Page 48 of Judge Me Not

Cee Cee hands me the coffee, and I take a sip.

"A lot has happened while you've been asleep."

"Oh?"

She tries to hide a smirk. "Mr. Lickable is growing on me."

"Shh," I reprimand her and double-check Abby is asleep. "Don't call him that."

Her face and voice turn serious. "He did something, and the board agreed to let the treatments start now. If Abby stays fever free for forty-eight hours, Dr. Plax said he could administer it."

Chills run through my body. My chest tightens. "Are you serious?"

"Yes."

"This is—" I shut my eyes. Panic crawls through me.

"What?" Cee Cee asks. "This is amazing."

"I don't have all the money." I set the coffee between the railing and my legs and put my hand over my face.

Cee Cee puts her arm around my shoulder. "It's already paid for. Colton took care of it. And not just the first treatment. All of them. Plus, he paid off your account."

I freeze. The blood drains from my face. "What?"

Cee Cee nods with a big smile. "All of it."

"It was over a million dollars," I whisper.

"Yes. He's been here the entire time. He won't leave. And his mom, too. She's really nice, by the way."

I gape at her.

She snorts. "You should see your face right now."

My thoughts are all over the place. Relief, gratitude, and also trepidation fill me. His regret over our arrangement seemed genuine at the fundraiser. But I can't fathom the amount of money he just paid. Surely, he's going to want something from me.

Am I going to have to be his whore now?

How many times do I have to sleep with him to pay him back?

Then I look at Abby and feel guilty. Whatever Colton wants from me to pay off my debt to him, I shouldn't worry about. The only thing that matters is her life. If he hadn't done what he did, then I wouldn't even be thinking about this.

It could be worse. At least I'm attracted to him.

I should feel grateful and fall to his feet in thanks.

I'm sure he'd love that.

Jeez, why am I even worrying about this right now?

"Mommy," Abby whispers.

I smile and stroke her cheek. "Hey, sweetie."

"I'm thirsty."

Cee Cee hands me a Styrofoam cup filled with ice water and a straw.

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