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Pippa
Pippa swallowed and pushed away the cautious flicker of hope that sparked at Mason’s words.
“What—”
“Aspen is in pain and she won’t calm down or tell me what’s wrong. She’s calling for you and I . . . I don’t know what else I can do . . . I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called but . . .”
But he would do anything for that little girl.
“I’ll be right over.” She hung up the phone without waiting for his reply and pulled up her Uber app. Luckily, she only had to wait ten minutes. That was enough time to wash her face, fix her bed hair, and take Lady out to do her business before she was picked up.
Her leg shook up and down the whole ride. Lady rested her snout on Pippa’s thigh. Her nerves were wreaking havoc with her guts as her stomach flipped.
“Can you pull over?” she asked.
The driver glanced at her in the rearview mirror, his brows drawn together. “We’re only a mile from your destination.”
“Unless you want me vomiting all over the car, please pull over.” She gagged.
His eyes grew wide before he put his blinker on, steered the car to the side of the road, and slipped it into park.
Pippa didn’t have time to utter her gratitude before her light breakfast was all over the side of the road. She spat and grabbed the bottle of water from her bag, swished and then spat out again. She pulled the travel-size bottle of mouthwash out and did the same before wiping her lips with a tissue.
Pippa climbed back in the car. “Thank you.”
The driver nodded, his cheeks crimson as he rolled down his window.
“Don’t worry. It’s not contagious.”
“Whatever,” he grumbled and finished the drive to Mason’s house.
Pippa helped Lady out of the car and tipped the driver handsomely. When she spun around, Mason was holding the front door open. His shoulders sagged in relief.
Aspen must be pretty bad if he’s relieved to see me. Worry cinched her gut. She took one shaky step and then another, sucking in deliberate slow, deep breaths. Her heart raced like a drum in her chest.
Mason’s hair was wild and unkempt, as if he hadn’t showered in a couple days and he’d been constantly running his hands through it. The vibrancy in his bloodshot eyes had dulled, and the dark circles under them made it seem like he hadn’t slept in weeks. Guess that makes two of us.
He reached out his hand and then dropped it to his side, his fist clenching.
“She’s in her bedroom. She didn’t go to school today. She was in pain with her period and now she’s inconsolable.” He led her through the entryway, up the stairs, and to Aspen’s room.
As he passed, she caught a whiff of stale alcohol. Her nose wrinkled. His gaze dropped to it and his jaw clenched.
Whimpers and broken sobs sounded through the door. Pippa’s heart lurched. She didn’t say another word and knocked.
“I want Pippa!” Aspen cried.
Pippa pushed the door open and walked in. “It’s a good thing I’m here, then.”
Aspen’s red, puffy eyes widened as she sat up in bed, one hand pressing the heating pad to her abdomen. “You’re really here?”
“Lady too.” Lady hopped up on the bed and curled in a ball at Aspen’s feet as Pippa sat beside Aspen and opened up her arms in invitation. Aspen threw herself into Pippa’s embrace and sobbed.
“What’s going on?” Pippa asked as Mason disappeared from the doorway.
Aspen sniffed and petted Lady’s head. “Everything is going wrong!”
“Shhhh. It’s okay. I’m here.” Pippa rubbed her back.
