Stealing Her (Covet 1)

A family.

Us back together, working toward being stronger than ever.

My eyes filled with tears as people started shouting, “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!”

Julian turned to me and dipped me back, pressing a hungry kiss on my lips. I wrapped my arms around his neck and deepened it. He tasted like strawberries and champagne, his lips were hot, needy. When we finally stopped kissing, it was to hollering and more cheers.

Edward gave the microphone to Marla, and she thanked the guests. Then he turned to us and winked. “Didn’t think you had it in you, Julian. I think this is going to be the beginning of something lucrative for all of us, don’t you?”

It was impossible to miss the hatred flashing in Julian’s eyes, hatred I’d never seen there before.

I made a mental note to ask him later what had changed.

Was it the accident?

Or was he just tired like I was? Tired of pretending, tired of faking it, just damn tired of the Tennyson life and ready to screw them all?

I hoped for both.

And I clung to that hope more than a girl who knew better should.

Chapter Twenty

BRIDGE

Exhaustion hit hard and fast. I didn’t remember even taking off my clothes before crash-landing on my bed that night. At least I had a better understanding of the hoops Julian had to jump through, and my respect for him rose a notch after having my picture taken so much and having to look happy when I was so tired I was seeing double.

I was confused about what I was going to do.

It didn’t help that my mom texted first thing the morning after the banquet; she was back in the ER.

The minute Izzy left the room, I shut the bathroom door. I sat on the tub, my old phone in hand, and called her. I’d been careful about keeping it on silent and hiding it in the back of the closet. I needed that connection with Mom, though. I tried not to imagine the worst. Did her feeding tube fall out? Was something infected? I’d been trying so hard to keep a calm façade with Izzy that I completely dropped the ball with Mom, but I couldn’t be two places at once.

At least not with Julian still fighting.

She answered on the third ring.

“Mom? Mom, are you there?”

“Oh, honey, hi!” She sounded as tired as I felt. “I didn’t want to worry you, I’m sorry. That’s why I texted. My feeding tube fell out and apparently the incision site got infected. It was all red and angry.”

I winced just thinking of the pain she was going through. Mine was nothing compared to hers. “Can they give you anything for the pain?”

I knew the answer, but I still asked the question, hoping for a miracle.

“Oh baby, you know they can’t. They did try a morphine drip, but my blood pressure dropped so low I blacked out.”

“Shit.” I hung my head in my hands. “I need to come home.”

“Don’t you dare.”

“Mom—”

“Bridge!” She raised her voice, which was completely out of character. “What you’re doing, what you’ve done . . . I’ve been sleeping, it’s a miracle, but it’s like I’m not afraid to close my eyes. I’ve even gained five pounds. This is a minor setback. I’ll be fine.”

“Five pounds?” I clung to hope. “Mom, that’s incredible!”

“I know.” She seemed happy even though she still sounded tired. “Trust me, this is nothing. The doctors said they’ll get me out of here once the infection is cleared up. I’m on some antibiotic cream, and it’s already helping.”

“Good.”

The line went quiet.

“Saw you on TV last night,” she whispered. “She’s beautiful.”

And there it was. “Yeah.”

“Does she know?”

I swallowed more guilt. “No. Not at all. Though I think she likes me more.” I could have sworn I heard my mom rolling her eyes.

“I rolled my eyes,” she stated almost immediately.

I barked out a laugh. “Yeah, figured you did.”

“And Edward?” She always sounded like she was in so much pain when she said his name, like it was a wound that would never fully heal. “Is he treating you okay?”

“Sure, if being forced to marry your brother’s fiancée is okay, then yeah, I’m peachy.”

“Oh, son.” She sounded so sad it broke my heart. “I was going to ask, but figured it was just another one of the clauses he put in that damned contract, just another way to control you.”

“Yeah.” My voice cracked.

“And your brother? How’s he doing?”

“I saw him almost a month ago. I don’t know, Mom, I had so much resentment toward him, still do, but I’m learning some things . . .”

“Things?”

“He set up a trust for us.”

“That sounds like Julian,” she said softly. “I imagine he deposited that fifty thousand dollars for the check you tore up and stomped on?”

I smiled sadly. “Oh yeah, plus a few more zeroes. He has over two million in that account, Mom, with our names on it.”