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I scrub a hand down my face and sigh.
“Not that it’ll do me any good.”
“Never thought I’d see the day,” he chuckles. “Who knows what the future holds?” He shrugs, driving away from the house that holds so many memories, very few of them good.
“Look at Lex and me.” He glances quickly at me.
“Yeah,” I nod. “I’m not sure Sage and I are at your level.”
“I’ll tell you something. I haven’t seen many couples come together so well the way you two did. You say it was fake, but nothing about it seemed that way.”
“I have real feelings for her, but our beginning was based on a lie.”
“So make a new beginning.” He gives me a knowing smirk and squeezes my shoulder.
A new deal. Maybe the third deal’s the charm, and hopefully, it will be my winning ticket. I hope Sage will eventually accept that my losing the money had nothing to do with her.
30
Sage
I stretch on my bed, finally feeling better from the pain and discomfort. When my mom insisted I go see the doctor, I appeased her. I knew what he’d say when I came clean with him. I’ve been under too much pressure and stress.
I’ll never forget the look of hurt on my mom’s face when she heard me tell the doctor what I’d been going through with Tristan and his family. Not my proudest moment, and I know she’ll bring it up once I’m better.
As for my doctor, like I knew he would, he told me to remove stressful situations from my life. Easier said than done. The look on Tristan’s face when I told him we were done killed me more than the flare-up. I’d take a week of flare-up just to forget the pain in his eyes.
I stand from my bed and gingerly head to the bathroom before going to the kitchen to eat something. I haven’t been very hungry, but I know food is essential, especially so I can take my medication.
“Hi, darling.” My dad smiles from over the newspaper.
Yeah, he’s one of those who won’t allow advanced technology to get rid of his beloved newspaper, even if his daughter is a tech nerd.
“Hi,” I say. My voice is hoarse, so I clear it.
“How are you feeling?” His voice holds an edge of concern.
My mom and dad have switched off so one of them could stay home with me. Since she had an important meeting today, my dad asked for the day off.
“Better,” I say. “I’m starting to feel like myself again.”
“I’m glad, sweetheart. Come sit.” He pats the table beside him.
I grab a banana and serve myself some coffee before sitting next to my dad, who folds the newspaper and sets it down on the table. My heart races as he looks at me with a frown. I don’t want a speech.
“I’d like to talk about Tristan.”
I close my eyes and shake my head. We all know that what I’m feeling isn’t fully due to a flare-up. Heartache takes a leading role in this one.
“He’s a good man. What I don’t understand is why you’d feel the need to take on the financial responsibility of this house.” He folds his hands together.
“Because it’s my responsibility. They’re my hospital and medical bills.” I rub my eyes and take a bite of my banana.
“Not to this level.” My dad’s voice is stern.
I look up at him with wide eyes.
“Sage, we’re a family. You don’t have to risk your health for easy money.”
