he can’t do things like he used to.”
“Well, I guess he could sense the atmosphere and was just desperate to get out of here.” I huff out a sigh. “I know how he feels.”
She steps closer, glaring up at me. “What does that mean?”
“It means I drove up here so we could talk. I was gonna stay at the hotel again tonight, so we could try to work things out between us over the weekend. It’s been hell without you, Livia. All I’ve been able to think about is seeing you again… and yet I get here and find you cozying up with Miles Hampton.”
“Cozying up? Is that what you…?” She stops talking, her cheeks pinking. “How dare you?”
“Why was he thanking you for such a lovely time?”
“How the hell should I know? Maybe he enjoyed being here.”
“When did he arrive?”
“Why? Are you wondering if he stayed the night?” Her eyes are on fire, her anger matching mine now.
“Well? Did he?”
“No. He got here about nine-thirty this morning, if you must know.” So two hours before me…
“Did you invite him?”
“Of course not. But I didn’t invite you, either… and as your opinion of me doesn’t seem to have improved, I think it’s gonna be better for both of us if you leave.”
“That’s just fine with me.”
I turn and head for the door. Her mom’s nowhere to be seen, but I guess she’s decided to give us some space, just like her father did… not that it matters. We don’t need space. We need a goddamn referee.
“I can’t believe this,” Livia says from behind me, as I open the door, and I turn to face her.
“What?”
“Do you know… I was gonna call you. I even went out and bought a new phone, and I looked up your number. I just needed to work out what I wanted to say. But if you’re gonna accuse me of cheating, on top of everything else, there’s really nothing left for us, is there?”
“I guess not.”
I step outside, my feet carrying me to my car, even though my heart is telling them to stop… to turn back… to beg her forgiveness, yet again.
I hear the door slam behind me, and I know it’s too late.
I’ve really blown it this time.
Chapter Fourteen
