Page 73 of Masked Sins
“Good night,” he says, his voice low, almost hushed, like it’s taking everything in him to let me go.
“Good night,” I whisper.
As I turn to unlock the door, I can feel his eyes on me, the weight of his presence lingering long after I’ve stepped inside. The door clicks shut, and I lean against it, my heart racing, replaying every moment, every look, every unspoken word. Setting the black box down on the small table near the door, I kick my shoes off and take a deep breath.
It feels like I’ve just missed something, and that thought leaves me breathless.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
THE SOLACE
Layla
I wake up two days later to a text from my dad.
Dad
I’m not feeling well, so let’s rain check our breakfast. Sorry, La-La.
My adrenaline spikes as I press the Call button. We were supposed to go out to our favorite breakfast place in Malibu today since I didn’t have intensive until later this afternoon. My dad picks up on the third ring.
“I’m fine,” he tells me, but his voice is hoarse. “I have an appointment with my doctor today.”
“What’s wrong? I can be there in two minutes,” I tell him, placing him on speaker and jumping out of bed.
“Nothing, really. My left arm is a bit numb again.”
I break out into a cold sweat. Two years ago, he was hospitalized for a suspected stroke because his left arm went numb, coupled with a headache. It ended up being an early signof his prediabetes and uncontrolled blood sugar levels, but I’ve remained vigilant ever since.
“I think we should go to the hospital. I’ll be right over, okay?”
“La-La, it’s really nothing. You should go.”
“Better safe than sorry. I’ll see you soon.”
Hanging up, I quickly dial Orion’s number. He picks up almost immediately.
“Already talked to him. I’m on my way.”
Relief washes over me, and my lip trembles as I nod to no one in particular. “Okay. Thanks. I don’t think we should wait for his appointment. I’m going to drive him to the h-hospital—” My voice breaks, but I manage to compose myself.
“I’m ten minutes away. I’ll drive all of us.”
I squeeze my eyes shut. Orion can be an asshole sometimes, but he’s always been reliable. No matter what, he was there for me—for us. That never wavered, even back when we weren’t on speaking terms.
“Thanks, Orion.”
“Take a deep breath, okay?” I inhale deeply, exhaling audibly. “That’s it. Again.”
I do as he says, and to my chagrin, it helps quell the panic starting to rise. The scare two years ago had given me a bit of post-traumatic stress disorder, and despite getting the all clear from Dad’s doctors, I still dreaded the day there’d be another instance of having to rush him to the hospital. I know as parents age, it’s inevitable. But seeing as I don’t even remember my mom, he’s all I have.
I can’t lose him.
I don’t think I’d ever recover from that.
“Thank you. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
I don’t bother showering. Instead, I brush my teeth and pull on leggings and a cropped tank top, seeing as the temperature outside is already in the low nineties—at eight in the morning.
