Page 754 of One More Kiss

I don’t warrant her comment with a response, and I don’t look down at my boobs wondering what’s wrong with them. I just watch her stomp out of the room on her four-inch heels, hoping she breaks one and falls on her fake nose.

“Well, that was fun.” Nicholas shuts the folder in front of him. “Let’s get back to work. Riley, did you get a list of those paintings?”

“Yes, Nic…” I stop myself from saying his first name. “…Mr. Brooks.” I’m not sure what is weirder, almost saying his first name or calling him by his last name. I did have his dick in my mouth a few days ago. I think that’s grounds for first-name terms.

By now my face must be a bright red color, or at least it feels like it is. I open my mouth again, but before the words come out, I’m interrupted by the buzzing of my phone. It’s silent, but in the quiet of the room, the vibration against the table rings loudly through the air space.

I look down and see my mom’s picture light up the screen. Instantly, worry consumes me. My mom knows I’m at work. She wouldn’t call unless something was wrong.

“I’m sorry. I have to take this.”

I grab my phone and get up from my chair, rushing out and into the hallway. I answer before the door shuts behind me. “Mom? Is everything okay?”

“Hey, baby. Don’t freak out, but your dad fell and broke his leg. We’re at the hospital, right now.”

“Oh my God, Mom. Is he okay? What happened?” Fear rips through me.

“He’s doing fine. We’re just waiting for the doctor to come back. They took x-rays, but the doctor already said he might need surgery, and… well… they’re asking us for payment. You know we don’t have insurance.” She whispers the last part as if she’s ashamed.

“It’s okay, Mom. Don’t worry about anything. I’ll be there as fast as I can. I’ll bring some money, too.”

“I’m sorry. I hate to ask. You already do so much.” She sniffles into the phone.

“Mom, stop. Don’t apologize. I don’t care about money. I care about you and Dad. Hang in there and I’ll be at the hospital soon.”

“Okay. I love you, honey.”

“I love you too, Mom.” I hang up the phone and lean against the wall, letting my head fall back against it.

In my head, I’m already counting up the money I have in my checking account and savings. It’s not a lot, but it will do. Plus, this project comes with a nice bonus check when the design is complete.

I’ll be fine. I’ll just have to live a little skinny for a few weeks. It’s not like it’s the first time I’ve had to go without, but I’d do anything for my parents. Including eating ramen for two weeks.

I’m so caught up in my own thoughts that I forget for a moment where I am. The door next to me opens and two male voices fill the space. I look up to find Mike and John exiting the boardroom.

“See you tomorrow, Riley.”

“Ah, bye!” I yell at them as they walk down the hallway. Shit, now I have to go back in there alone. Alone with Nicholas. I mean, Mr. Brooks. It even sounds weird in my head.

Sucking in a calming breath, I walk back into the boardroom. The space suddenly feels smaller, as if the walls have moved in closer since I walked out. My skin heats and my nipples harden.

“Riley.” My name rolls off his tongue with ease, and the sound vibrates through me as if he physically shocked me. “Sit down. We need to talk.”

“I know I should have stayed yesterday to talk to you. I admit, I ran off because I simply wanted to avoid you, but I really can’t stay this time. My mom just called me and my dad is in the hospital. I need to go.”

“I see,” he grimaces as if I’m inconveniencing him by not staying. Still the same prick from the other day.

“I’ll see you tomorrow. Same time.” I grab my bag and coat and head for the door. I don’t give him a backward glance, as my father’s the only thing on my mind. I hope this isn’t bad.

The ride to the hospital goes by in a blur. Worry about my dad is clouding my thoughts. He isn’t the youngest anymore, and my mom has a tendency to downplay things. One time she told me she got into a little fender bender, when in fact she totaled her car. Her old Honda looked like it had been in a head-on collision with a semi-truck.

Mom texts me the room number they are in, and when I finally get there, I go straight up to the room. Knocking gently, I listen and wait for one of my parents to call me in. I’ve learned the hard way the importance of waiting to be invited in. One time I walked in and ended up seeing my dad’s naked mole rat. It was not something I ever wanted to see again.

“Come in,” my mom’s muffled voice comes through the door.

Twisting the knob, I mentally prepare myself for what I am going to find on the other side. Taking a deep breath, I push the door open and step inside.

My father is on the bed, a cast around his leg—his whole damn leg. From his ankle to his thigh. I freaking knew it.

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