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Lila wraps a silky robe around her naked body and ties the belt around her waist. She swats a fallen tear from her cheek. I wish I knew the right thing to say to make her feel better.
She turns her back to me, and for the first time since we started dating, she gives me the cold shoulder. Lila walks out of the bedroom, and chills roll down my spine. I slump to the mattress, knowing I have to give her space. I need plenty of it when I’m in rage mode. Everyone knows to let me seethe on my own.
My cell phone rings again, and this time, I pick it up.
“Tom,” I say to the general manager of my team.
“My office,” he yells. “Now! And bring Dr. Devine with you.”
“Don’t take this out on her,” I plead. “This is my fault.”
“I’m sure it is. I warned you. I told you this was your last shot.”
“Do whatever you want to me. Don’t take this out on Lila.”
“Save it, Duke,” he snaps. “You have one hour. Get your ass over here.”
I throw the phone against the wall, and it breaks into pieces that scatter across the room. Fuck. I haven’t lost my anger like this in months. As I collect the remnants of the phone, Lila enters the bedroom.
“What have you done, Duke?”
She rushes into the room and lifts a picture frame from the floor. I didn’t even notice it fell. Lila clutches it against her chest and cries.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” She stares down at the picture in the broken frame. “Why do you have to act like this?”
“You tell me, Doc. You’re the expert.”
Her bottom lip quivers, and when she looks up at me, her mouth twists into disgust. “Get out! Just go! I need to be alone.”
“You’re mad about a picture frame?”
“Yes, you idiot!” She shows me the broken glass that has a picture of her with her mom inside it. “This is the last picture we took together. Just go, Duke. I can’t do this right now. I thought you were getting better. I thought I was helping you.”
“You were… You are… Lila, please. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to throw my phone. I just got so—”
“Angry,” she finishes. “Yeah, so much for your anger management working.”
“It is working,” I challenge. “People don’t change overnight.”
She bends down to gather the remaining pieces of glass. “Why do you have to break everything?”
“I’ll buy you another frame.”
She snorts. “This frame can’t be replaced.”
“I’m sorry, Lila.” I run a hand through my hair and sigh. “I fuck everything up.”
“That does seem to be your forte,” she says with an attitude.
I won’t argue with her, not when I know she’s right about everything.
“We have to leave soon. Tom called. He wants to see both of us in his office in an hour.”
She pushes herself up from the floor with a groan and then slams the bathroom door behind her.
Chapter Twenty-Two
DELILAH
We drive to the Capital One Arena in silence. Duke seemed to take the hint that I don’t want to talk after I slammed the bathroom door. This is the first time I’ve shut him out. But after hearing the pain in Max’s voice, I can’t think straight. She was so upset about the horrible things people are saying about me.
I knew my relationship with Duke could end badly for me. I knew it was unethical to date a patient, and I did it anyway. I set a bad example for my daughter.
A local radio host mentions Duke. I turn up the volume, and Duke turns it down from his steering wheel. Our eyes meet, and I glare at him. I don’t hate him. In fact, I think I love him. Unfortunately, I’ve learned over the years that love hurts. It especially hurts to love Duke Baldwin. My heart aches when I look into his sad, blue eyes. I know he’s sorry, even though this is not all his fault. We both entered into this relationship, understanding the possibilities. I, more than him, knew the risks we were taking.
“I want to hear it,” I say.
“No, you don’t,” Duke growls. “Trust me. It’s never good.”
Once we’re inside the building, we’re ushered to Tom’s office. He sits behind a long mahogany desk, his jaw set like stone. Tom throws out his hand, motioning for us to sit. My legs tremble as I enter the room with Duke. I consider grabbing his arm to keep me from crashing to the floor and stop myself. I’ve gone through worse in my life. From my mother’s death to the end of my marriage, I have endured plenty of pain over the years. But this feels different. Everything with Duke is different from before.
“Care to explain the nature of your relationship?” Tom crosses his arms over his chest, his lip curved up into a snarl. “I’ve read dozens of articles today, but I’d rather get the story from both of you.”
