Going Deep (Imperfect Love 2)

After catching a cab, I head straight home. I’m walking in the door when my email pings. It’s from Bianca. I click on my schedule and almost drop my phone when I see what’s written: Killian Blake…every goddamned night this week.

“That motherfucker!” I shout, slamming the door behind me.

“Who?” Olivia asks, making me jump. Lost in myself, I didn’t realize she was home. And then I spot Reed sitting in his highchair, eating. And I just said the F word in front of him.

“Shit…I mean shoot! I didn’t mean to curse.” I walk over to Reed and give him a kiss on top of his forehead. “Hey handsome,” I coo, and he grins wide.

“Who were you cursing about?” Olivia asks again.

“It doesn’t even matter.” I wave her off. “I was just having a bad moment.” My phone dings again and I consider throwing it off our balcony. I glance at it and see it’s from Bianca confirming I received my schedule since I have a date tonight.

“I need to get going,” I tell Olivia. “I just came home to change.”

“Another date?” she asks.

“Yep,” I say as I head down the hall to my room. I quickly change out of my jeans and into a more professional outfit. I’m going to have to go speak to Bianca regarding Killian. There’s no way I’m going to spend every damn night with the man. And to top it off, if he’s on the schedule, he’s paying for my services! That only means he’s spending more money on me.

As I’m reapplying my deodorant, I hear a man’s voice and recognize it as Nick’s. I didn’t realize he was here.

“There’s something you need to know about Giselle,” he says, and my blood rushes downward. Motherfucker told Nick!

I hear Olivia say okay, and then Nick says, “Killian said he paid—”

“Don’t you dare finish that sentence!” I yell, cutting him off. Just as the words come out and Nick and Olivia look at me, the front door opens and in walks Killian—without fucking knocking. “This is none of your business,” I say to Nick. I give him a hard stare then turn my glare to the man who’s blowing my world apart.

“Somebody tell me what’s going on, please,” Olivia demands.

“Either you tell her or I will,” Killian says in a tone that tells me he will make good on his threat.

“I hate you!” I shout at him. And that’s when I realize tears are raining down my face at lightning speed.

“No, you don’t,” he says back, “but if you continue this, you’re going to hate yourself.”

“I already do,” I whisper before I run out the door.

Seventeen

Killian

I knew telling Nick would upset Giselle, but she left me no other choice. I can’t just sit by while she continues to allow men to fuck her for a paycheck. I understand why she’s doing it. I really do. I once thought Giselle was dependent on Olivia. I thought she was living with her because it’s rent-free and she was taking advantage of her best friend. But I was wrong. Fuck, was I wrong.

When I went to the billing department at Serenity, where Giselle’s mom, Sarah, is staying at, they told me they couldn’t allow me to pay for anything without Giselle or her mom’s consent. The doctor confirmed her mom is sane enough to make decisions. She has a chemical imbalance of some sort that affects her moods—they obviously aren’t sure yet what exactly, hence her being there—but she’s able to make decisions for herself. While Giselle signed for her mom to be committed, her mom actually signed for herself to be treated.

The doctor wasn’t keen on me meeting with Sarah, but he gave her the choice, and thankfully she met with me. It was during our conversation I learned just how rough it’s been for their family over the years. Sarah’s depression affected her job, which ultimately led to her being fired and their family being dependent on Giselle’s dad’s income. It also affected her marriage as well as her relationship with her daughters. She wasn’t able to be the mom they deserved, and because of her absence, Giselle stepped into the role. Sarah also confirmed what Giselle mentioned the other night: because their father walked out on his family, Giselle is not only paying for her own student loans but is also paying for her sister’s college. And that’s on top of covering all of the household bills and her mother’s medical expenses.

The woman is working two full-time jobs and is still struggling to make ends meet. Something has to give. I didn’t tell Sarah about Giselle’s “career path,” but I did make it clear Giselle needs some relief, and I’m here to help. I could see it in Sarah’s eyes she didn’t want to accept my help. She’s been burnt by a man—her own husband—someone who promised for better or worse. But she agreed because she knew it was the right thing to do for her daughter.