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She’s fucking delusional!
“I also had my lawyer draw up an agreement that you won’t contact me or Lilah ever again. Nor will you speak to anyone else—including the press—about either of our pasts.”
I had my lawyer throw Lilah in there as even more protection. I don’t want her getting around the contract on a technicality, nor do I want her messing with Lilah. My mom’s sudden reappearance is screwing with Lilah’s head. Half the time, she’s passed out when I return home. She’s using more than she used to, and that’s why I wasn’t going to suggest the Regent to celebrate her contract with House of Carlisle.
“Still playing Superman to your Lois Lane, are you?” Her tone of boredom, like I’m a moron for watching out for Lilah, irritates me.
“Don’t you worry about what I’m doing. Just know that if you violate the contract, not only will you owe me every penny back, but I’ll sue you for extortion and you’ll be eating cat food under a bridge for the rest of your life. You get me?”
“That’s no way to speak to your mother!”
The bitch sounds offended. Hello? Left me with abusive father. I shake my head.
“You stopped being a mother to me the day you left. Get a lawyer, text me with the info, and I’ll have the contract sent over. Once you sign it, I’ll transfer the money. You’ve got forty-eight hours.” I check my rearview mirror and back out of the parking spot.
“I know you’re angry with me, but thank you,” she says.
I hit End Call on the steering wheel, driving to the studio gates.
She’d better keep her word after she receives the money. If not, she’s going to figure out how far I’ll go to protect the life I’m building for myself and Lilah.
Chapter Twenty
LILAH
It’s been two weeks since I got the contract for House of Carlisle and other than Jimmy’s mom, things have been mundane in our lives. For Jimmy’s birthday, we go to Santa Monica Pier. We spend the day together and have dinner. As a way to say thanks for everything he’s done for me over the past months, I planned a surprise party at his place after dinner. We still have some time to kill until we can show up, so I suggest a walk on the beach.
We walk hand in hand away from the craziness of the pier, listening to the sounds of the waves hitting the shore and the kids’ squeals from the rides in the distance.
“You should know that I settled all that shit with my mom. She won’t be bothering me again.”
My body tenses. “Really?”
He stops and turns to me. His hand cradles my cheek and he stares into my eyes. “She signed an agreement. She can’t bother either one of us or talk to the press unless she wants to pay the money back. It’s over and she’s out of my…our lives for good.”
My hand covers his and I squeeze. “I’m sorry.”
He shrugs and kisses my forehead.
Before he can slide away, I wrap my arms around his waist and step into his warm chest. I want to say how sorry I am that his mom extorted money from him. That life isn’t fair that his mom left him only to return because she wants a piece of what he’s made of himself. Reassure him that I love him and he’s an amazing man despite his horrible childhood. Jimmy doesn’t like to show me any weakness and it’s his birthday, so I don’t want to rehash things with his mom or the past tonight.
We walk a bit more in silence.
“Did you have fun today?” I sit down in the sand, which is cool, and a welcome relief compared to how scorching hot it was earlier.
He sits beside me and takes my hand. I lay my head on his shoulder. “Of course I did. I spent it with my favorite person.”
I smile. “I wanted to do something nice for you for your birthday. I’m glad you liked it.”
“I want one present from you?”
I draw back, my eyebrows furrowing.
“I want us to be a real couple. No more of this on-again-off-again, are-we-or-aren’t-we bullshit.”
“Jimmy…” I wiggle my toes in the sand. He’s caught me off guard.
“I want you to get clean so we can build a life together.” There’s a hint of desperation in his voice that I can’t ignore. We’re coming to a head and it’s leaving my insides raw. He places his finger under my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. “Look at me. Just say you’ll give us a chance. Arealchance. Don’t you love me the same way that I love you?”
