Page 188 of Breaking Point
AHHH
I’m so excited and happy for you!
LAYLA
how are you and Grayson?
are you still keeping that man at bay?
BELLA
…
no comment
“I’ve written down my, the hotel’s, and Grayson’s contact number. Oh, and also Cindy’s in case you or Layla’s mom can’t get a hold of anyone.”
My mom rolls her eyes from the couch as Charlotte, Layla’s mom, chuckles to herself. “It’s like she thinks we’re children.”
“You know you are leaving me, in my own home, andI am an adult,” my mom drawls, a spark of humor dancing in her eyes. “And I know my daughter’s phone number.”
“Ha ha, very funny.” Cocking my hip, I look at the two of them grinning at me from the couch. “Why do I feel like you’ll get up to more trouble than me?”
“Probably your intuition speaking truth,” Charlotte murmurs.
I groan. “Please don’t give me a heart attack while I’m gone, okay?”
My mom slowly rises and it makes a lump form in my throat at her fragility. Waving me off, she begins to shoo me toward the door. “Stop procrastinating, I’m fine, love. You deserve this, you work too hard and take care of me too much. Have a fun trip away.”
“Are you sure? Because Grayson would understand if I had to?—”
“Isabella Stratford, if you even think about canceling, I’ll call Grayson myself so he can kidnap you.”
I bite my bottom lip. I want to call her out on it, but I see the truth staring right back at me. “You’d tell me if you weren’t feeling okay?”
“The second I feel uneasy, I’ll call. I promise, Bella.”
Stepping forward, I wrap my arms around her. “Please call me during every treatment round, okay? I don’t want you to be lonely for the four hours.”
“What am I?” Charlotte calls out. “Slim pickings?”
I snort. “No, of course not, but…ugh, please just call, okay? It will make me feel better.”
“I’ll call, love. Just focus on having fun.” She pulls back, her smile warm, her eyes light for once. “I’ll be right here when you get back.”
Nodding, I take a steadying breath through the anxiety rearing its ugly head. “Okay, okay, I’m going.” My mom all but pushes me out the door, slamming it closed as I call out, “I love you!”
I scoff as I hear her and Charlotte fall into a fit of giggles.
“Get kicked out already?”
Spinning, I find Grayson leaning against his truck, his cheeksand nose pink from the cold, his lone dimple popping out to greet me. I can’t help but return a big cheesy grin of my own.
Fuck, he’s beautiful. Inside and out.
“That man is smitten,” I hear my mom whisper.
Gasping, I find her at the window, watching us. I glare playfully. “You know this isn’t real! And what happened to privacy?”
