King's Reign (Sydney Storm MC 6)

She looked at me sadly. “Do you think it means something bad that Auntie Brynn still hasn’t woken up?”

My heart crawled into my throat. Getting my kids through this was the hardest thing I’d ever had to do as a mother. Because as much as I wanted to reassure her, I wrestled with the same thoughts and fears. Lying had never been part of my parenting style, but I was going to have to consider it now. And I was going to have to reach deep inside myself to give her an answer that didn’t alarm her further.

I ran my hand gently down her long hair, smoothing it. “Auntie Brynn is in a critical condition, sweetheart. I’m not sure the doctors are ready for her to wake up yet. Yesterday, they told us she needs to rest in order to grow strong enough to breathe on her own. The machines are helping her do that.” I actually couldn’t quite recall what the doctor had said, but I was sure it was something close to this.

Zara nodded. “Okay. That’s good then I guess.” Her voice betrayed her inability to fully buy into that, but at least she didn’t appear further distressed.

“Yes,” I agreed.

Her features shifted into a frown. “What’s happening with you and Dad? Like, is he moving back in with us?”

I really need to deal with this.

Like, really really.

“No, he’s not. He’s just helping me look after you guys while Brynn’s in the hospital. And he’s getting our house ready for us to move back into. That’s all.”

“Oh, okay.” She paused before adding, “I think he thinks you guys are getting back together.”

I sighed. “I’ll talk to him.” I lifted my chin towards the door. “Go start your breaky. I’ll be out in a minute.”

After she left, I pulled my phone out and sent a text to Adelaide.

Me: Sorry I didn’t reply to your text last night. I was dealing with King and then I completely forgot. Sorry, babe.

Adelaide: Girl! Don’t you dare apologise to me. Can I call you?

I rang her.

“How are you today, hon?” she asked as soon as she answered.

I took a deep breath. “Not good, babe.”

“Okay, so I’ve organised the day off so I can spend it with you. You want me to swing by your place and pick you up and take you to the hospital?”

I sat on the edge of my bed and smiled through my sadness. “Has anyone told you you’re the best bestie a girl can have? I would love you to do that. God knows I need to stop relying on Linc to drive me.”

“Yes. How is he? Are you guys getting along okay with him being there? And wait, let’s back this up a beat. What were you dealing with King for? I thought he’d fucked off?”

“Yeah, he had, but he turned up here last night after I rang him and told him to send his men home.”

“Oh, they were still there?”

“Yeah. Anyway, we argued over it a little and then Linc turned up and told King we were back together. King then told me we weren’t over.”

“So let me get this straight. King doesn’t want you except when he thinks you’re no longer available? Bloody asshole.”

That was a thought I hadn’t been able to shift all night. The more I thought about it, the more annoyed at the whole situation I grew. “Seems so.”

“Oh, babe,” she said softly, “I’m sorry he’s a dick. I know you thought there was something there between the two of you, but I think he did you a favour when he walked away the other day. You don’t need a man who pulls that shit.”

“Yeah,” I whispered as tears fell down my cheeks. I felt dumb crying over him, and told myself I was only doing it because of everything else going on, but even I didn’t buy that. I’d been ready to give King more than I’d been ready to give any man for years, and he’d hurt me. I’d pushed this hurt to the side for the last few days so I could just get through the days, but it had forced its way to the surface now.

“Right, we’re not going to talk about him again today, okay? Let’s go back to Linc. How are things there?”

I leaned forward and rested my elbows on my knees. “I’m fairly sure he truly does believe we’re getting back together. I don’t think he was just saying that for King’s benefit. So I have to have that conversation with him today.” The more I thought about what I had to do today, the more I wanted to crawl back into bed, hide under the covers and shut the world out.

“This morning?”