Page 58 of The Hero + Vegas = No Regrets

It’s her.

It’s Dad’s other life colliding with ours.

I look back at Mom, who’s now in the elevator with Noah and Worth. She shrugs, like there’s nothing she can do. She gave up this fight a long time ago. She grabs my hand and pulls me into the car.

“That was her,” I whisper. “Noah’s in there.”

“Yes,” Mom says.

The elevator doors close.

“What?” Oliver says, entirely oblivious to what’s going on.

I look at Worth, who takes my hand. I don’t know if I’d have the strength to get anywhere without him next to me. He makes everything easier, just by being here.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“No thanks needed,” he says.

TWENTY

Worth

It’s late and Sophia is entirely out of energy. Everything about her is heavy—her gaze, her footsteps, her hand in mine. I take off her coat as she steps into the hotel suite. Then I bend and take off her shoes. “Can I run you a bath?”

She shakes her head. “I just want to lie on the bed and watch movies and eat junk.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do.” She’ll be asleep in ten minutes. I head to the closet. “I hope you don’t mind, I had Jules pack up some stuff and I got it sent over.”

“What stuff?” She turns and sees her clothes hanging in the wardrobe.

“I thought you’d want to be comfortable.”

“How? I mean… that’s so incredibly nice of you, Worth.”

“It’s nothing. I had my housekeeper pack up some things of mine too.” I check the drawers. “Yeah. We have sweats. And thick socks. Perfect for a movie.”

It’s past midnight, but if she needs a movie to sleep, that’s what she’ll get.

I guide her over to the bed. I pull out some comfortable clothes and start to undress her. I work quickly, pulling down the zipper of her dress before pulling a hoodie over her head.

“I’m so tired,” she says.

I nod. “It’s late. You’ve had an exceptionally long day.”

I kneel at her feet and help her into her sweatpants, then lift her onto the bed and hand her the remote. “I’m just going to change.”

I do, and Sophia flicks through the TV channels.

“Find anything?” I ask.

“Nope. I need a murder mystery or something. Dark but not gory.”

“Agatha Christie-ish?”

“Exactly.”

I take the remote from her and scroll through the channels until I land on an adaptation starring loads of British actors. Next stop is the minibar, to gather snacks. “I have popcorn, gummy bears, or M&M’s.”

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