AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I swallow my pride, then nod.
Blakely assesses me another moment, then in a firm voice, informs Noah, "You're to add Riggs back to my schedule."
His face drops. "Why? Why would you want him on your schedule?"
She lifts her chin higher. "And he'll remain in charge of my security until I say otherwise. Is that clear, Noah?"
His head jerks backward. "Blakely, you don't have to let him pressure you."
Anger festers in her voice, but so does confidence. Pride gushes within me. She adds, "Don't ever pull any crap like this again, Noah. If you're going to make major decisions for me, you have to talk to me. It's clear in my contract, and we've had multiple conversations about this."
He clenches his jaw, not saying anything.
"Well, answer her," I prod.
Blakely shakes her head at me in disappointment. My gut drops. She turns toward Ears. "Can you escort my husband out of the building, please? I have work to do, and I think we've held everyone up long enough."
5
Blakely
The Next Day
Even though a lot's been happening that I'm sad about, excitement runs through me. Tonight's the concert in Detroit. It's a pretty big deal. I was shocked when Noah told me that I was going to be the opening act for Colton Linwood.
I'm almost to the airport when my phone rings. I glance down, and my heartbeat increases.
How did she get my number?
It's my mother's number. It rings and rings and rings, and I finally answer it. "Mom?"
She slurs, "Blakely, I'm so glad you answered."
"How did you get my number?" I ask, my insides quivering.
She ignores my question, her voice cracking and barely audible from whatever she's on when she says, "Come home, baby. I need you to come home."
I cringe. Nothing has changed. She's still an addict. I almost hang up, but then the memory of her and how she looked when I saw her at the charity event fills my mind. It's the worst I've ever seen her, and that's a hard statement to swallow.
She repeats, "Please, baby, come home."
I firmly state, "Mom, I'm not coming home."
"Don't say that," she demands.
I question, "Where are you?"
Please be somewhere safe.
Riggs destroyed my parents. He said there was nothing left. Is she still at my old house?
Her voice turns angry, and I cringe. This always happens when she's not sober. She displays every emotion possible and rotates between them. She snarls, "What did I ever do to you?"
Anger fills me. How would I even begin to answer that? She was never there for me. Her drugs and alcohol were always more important, along with her men, just like my father's business and ego were always more important to him. Yet she's still my mother. So I struggle with what to say.
Her tone flips to desperation. "Please, baby, I want to see you. Just say yes, and we can talk...just like the old times."
My hand taps against my leg, and I look down. Riggs used to hold it, and ever since he came into my life, I've become more conscious of how I do this when I'm nervous. Something about Riggs's hand over mine always calmed me, but right now, I stare at it, watching my fingers graze my thigh, the deep ache I've felt all my life resurfacing.
