Page 19 of Egotistical Jerk
"Wow." The word blew over my lips in a sigh. My fingers immediately came up to toy with the ends of my hair. A fluttering started in the pit of my belly and worked its way up to settle in my heart. Lifting my gaze to my aunt, I asked, "Can I—"
Before I had time to finish my question, she reached over and placed her hand on top of mine. "Take anything you want."
I slipped my hand out from under hers and pushed to my feet, launching myself at her a second later. She held me just as tight as she had before, only this time there was no stopping either of our tears.
A thought slammed into me at the speed of light. I was the only family she had left too, and I abandoned her, left her to deal with her grief on her own. All because I didn't know how to deal with mine.
I was done hiding, I knew that wasn't the life my dad would've wanted for me.
He would've wanted me to make friends, to find someone and be happy.
That was exactly what I was going to do.
***
"Mia! What are you doing here?"
Mrs. DuBois's face lit up as she pushed herself into a seated position, dragging her fingers through her hair and puffing the ends with her hands. Returning her smile, I held up the container my aunt had given me before I left her place an hour ago.
"My aunt makes the most amazing lemon bars and not bringing you some would have been a crime."
That was a half-truth. Instead of going home, I'd walked around and thought of all the things I'd missed out on because of my stubbornness. In the middle of scolding myself, Mrs. DuBois's face had popped into my mind.
She didn't have anyone. Not that we knew of, anyway. The only person who'd come to visit her in the time I'd been here had been her attorney. That didn't sit well with me. I didn't care if people like Dr. Ryker or Mary thought it was best not to get involved.
Because I was Mrs. DuBois's friend, but more importantly, she was mine.
As if fate had willed it that way, I'd noticed it was almost time for visiting hours so I'd rushed over as fast as I could.
Mrs. DuBois scooted to the left and patted the space beside her. "Are you just going to stand there and brag about those bars, or are you handing them over?"
Skipping over to her, I grinned widely. Not even thinking twice about it, I hopped onto the bed with her and lifted the lid of the container, setting the lemon scent free. Her bony hand immediately reached inside and retrieved the treat before taking a giant bite out of the corner.
"Mmm," she mumbled around a full mouth. "So good."
I gently bumped her shoulder with mine. "Told ya." Jerking my head in the direction of the TV hanging from the ceiling, I asked, "What are we watching?"
Before she could answer me, the sound of someone clearing their throat had me looking toward the door.
My insides went cuckoo again, but somehow, I managed to keep my voice steady.
"Dr. Ryker. What are you doing here?"
Chapter 10
SEBASTIAN
I could ask you the same question.
The words were right there on the tip of my tongue. That I didn't voice them was nothing short of a miracle.
"Sebastian!" Cheryl exclaimed happily.
One side of my mouth tipped up, my eyes quickly flicking to Cheryl before returning to the woman sitting next to her. Thick, fiery flames framed her face and tumbled over her shoulders. Her eyes were big and wide and completely focused on me.
She was beautiful.
And that one thought alone complicated the shit out of everything.
