Page 82 of Return to Me Always

Oblivious to my panic session, my mom clicked on the TV. "You've got to see this."

A morning news show came into focus, complete with annoying, perky people with too-bright smiles.

"What is this?" I asked, definitely not in the mood.

She turned up the volume, not bothering to answer my question. For a few minutes, they talked about the weather. The tone soon shifted, the host of the show saying something about a hospital.

And holy shit! There we were! Tyler carrying me out of the hospital, flashes of light and reporters surrounding us.

"We reallyareon the news?" I asked, vaguely remembering what the nurse had said.

My mom nodded. "Yep. Everyone's talking about you two. Calling you Katler. That's your couple name. You know, like Brangelina, like, um, gosh, who else?"

Katler? "Are you serious? So, like, we have to look out for paparazzi—or whatever they're called here—everywhere we go?"

She sunk down into a cushy chair. "Sorry, hon. For now, yes. I'm sure it'll fade, though. You just have to ride the wave until the next big thing happens, some royal scandal or something."

How weird! My mind couldn't quite take it in. "Well, okay, I guess we'll deal. I'm just beyond relieved that we're all clear now."

"Me too." She sighed. "Me too."

It dawned on me I had no clue what the plan was now. But I was kind of scared to discuss it because I had a growing feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach that my mom wouldnotwant to say goodbye to me so soon after everything that had happened.

I thought about avoiding the topic and gave it a good try. "So I think I'll get in the shower."

"Sure." She took a breath, exhaling it out slowly. "But maybe we should talk for a bit first."

Oh, goodness. Here we go. "Okay."

"Well, first, we've got to check out of here by noon. So we have a little over an hour."

I fidgeted with the covers as I listened. "All right."

"Ben will drive us to London. We'll stop at the police station to get your wallet and phone, then go to your old hotel, get your stuff, and stay there for the night."

My stuff! "That sounds great."

"And then, in the morning, we'll catch a flight back to Phoenix."

Um, excuse me? There it was. I freakingknewit. "Mom," I started, my heart pounding. "I really appreciate that and, of course, all you've done..."

Her eyes narrowed, speeding up my heart even more. "Hon, I don't think—"

"Mom, please let me finish. Please."

She let out a sigh. "Okay. Sure."

This totally sucked. "I really don't want to go back. I want to stay and finish my trip."

"But you've been through so much." She began to bite the nail of her ring finger. "You're still recovering from a gunshot woundanda concussion."

I could not give in on this. I wouldnotgive in on this. No matter what it took. "But I can just stay in London for a while, you know, till I'm fully recovered and then go on."

My mom's piercing gaze stared right through me. "Does this have anything to do with Tyler?

"No," I lied.

She tilted her head to one side, her mouth a thin line like I was a disobedient toddler, and didn't say anything. I hated this tactic—the silence thing where she waited for me to start babbling to fill the awkwardness. But I wouldn't do it. Nope.

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