I blew out a long breath. “I was waiting to share the news personally. I’m sure you would have preferred that to a text.”
“I would have preferred to hear it from you immediately instead of being blindsided.” She sighed dramatically. “I labored with you for…”
…sixteen pain filled hours, then raised you on your own after your father died so suddenly. Blah, blah, blah.
I was able to recite the entire story along with her, I’d heard it so many times. I let her finish because it would do no good to interrupt.
“Eliana! Are you listening to me?”
“Sorry. No, I wasn’t. I’m a bit distracted right now.”
Her voice lowered, and she hissed, “Are you and that baseball player having sex while I’m on the phone with you?”
“Alize! No.” Good heavens, what a question for a mother to ask her daughter. “Look, I’ve got to go. I have some errands to run.”
I could almost feel her roll her eyes. “Let me guess. Feeding the homeless. You know, there are shelters and food pantries that operate for that specific reason, but if you insist on walking through dirty alleys, I suppose that’s your choice.”
“It is my choice, so I need to go. I need to be at work by eleven.”
“Work? Darling, you don’t need to work any longer. You’ve landed yourself quite the catch.” She lowered her voice. “A billion dollar catch. And on the first attempt no less.”
“I don’t fish, Mother. Maybe that’s been your problem all along.”
She ignored me. “I received a call from my insurance company. Seems there was a fire at my apartment. But don’t worry, I’m completely covered. They say it was a total loss and I’ll receive a check within thirty days.”
I stared at the phone in amazement. “Yes, I know there was a fire because it burned everything I owned. Everything Zoe owned. Two incredibly sweet people I saw every day died in that fire. But don’t worry, I’m fine. Zoe’s fine.” Sarcasm dripped from the words in steaming drops of lava.
“Well, of course you’re fine. You seem to have nine lives when it comes to tragic fires. I wasn’t worried at all.”
My heart squeezed. Not just from the reminder of losing my grandparents, but that my own mother didn’t even offer a word of sympathy or concern.
Taking a deep breath, I kept my voice light. “Yes, I’m lucky that way.”
I shouldn’t be surprised really. When she’d arrived two days after the fire, at Mamaw and Papaw neighbor’s house where I’d been staying, she hadn’t shed a tear at their loss. And she hadn’t seemed relieved to find me alive. No hug. No kiss. No words of comfort.
“We need to be strong, you and I,” she had said as I changed into one of the dresses she’d purchased for us to attend the funeral. “Do the hard things. Keep our chin up. Take care of ourselves and watch our own backs.”
I didn’t know what she meant then, I’d been so consumed with grief and loss… and guilt. I hadn’t been able to get down the hallway to my grandparent’s bedroom. The backside of the house had been totally consumed. So I ran outside and tried to break through a window, but fire was curling out, snarling at me, daring me to come closer. The neighbors must have seen the red glow because a fire truck appeared, then another, and another. I was pulled away, an oxygen mask stuck onto my face, the burns on my hand from where I’d touched the doors treated.
“Eliana!”
Her screech brought me back from the bad place I’d gone. “I need to run.”
“Alright, darling. Keep me abreast of the wedding details. You know I’m happy to help in any way I can.”
“Will do.”
Not.
“And darling. I’ll be bringing a guest.”
Of course she is.
“Your husband?”
“No, silly. That’s water under the bridge.”
“Wow, that was quick. Is the divorce already final?”
She huffed. “That’s why I was sharing how important it is to protect yourself during the prenuptial agreement negotiations. I wasn’t as smart and will get almost nothing after sacrificing nearly two years to that man. Receiving the insurance check for the apartment was perfectly timed, or I fear I’d starve soon.”
She has to be kidding me.
“Well, you could always sell your jewelry and art if things become desperate. Your bridal set alone would feed you for several years.”
“Oh, darling, you’re very funny. I’m sure it would never come to that. And now that you’ll have your own wealth, I’m sure you’ll see that I’m taking care of.”
I gritted my teeth. “I really must go. I need to be at work by eleven.”
“Darling, quit that job and enjoy your newfound leisure. I’ll set us up for a sisterly spa day soon.”
I ignored her. “I’ll send you an email with the details of the wedding once everything is confirmed.”
“I’ll be waiting with bated breath.”
I ignored her again. “Bye, Alize.”
“Goodbye, darling. Let’s get together soon.”
I didn’t answer, just disconnected the call, and finished prepping the bag. My stomach growled, and I realized I was hungry too. I opened the refrigerator door. Bacon. I smirked and pulled it out.
After tossing a dozen slices into a pan, I scrounged around for the makings of an omelet. I chopped green peppers furiously, taking my anger at Alize out on the innocent vegetable.
“Smells good.”
I glanced up, and Kane was there, basketball shorts riding low on his hips, his hair still wet from a shower. Dear heavens, the man was fine. I’d seen his abs many times now, but watching them ripple as he walked toward me caused a puddle to form between my legs.
“Hungry?”
His pupils dilated, and he nodded very slowly. “Is Zoe here?”
I licked my lips. “No, she’s in class.”
In a flash, I was lifted onto the countertop, my lips taken by his, his fingers gripping me tight. He only broke the kiss long enough to pull my t-shirt over my head, and my panties were destroyed with a single rip.
“Trust me?” he murmured against my ear, and I shivered.
“With my life.”
He grinned and pulled me down from the countertop before turning me around and pushing my head down until my cheek was resting on the cool marble. Circling my wrists, he pulled them behind my back, enclosing both of them in one strong grip.
Goosebumps rose as his fingertips traced down my spine, then continued down the valley of my ass cheeks, and lower. He dipped one into me.
“So wet, tight,” he said as he added a second finger.
I could barely breathe, but it wasn’t because of what he was doing. It was because the edge of the granite was cutting off my air. My breasts were squished, and because my hands were behind my back, I couldn’t relieve the pressure.
“Feel good, baby?” he asked as he circled my clit.
“Yeah,” I lied, the word coming out in a breathless gasp.
He let go of my wrists and slapped my ass. “Somehow, I don’t believe you.”
Pushing myself up, I pulled air into my lungs. “This position isn’t as sexy as it looks in the movies,” I said over my shoulder. “I’m afraid that once you start pounding, my boobs will turn into squeegees.”