Page 56 of Dirty Puck

“Bree.”

“Not a choice.” The way she shut the conversation down, she meant every word.

Bree Michaels was afucking amazingwoman.

“You’re not dancing again,” I said because a thought hit me. A thought as brilliant as it was frightening. We were friends faking more. We weren’t the real thing. This had the potential to blow up in my face, but still, it felt like the right move. “I want you to live with me.”

“What? I can’t do that.”

“Why?”

“For one, your mother will be there. Secondly, I can’t leave Claudia. And lastly, it’s a good apartment and I can afford it. Once this ends, my boy and I will be homeless.”

“You’ll never be homeless, Babe. I’d never let that happen. Claudia can come too. My house is huge. And I’ll pay your rent while you live at my place. But I’d feel better knowing that you were there with my mom during the day when I can’t be there.”

“You’ll keep up my apartment?”

“Utilities and everything.”

“And Claudia?”

“Of course.”

“I can’t let you do that. You’re hemorrhaging money as is. Your mom’s medical bills. Benny’s tuition. Now you’re going to keep up our apartments? It’s too much.”

“Babe, I know how much I can afford to spend. You think in terms of paychecks, but I have a solid investment portfolio paying out dividends that keep me living a good life. When I say it’s not a problem, it’snotafuckingproblem.”

She bit her lip thinking about it then said, “Only if Claudia agrees to come. I can’t leave her behind. And Benny has to be comfortable. Is it childproofed?”

“Childproofed?”

“My place is set up for a three-year-old. Is yours?”

“Not yet. It will be by the time we get back. Anything else?”

“He has to be comfortable staying there. He knows his room in our place and at Claudia’s. If he can’t settle, then we have to leave.”

“Got it. Think if we bring his room to my place, he’ll get comfortable? Actually, we could bring all your furniture. I can store my stuff in your apartment if I can’t find a place to fit it.”

“That’s actually a really good idea. But how are we going to move furniture if we’re in Virginia?”

“Got that covered.”

Jones and Bonner just got called up. I’d call my cleaning service when we landed and tell them to expect movers. Getting plans in place made me feel a bit more in control of the situation.

Bree reached, over taking my hand, weaving her fingers through mine, and rested her head on my shoulder. We didn’t talk, but her touch, this act of kindness, helped me beyond measure. I used her to keep myself calm instead of letting all those intrusive thoughts in.

When we landed, the minute the seatbelt light went off, I shot up out of my seat with Bree holding on to my shirt to not get separated. We practically ran down the ramp into the terminal heading for the car rentals. I’d reserved us a truck, and because of doing it all online, within ten minutes, I had the keys in hand, leading Bree out to where the truck waited for us.

My phone pinged with texts from the nurse giving me which hospital, my mom’s floor and room number, and thenumber to give the front desk for admittance. I had to ask for clarification. The nurse was kind and texted back right away. Only visitors with a patient number were allowed up on her floor.

Up on her floor.

My stomach roiled.

Sickness turned to anger.

The closer to the hospital we drove, the angrier I got. Why’d Mom keep this from me? I could’ve been taking care of her in Charleston.

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