Page 31 of Shape Of My Heart
“We will. Just be safe, and take care of yourself. I worry about you so much. And I miss you,sweetgirl.”
“I love you, Mama.” Amy pulled in a breath against the tears that threatenedtocome.
She was the one who normally sorted everything out. Her brother was great, but his lazy ways could get the better of him sometimes. Add her niece to the mix and that would cause delays. With this deposit, Dr. Carson would start her on a treatment plan in preparation for the surgery. He’d explained that would mean running multiple tests over a course of a few weeks to evaluate and anticipate any special needs her mother might have. Her mother was diabetic and took medication for that on a daily basis. Since she would have to stop her medication she’d need close monitoring, and since she was also what they deemed to be a high-risk patient she’d need extra care aroundthattoo.
Her mother was in a very delicate position and any little thing could cause something to go wrong. That was what made everything even moreworrying.
“I love you, too,babygirl.”
With that they ended the call. Amy took several more breaths and steadied her wild-beating heart. She wished everything wasn’t so hard. She wished it was just a little easier. It didn’t help that she was shattered from tiredness. She might not have minded the early morning wake up so she could leave this place, but it had still taken its toll on her and she wastired.
She thought that since Josh had had a turn around and woke himself up this morning, she’d give herself an extra hour or two tomorrow. If she got to his place by eight they’d have plenty of time before they had to leave. She’d message him to let him know and give herself a chance tosleep.
She got up a little earlier than she had planned and took her time to get ready. She chose one of her business suits and had her hair back in a ponytail to look more professional. This would be her first public appearance as his PA and she had to admit that going to ESPN’s studios was quiteexciting.
Her excitement, however, sank as she opened his door and the intense smell of rum hit her hard. So hard it burned her face from theharshness.
Amy nearly screamed when she saw Josh passed out drunk on the living room floor. At least ten wine bottles surrounded him, along with a mixture of rum andvodka.
“No!” she shrieked in fright, bringing her hands up to hermouth.
This wasn’t happening. Just looking at him shattered her insides and tore at her already-weakenedmind.
He couldn’t have been so cruel to have done this. Yesterday he’d progressed so much. Now look at him. She kicked off her heels and rushed uptohim.
“Josh.” She shook him hard but there was nomovement. “Josh.”
Still nothing, and it was after eight. She thought she’d see him dressed and ready to go like yesterday. She thought today would be a breeze, but she was foolish to let herguarddown.
Amy understood his bereavement and depression, butthiswas…
Her heart clenched at the sight of a thong on the floor near the fireplace and she wondered if whoever left it there was still here. The sight of him anditangered her as she thought about their crazy encounter the other day. She’d dropped her guard then, too, and nearly became no better than his harem of women andadmiringfans.
That was, however, nothing in comparison to her worries right now. How was she going to get him to the studio? And if she didn’t she could practically kiss that money goodbye and her mother wouldn’t be able to starttreatment.
Amy shoved him hard and that was when hestirred.
“Baby, what are you doing?” He could hardly talk. He struggled to openhiseyes.
“Wakeup.”
He looked at her and blinked several times. “Can you pay the strippers? I think there were two or possibly threeofthem.”
“Wake up!” she screamed at him and caught hisattention.
He wasn’t going to do this to her. This wasn’t going to happen. She would get him there even if she had to dress himherself.
She moved with lightning speed up the stairs and into his room where she found his clothes all laid out on the bed. He’d actuallypreparedthem.
So whathappened?
Maybe he had a change of heart or something. She grabbed the clothes and some towels she could dampen to wipehisface.
He’d drifted off to sleep again by the time she got back so she got some cold water and doused him with it just like the other day. However, unlike the other day it didn’t have the same kick. He woke up a little, just enough for her to get him to sit up so she could wipe his face and run the towel over his hair to get the brewery smell off him. As she started undoing the buttons on his shirt he smiled and reached for herwaist.
“That’s more like it, Kansas. I want to take my time to undress you and relish yourperfectbody.”
Well at least he could formwords.
