Page 363 of Small Town Firsts

"Babe. You don't even know."

"Tell me then."

"I think a lot of it he needs to tell you. But trust me when I say you are his priority. He's been at the hospital every day, almost all day, and when he wasn’t, he's been fighting to make sure that piece of shit stepbrother pays for what he did."

"Really?" A small thrill runs through me. "What about his classes and his TA duties?"

Stella gives my hand a squeeze. "I guess I'll tell you since you're gonna find out anyway. He stepped down from his TA position. He told his uncle he couldn't do it anymore, and he's been doing his classes remotely."

An indescribable feeling—some odd combination of joy and sadness and a whole lot of love—settles into my chest, sinking through my heart and into my soul. The fact that he's willing to basically put his entire life on hold...for mehas me feeling some kind of way.

"That man definitely loves you."

"I love him, too."

She beams. "Good. Are you hungry?"

"Starving. Hospital food is the worst."

Stella crinkles her nose. "I don't know. I kind of like it."

"Gross."

"How about I order us a pizza and we invite your daddies over to eat?"

I very nearly choke on a laugh. "That sounds perfect."

CHAPTER 43

STERLING

“Is it done?”I ask, skipping over any and all pleasantries.

"Son, do you have any idea how late it is?"

"I do."

"And this couldn’t have waited until tomorrow?”

"Dad," I growl.

"Sterling," he growls right back. As much as I sometimes hate to admit it, he and I are a lot alike. "Yes. It’s done.”

Immediately a weight is lifted off my chest. “Tell me everything.”

He sighs, and I can just picture him pinching the bridge of his nose while pacing in front of his desk. Because, as late as it may be, I know for a fact he wasn’t in bed. Harold Abbot is nothing if not a workaholic.

“I talked to Robert Sunday night. He wasn’t very receptive at first, so I threatened to pull my support of his businesses. And when that wasn’t enough, I also threatened to advise other clients to walk away as well. Pearson Enterprises is nothing without me and the wheels I grease, so he agreed to my terms.”

“When does he leave?”

“Rob was on the first flight Monday morning. He’s already gone.”

“Where?”

“To a place he can’t hurt anyone ever again.”

“How do you know?” I ask, because damn if this doesn’t all sound too good to be true.

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