Page 77 of Wild Card
“Until I didn’t die and then they were furious.”
“Because Xander and the rest don’t like seeing you do this to yourself. They don’t want to see you hurt and suffer. Miss games and being on the field. You know?”
“I heard you were at the hospital that first night.”
“I was.”
“Thank you. For staying with me. Not leaving me alone there. I’m sure it was awkward, especially at the time. I wish I’d woken up to be able to know. To thank you.”
“Of course. I wanted to be with you. When Xander got the call, I was terrified, being able to see that you were still there, keep you company, made me feel like I was at least doing something useful.”
“I don’t deserve you.” I kiss her again, and she curls up against my chest.
FORTY-ONE
Scarlett
Tobias is backto practicing full-time, and I had a couple of appointments today, so I don’t make it to his house until the afternoon. Normally I wouldn’t bother to come, but he told me he wanted to at least get dinner and see me for a few before I have to go home and do my History Harlot live show. So when I get to Tobias’s place and let myself in I stop dead in my tracks, blinking when I see the gorgeous blonde woman standing at the other end of the hall staring back at me in her PJs. My gut turns and my brain starts to go to terrible places.
She stares at me, her eyebrow going sky high. She turns putting the spoon she’s holding back in the jar.
“Since when does he let his random hookups have a key to the house?”
“Excuse me? Who are you?”
“Oh, sweetheart. Don’t try that attitude with me. I’ve been in his life a hell of a lot longer than you and will continue to be long after he forgets whatever it is he liked about fucking you.”
“Wow. Aren’t you lovely.”
“Oh. You don’t know the half of it. You should probably run along now. Tobias has enough on his hands without you around. And leave the key. Wherever you stole it from, it’s going back.”
I toss the key to the floor at her feet and grab my purse back off the entryway table. I have no idea who this woman is, but I’m not doing this today.
“Who the fuck are you talking to?” I hear Tobias’s voice, and he rounds the corner. I stop because I want to see his face when he realizes it’s me. How the hell he could have forgotten I was coming over to dinner tonight when he invited me is a fucking mystery only time will solve.
“Oh no. No. No, no. We are not doing this again.” He hurries down the hall and grabs my forearm. “You are not leaving. I am not running you down again. And you!” He turns to the gorgeous blonde. “Is this how you fucking treat company? Did Mom not teach you any manners?”
“I didn’t know we were treating your late-night company with such dignity these days. Especially given what some of them have been up to lately.”
“This is not my fucking late-night company, Madison. This is Scarlett.”
“Oh. Ohhhhhh.” Madison grits her teeth, and her lips turn down in a grimace. “Oopsie?”
“Fuck. I am so sorry, Scarlett. My sister here is a bit aggressive. She works in PR fixing people’s issues, and she treats everyone she doesn’t know well like a problem. It’s a failing of hers, honestly.” He glares at her.
“Your sister?” I ask confused.
“Yes. I wanted it to be a surprise. I thought it would be a good one. We could all have dinner. You could meet some of my family not in a hospital setting. You know… Then my sister has to be herself and ruin it.”
Madison gives me an apologetic look.
“I’m really sorry. I forgot that he had a… you, now. And I thought you were some random hookup. I’m having a shit day, and I didn’t want to deal with some random he’s fucking right now. I assumed the key was stolen. My fault,” Madison apologizes immediately.
“You’re fine. I should have introduced myself. It’s just the way you were talking to me and then you being here, like this.” I motion to her being in loungewear eating straight out of a jar like she owns the place.
“I get it. Looks a bit like I’m the random he’s fucking. My brother’s only recently reformed. A year ago you would have been absolutely right.”
“Well, I’m sorry you’re having a shitty day. That sucks,” I say flashing a look to Tobias because I don’t know how much I should say.
