Fake Marriage Box Set

"No." I laid on his chest and brushed my fingers along the soft hair that lead into his jeans. "Just hold me and let me pretend like I mean something to you."

He kissed my head and closed his eyes, letting out a long sigh of contentment. If I had meant anything, he would have said something. I gave him the perfect opening to do so.

I glanced up as his breathing deepened and snuggled in tighter on his side. "Gavin?"

Nothing.

Leaning in, I kissed his chest and pressed my face into the side of his neck, breathing him in and drowning in his warmth.

"I love you," I whispered and closed my eyes, knowing that the money meant nothing without him in my life.

Nothing did.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Gavin

Waking to the sound of someone knocking at the door had me feeling like I was repeating the morning before. I jerked up and half-knocked Maddie of the bed. Reaching for her, I gripped her arm and pulled her back up.

"Sorry." I leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose as she grumbled and snuggled up against me.

"Don't go," she whispered half-asleep. The neediness in her voice had my heart swelling in my chest. She tugged at the covers and rolled away from me, obviously lost in a dream. I could only hope that I was a part of it.

The knock on the door grew more insistent, almost aggravating.

"I'm coming. Shit." I grabbed a pair of jeans and pulled a shirt over my head as I stumbled to the front door. Ron better have a good fucking reason for coming over so early on a Sunday morning.

The church people weren't even up yet.

I jerked the door open and stopped dead in my tracks.

"Gavin," Karen whispered, her eyes filled with unshed tears. "She's not getting up."

"Fuck." I moved past her and ran with all of my might toward my mom's house, plowing into the door as I called out to her. "Mom? Mom. It's me. Come on. Get up."

I walked into her bedroom and stopped. It was freezing, as if death had brought winter with it. "Mom?" I croaked out before moving to her side and sinking down to my knees. Her skin was ice cold, and there was no life left in her.

A sob rose out of me that shook my body. I pressed my face to the mattress beside her hand and cried for my loss. What seemed like only a few minutes later, warm arms wrapped tightly around me.

Maddie. "I'm right here for you." She kissed the side of my face and wiped at my tears as I pressed my face farther into the comforter.

How embarrassing.

"I'm fine." I forced myself back and reached up to wipe away my tears angrily.

She sat back on her heels, her beautiful face stained with tears as well. She kept her eyes locked on me. "It's okay if you're not."

"Well, I am." I stood up and brushed my hand down my face, walking out of the bedroom toward the bathroom. "I'll meet you out front in a second. I just need to wash my face."

I turned to my left and closed the bathroom door behind me, turning on the faucet and sinking down to the toilet as another sob lifted out of me. I knew the moment was coming. I knew mom was going to die. I should have stayed the night before. Why didn't I follow my instincts?

What the fuck was the matter with me?

I spent a while in the bathroom, racing through every emotion known to man, but finally, I pulled myself together enough to stand on shaky knees.

Karen was standing in mother's door when I walked out. Her face was filled with sorry and echoed mine perfect. "I'm so sorry, Gavin."

"We knew it was coming." I ran my hand over my face again. "I guess I need to call the morgue?"