McKenzie Cousins Box Set 2

Instead of looking away when he spots me looking at him, I hold his gaze, until he’s the one to look away or move away. When he passes me something, I always graze his hand with mine, and he acts like he doesn’t feel anything, as though he’s embarrassed. Maybe he’s no longer as interested as he was. Perhaps he’s had enough of me. I actually don’t know what to think anymore, which is why I’m nervous about meeting his family this evening.

They’ve decided to visit their beach house and their son and I’m wondering how long it will take for them to have him back in Boston. I have a feeling that they resent me for the decisions Seth has made because of me. There’s nothing I can do about that, it was his decision to make, and I’d wanted him with me, even though I’d struggled to accept him seeing me as sick as I was.

His mother has a sharp tongue from what I remember, and his sister is a carbon copy of their mother. His father is a snob and looks down his nose at everyone, including his own son. So tonight is going to be so much fun that I’m tempted to pretend I’m sick just to avoid them. That wouldn’t work though because the moment I’d mention to Seth that I was feeling unwell, he’d have me at the hospital.

Smoothing the blue dress over my growing curves, I leave the sanctuary of my bedroom.

I’ve decided that Seth’s family are not very nice people, at all. It’s so easy to see that his sister, Amanda, is the favorite, she’s been groomed to be a spoilt ‘brat’ and socialite. The way his father talks to him is as though he thinks Seth is an idiot. The embarrassing son. The more I listen to these people converse the more irritated I get. I want to pack everything up, grab Seth, and bring him to Lexington, where I know my family will welcome us both with open arms instead of disdain.

My hands tremble when I notice his mothers eyes are focused on me. She gives me such a deep look that I’m not sure what she wants or what she’s thinking. Right now, I wish Seth was sitting beside me instead of opposite, next to his sister. I feel like I’m under the microscope again, which is making my stomach unsteady.

“Paige dear,” her eyes are dark and narrowed so I know I’m not going to like what she has to say, as she continues, “I thought now that we’re here it would be a good time for you to head home to wherever it is you come from.”

Unable to hide the shock at her rudeness, a gasp escapes my mouth and silence settles over everyone. They’re waiting for my reply. Even Seth, He doesn’t say anything in my defense. I’m not sure what I expected. That’s not quite true, I thought he’d interfere for me with his family, but I don’t think that’s about to happen. Sadness hits me in the chest and if I stay much longer they’re going to see my tears.

“I’ve been thinking the same.” I force a smile for his mother. “I’ll head home tomorrow.” I shove my chair back. “Now if you’ll excuse me.” I finally turn my gaze to Seth and see the anger on his face, so I continue while holding his gaze,

“I need to go and pack.” Making my way across the patio on unsteady legs, I glance back over my shoulder. “Make sure you have the room cleaned professionally. You wouldn’t want to catch anything.”

Moving quickly, the tears slowly run down my face and when I’m finally behind the safety of the locked bedroom door, I give them free reign. I drop face down on the bed and curling into a large fluffy pillow, I cry. I can’t believe Seth didn’t say something. He has no trouble arguing with his parents over the telephone. I feel completely abandoned, I thought at one time he’d wanted me as much as I do him. That was obviously a misplaced assumption on my part.

Placing my feet to the floor, I wipe my tears with my sleep top before I slip onto the balcony, sitting in the dark of the night so no one can see me. During the height of my sickness, Seth would carry me out here and place me on the sun lounger, so I could sleep with a fresh breeze over my skin. I’d loved that.

Hearing voices below, I catch my breath before realizing how stupid I’m being. They can’t hear me breathing.

“You didn’t need to be so brutal,” Seth accuses. “God, that was awful.”

“What did you want me to say?” His mother scoffs. “Should I have told her the truth, that you’ve had enough of being her carer and wanted her to leave, but you didn’t know how to tell her.”

“That isn’t true.”

“I’m your mother and I know these things. You want your life back, and now you have it so stop complaining.”

I don’t hear anymore because I’m back in the bedroom packing my belongings into the large wheeled case I’d initially moved with. If he wants me gone then I’m gone. Not in the morning but as soon as I’m packed and find my ID. By the time I’m fully packed, the case is too heavy and there is no way I’m going to be getting it downstairs without help.

Damnit!

At least everything is packed, and I have my own things at home, so what the hell. Grabbing my backpack, I shove my kindle and cell inside, and quickly leave the room before I have time to really think about it. My cell is dead so I’m going to have to use the house phone to call a cab, which I’d rather not, but there is no way I’m able to walk into town for a cab. I don’t have the strength or energy like I used to.

Hoping like hell that there’s no one still downstairs, I move slowly, hoping my weakening legs don’t give out on me just yet.

“Paige?” Seth says, coming out of the lounge.

I look behind him to see his parents and sister now moving to stand behind him.

Inhaling, I ignore Seth altogether. “My cell is dead, so I was wondering if I can use the house phone to make a couple of quick calls?”

“Of course,” his mother Susan replies, a slight frown marring her breath.

Nodding, I turn toward the one phone in the hallway and call a cab, then I call home. If I had the strength to sort a commercial flight out, then I would. But I don’t have any strength left and I want my family more than anything.

“Dad?” My voice quivers when my father, Ramon, answers.

“Paige, what’s wrong?” I hear father, Noah, in the background, demanding to know what’s going on, and he gets hushed.

“Can you send the plane for me? I don’t—”

“Noah will call the pilot right now. You know where to go honey?”